Police begin two-week speeding crackdown

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) is encouraging police forces to target speeding drivers in a two-week campaign.

Fleet operators and company car drivers should expect to see an increased presence of speed checks and mobile cameras during this time.

IAM RoadSmart has backed the move – saying there is clear evidence that ‘speed kills’.

“Many people see speeding as a victimless crime – that is total nonsense. Many drivers think they can easily handle the speed they drive, and assume their skills are great enough to handle an emergency. We at IAM RoadSmart would like to ask those people to take a long, hard look at their attitudes and stop kidding themselves they are always safe,” said Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart director of policy and research.

According to the latest annual road safety statistics, 'exceeding speed limit' was recorded as a contributory factor in 203 fatalities, 1,212 serious injuries, and 5,855 slight injuries.

Chief Constable Anthony Bangham, NPCC lead for Roads Policing, said: “Driving or riding at safe speeds is a key theme of the National Roads Policing Strategy and the speed campaign during January means police forces across the UK will focus on those who are travelling too fast on our roads, putting themselves and others at risk by doing so.”

Last year, the NPCC played down suggestions from its roads policing lead that drivers could be fined for breaking the speed limit by just 1mph.