Cheshire Police to launch month-long campaign tackling speeding across the county

With an expected increase in road use over the next few weeks, Cheshire Police are reminding motorists to be cautious on the roads, as the force launches a month-long campaign cracking down on speeding.

Running from Monday 1 April to Tuesday 30 April, the month of action has been coordinated by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), with the warning from Cheshire's Roads and Crime Unit (RCU) being that if you speed in the region, police will be taking robust action.

Over the next few weeks, officers will be visiting key hotspot areas on the lookout for any road users travelling at excess speed, driving dangerously and putting not only their own lives, but other road users lives, at risk.

Throughout the course of the month-long operation, officers will be educating drivers on how to stay safe whilst on the road and will be enforcing the law against those who actively choose to drive recklessly.

The force will also be working closely with partner organisations and local communities to actively discourage speeding and would like to encourage the public to ensure they are reporting any issues or concerns in their area to their nearest Local Policing Unit (LPU).

Speed limits are set for a reason and exceeding them is illegal. The minimum penalty for speeding is £100 fine and three points added to your licence. Receiving 12 or more points within three years may disqualify you from driving.

If you’re a newly qualified driver and receive six points during the first two years after passing your test, your licence will automatically be cancelled. To get it back you’ll need to apply and pay for a new provisional licence and pass both theory and practical tests again.

Inspector Anton Sullivan, of the Force's Roads and Crime Unit, said:

“We have been extremely proactive in our crackdown of speeding drivers, and we have dealt with a significant number of motorists in the past 12 months. We expect the roads will start to get busier over the coming weeks and I want to reassure our communities that our officers are working tirelessly to track down these offenders who are using the roads as their own personal racetracks.

“Our officers will be out patrolling the county's roads over the next month looking for drivers speeding and those show no concern for the welfare and safety of residents and their fellow motorists.

"Not only have we seen incidents of speeding and racing, there has also been the associated anti-social behaviour with large groups causing undue concern to local residents. In particular, we have seen some egregious examples near the Taylor Wimpey Estate in Crewe, with drivers using the nearby David Whitby Way as a racetrack and a hub for car meets.

“We will continue to do all we can to educate and encourage all motorists to drive safely throughout this seasonal operation; I hope the activity will send a strong message that we will not hesitate to act against those individuals set on flouting the rules of the road and who think the law does not apply to them.”

Superintendent Saf Ali, Head of the force's Roads and Crime Unit, added:

“As the nights get lighter and longer, the weather gets better and with many children at home for half term during April, we expect to see more people travelling on our roads.

“The message is simple: slow down. We do not want to stop people from enjoying themselves, but we would urge all road users to please stay safe and be aware while on Cheshire’s roads.

"Our officers will be out and about observing motorists, looking out for excess speed and educating drivers on how to stay safe.

“Operations like this one help to make our roads safer and we will continue to engage with, and educate, motorists on how to use the roads safely – and we will fully enforce the law against those who are not doing so."

RCU officers are also asking drivers to familiarise themselves with the 'Fatal Five' offences, in order to minimise the risk of any accidents occurring on the county's roads. Investigations into collisions show that some of the incidents could have been prevented and that there are five main contributory factors that cause serious road traffic collisions, they are:

• Careless driving
• Drink and drug driving
• Not wearing a seatbelt
• Using a mobile phone
• Speeding

Road users who commit one of the Fatal Five offences are far more likely to be involved in a fatal collision than those who do not.

If you have any information in relation to dangerous driving or speeding, please contact us via:

http://www.cheshire.police.uk/tell-us

or call 101.

Information can also be passed on anonymously via CrimeStoppers. 

Information on the penalties for speeding can be found at: 

https://www.gov.uk/speeding-penalties