Europe-wide speed clampdown being supported in West Mercia Police area

West Mercia Police are urging all motorists to stay safe and keep speeds down on the eve of a European-wide enforcement campaign.

Tomorrow’s (Wednesday, April 3’s) campaign is being run by TISPOL, the European Traffic Police Network - established by police forces across Europe to improve road safety and law enforcement.

The campaign is encouraging motorists to think about their speed and to remind drivers to always travel within the speed limit.

It is estimated that across Europe speeding contributes to as many as one third of all collisions that result in fatalities and is the most important contributory factor to road deaths.

Speeding, as well as inappropriate speed, can have a devastating impact on the safety of road users, increasing the risk of a collision and the severity of the consequences.

Over the past three years in West Mercia 123 people have been killed and 929 seriously injured in collisions where speeding or use of inappropriate speed has been recorded as a contributory factor.

The Safer Roads Partnership, local policing teams, special constables and community speed watch volunteers will be out and about in local communities taking part in a mixture of enforcement and educational initiatives.

Roads Policing Inspector Jem Mountford of West Mercia Police said: "Supporting this Europe-wide campaign with local activities is an important way of raising the issue and highlighting the dangers of speeding.

“There are many local residents across our region whose quality of life is affecting by people speeding through their community and families that unfortunately know far too well the devastating consequences that speeding and collisions can lead to.

“We'd like to take the opportunity to remind people of the consequences of speeding.

“Apart from the obvious consequences if you are involved in a collision, if prosecuted for speeding, the minimum penalty is a £100 fine and three penalty points. You could be disqualified from driving if you build up 12 or more penalty points within a period of three years."