Staffordshire Police are supporting a national campaign to highlight the dangers of speeding when driving.
Speeding is one of the major contributing factors in road traffic collisions. If motorists speed they are more likely to be involved in a crash and the chances of serious injury or death are greatly increased. The latest three years of data shows that 28 per cent of fatal collisions in Staffordshire involved a speeding vehicle. Staffordshire Police think that’s reason enough to slow down when driving.
It’s important to travel within the speed limits. Police urge drivers to remember just a few extra miles per hour can make all the difference to driver reaction, breaking distances and ultimate consequence of any collision. For example, if a vehicle is travelling at 50 mph it will take 53 metres to stop, that’s the length of an Olympic swimming pool.
Speeding can also impact other road users, such as cyclists and pedestrians. Police are urging drivers not to be the one who stops them going home safely. If a pedestrian is hit at 30mph they have a 1 in 5 chance of being killed, or 1 in 3 if hit at 35mph.
To help reinforce these points to motorists, police officers from Staffordshire Police’s dedicated Roads Policing Team will be visiting locations where speeding is known to be an issue or there is a history of serious collisions. The focus will be on stopping and educating people on the dangers of speeding but also prosecuting where necessary.
Motorists are urged to be aware of their speed whilst driving – look for hazards and adjust their speed. Remember the speed limit is not a target.
