19
Aug
2014
By Calvin at 09:44 GMT, 9 years ago
Hampshire police press release
Forces across the continent are currently participating in a campaign to highlight the devastating effect excessive or inappropriate speed can have on the safety of road users.
Today, officers across the Southern Regional Safety Camera Group area will be carrying out a dedicated speed awareness campaign using mobile cameras on single (60mph) and dual carriageway (70mph) roads. They will be specifically ensuring that goods vehicles of less than 7.5 tonnes are observing the speed limits that they are restricted to on these roads (50mph and 60mph respectively).
The majority of commercial vehicle drivers do drive considerately and legitimately on our highways. However companies and drivers who choose to ignore the rules of the road put not only other motorists at risk, but also gain an unfair competitive advantage over those businesses using roads responsibly.
Europe-wide it is estimated that speeding contributes to as many as one third of all fatal crashes. During 2013 in Hampshire 27% of people killed in road crashes, died in accidents where exceeding the speed limit or travelling too fast for the conditions, were recorded as contributory factors. In 2012 the figure was 24%.
Hampshire’s Road Safety Sergeant, Rob Heard said: “Officers will be using mobile speed cameras to carry out this day of enforcement on national speed limit roads and dual carriageways. Obviously anyone caught speeding will face the consequences; however we are especially keen to observe goods vehicles of less than 7.5 tonnes on these roads.
“People need to realise it’s a speed limit and not a target so it may be more appropriate to travel at a lower speed depending on the road conditions for their own safety. This is particularly important when dealing with vehicles which have a restricted limit below the usual speed on these roads.
“I would also remind other road users of these class restrictions and urge them to remain patient when travelling behind a slower moving vehicle complying with the speed limit that applies to them.
“Excessive or inappropriate speed has a singularly devastating impact on the safety of road users, increasing both the risk of a crash and the severity of the consequences. Hampshire Constabulary is committed to increasing road safety and will continue to target those who fail to abide by the speed limits “
TCPW Comment: Many years ago I made the decision to stick rigidly to speed limits. I used to do 80mph down the motorways and I no doubt went over 30 and over 40 in places where I shouldn’t have. Making the change has saved me a fortune in fuel and the little extra time on a journey to family down in Devon or Herefordshire from London isn’t worth worrying about. For example, 150 miles to Leominster at the speed limits, takes about 25 minutes longer than if I were to do 80+ on the motorways. That saving of 25 minutes costs me about 18% more in fuel, so it’s a no-brainer – and I’m safer!
Source Hampshire Police: http://www.hampshire.police.uk/internet/news-and-appeals/2014/august/18082014-speeding-tispol-campaign-embargoes
