More than two thousand speeding offences detected in the county during national campaign

Speeding kills – it’s undeniable – so please slow down! That’s the plea to all road users after more than 2,000 speeding offences were detected in Northamptonshire during a three-week annual campaign.

Northamptonshire Police took part in the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s (NPCC) operation aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of speeding in a bid to reduce the number of people who are killed or seriously injured on the UK’s roads.

Just a few miles per hour over the limit can increase the chances of being involved in a fatal or serious collision and exceeding the speed limit was one of the top four main contributory factors in road traffic collisions on Northamptonshire’s roads network last year.

Yet despite urging all road users to help get everyone home safely by using the county’s routes legally and responsibly and simply slowing down – 2,223 speeding offences were detected in Northamptonshire, between October 17 and 30.

Led by the Safer Roads Team and supported by their neighbourhood policing colleagues, the first week focused on educating motorists on the consequences of driving over the speed limit and was followed by a further two weeks of enforcement.

A total of 2,208 drivers were caught exceeding the limit by the Force’s mobile enforcement cameras, of which 39 were deemed so serious that they were referred straight to magistrates’ court.

A further 15 speeding offences were detected by the Force’s Neighbourhood Policing Team following six roadside enforcement checks across the North and West Local Policing Areas in Corby, Rushden, Althorp and Spratton.

Most of the speeding offences – a total of 1,245 - were detected on roads with 30mph speed zones, with 64mph the highest excessive speed recorded. This was followed by 340 drivers who were caught exceeding the 60mph speed limit with one motorist recording 99mph.

In 40mph speed zones there were 327 offences with the highest excessive speed recorded at 82mph. While 258 drivers were caught exceeding the 70mph speed limit with one motorist caught driving at 104mph and 38 offences were detected in 50mph speed zones.

Northamptonshire Police’s Safer Roads Team Manager Matthew O’Connell said: “Reducing the number of people who are killed or seriously injured on our roads is a priority for the Force and our Northamptonshire Safer Roads Alliance partners.

“Speeding kills – it is as simple as that. So, despite all the campaigns and warnings about speeding, it’s disheartening to see that so many road users still choose to drive at excess or inappropriate speeds.

“One death or serious injury on our roads is one too many - and so it’s extremely disappointing to still find people choosing to needlessly put both themselves and other innocent road users’ lives’ at risk just to save a few minutes on a journey.

“This campaign may have finished however we will continue to proactively police our roads to educate those who need reminding on how to use our roads both legally and responsibly - but we are not going to apologise for enforcing the law.”

Anyone who has concerns about road safety in their community is asked to contact their local neighbourhood policing team online at northants.police.uk or email the Safer Roads Team.

Last year in Northamptonshire, 29 people were killed and a further 280 seriously injured on the county’s road network – which is why Northamptonshire Police is committed to reducing the number of fatalities and serious injuries on our roads.