Wiltshire Police: 'There is never an excuse to speed'
The force has launched a campaign, as part of Road Safety Week
Last updated 17th Nov 2020
Dangerous driving has been a cause for concern in our region for several years and a new initiative to tackle the issue is now underway.
Wiltshire Police is aiming to reduce the county's road traffic collisions, which cause serious injury or death.
Excess speed is one of the fatal four factors that significantly increase the risk of injury to road users.
Wiltshire Police says there is never any justification for speeding, but its officers claim to have heard every excuse in the book:
So far this year, 981 incidents on Wiltshire's roads have been reported as fatal or causing serious injury.
Meanwhile, in July 214 notices were issued in relation to speeding - the equivalent to almost seven a day.
DANGEROUS TIME OF YEAR
Due to the poor weather at this period of the year, the risks of speeding are even higher.
In winter, road conditions are often worse and visibility is reduced by limited daylight hours.
In a continued effort to make Wiltshire's roads safer, officers across the county will be conducting increased enforcement activities throughout the week.
Head of Roads Policing Unit, Inspector Mark Freeman said:
"We are striving every day to reduce the numbers of those harmed on the roads in Wiltshire.
"Our focus is always on the fatal four causes of serious collisions, with speeding being one of these.
"More lives are lost every year on our roads because of speeding, drink and drug driving, people using mobile phones at the wheel and those not wearing seatbelts. We want to educate road users but we need the support of the public. There is never an excuse for any of these offences and we do hear them all.
"Especially during the previous lockdown, we saw a real issue with speeding and we will be ensuring through proactive patrols that we do not see a repeat of that this time around."
In a recent survey, 82% of Wiltshire residents said they wanted to see greater law enforcement on our roads.
Police and Crime Commissioner for the county, Angus Macpherson, claims that he has invested "significantly" in road safety, including the recruitment of a new Traffic Enforcement Officer.
He said: "This campaign has the full support of the PCC and a recent APCC survey has highlighted how important this issue is to the residents of Wiltshire.
"Collisions caused by excessive speed have a detrimental impact on not only the victims but also their families and friends, not to mention the first responders who have to attend and be first on the scene.
"Just because roads may be quieter during this lockdown, it is not an excuse to exceed the speed limits which are there for a reason.
"If we can stop one family being told by an officer that their loved one has died as a result of a road traffic collision then we will have had a successful week."
ROAD SAFETY ROADSHOWS
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is also doing its bit for Road Safety Week.
The organisation's Safe Drive team is running three Survive the Drive Roadshows, for military audiences across the country.
It will also hold a virtual event, aimed at businesses who want to commission a Safe Drive conference for staff.
Road Safety Manager Christine Sharma said:
“Alongside our partners, we always take an active part in Brake’s Road Safety Week. This year’s theme is ‘No need to speed’.
"Someone is injured on a UK road every four minutes, and vehicle speed plays a part in every collision. We’re asking everyone to think before they hit the road and help us spread this life-saving message.
"Everyone has a responsibility for road safety, whether they are a driver or a passenger, and our education programmes are designed to bring that home as effectively as possible."