Breaking the speed limit, or driving too fast for the conditions on the road, contributes to more than 727 deaths and 4,555 injuries every year across the UK. In 2007, driving over the speed limit was reported as a factor in 13% of fatal collisions and exceeding the speed limit or going too fast for the conditions was reported as a factor in 25% of fatal collisions.

The European-wide TISPOL (Traffic Information System Police) speeding initiative ran from 17 to 23 August and involved police forces from across the whole of Europe focusing on the importance of driving within the speed limit.

The initiative formed part of a European-wide campaign organised by TISPOL (Traffic Information System Police). As part of the campaign, the South Yorkshire Police Roads Policing Unit and the Safety Camera Partnership carried out dedicated operations at known casualty hotspots across the county. The Police operations focused on a number of road safety issues such as mobile phone usage and seatbelts as well as speed enforcement.

Chief Inspector Andy Male, Head of Roads Policing for South Yorkshire said:

“I am appalled that so many people were caught speeding during this week of enforcement. Speed is a factor in most collisions. The faster a vehicle goes, the harder it hits and the more damage it causes. At 20mph, the vast majority of pedestrians hit by a vehicle will survive. At 40mph, the vast majority will die.

“Too many people are being killed on the roads of South Yorkshire simply because drivers are driving too fast. We want drivers and passengers to understand that by sticking to the legal speed limits of the roads, unnecessary deaths can be prevented.

“South Yorkshire Police operates an all year round speed enforcement policy. The fact that within one week alone nearly 1000 drivers were caught speeding highlights the importance of enforcing the legal speed limit all year round. By working closely with the European Traffic Police Network on campaigns such as this we can work together to reduce speed and reduce the number of people killed on the roads.”

For details of South Yorkshire Safety Camera Partnership mobile speed camera locations visit the website www.safetycamera.org