Operation nets 900 speeders
POLICE caught more than 900 drivers breaking the speed limit on Cheshire’s rural roads as officers targeted more than 40 locations including in Halton.
In addition officers dished out 232 ‘community SpeedWatch letters’, 59 motorists received a verbal warning over driving too fast and seven were warned for not wearing a seatbelt.
The month-long initiative followed concerns raised by residents.
Data provided by Cheshire police showed that none of the SpeedWatch letters were sent to Halton drivers.
Most, 178, were in Crewe, followed by 28 in Warrington and 26 in Macclesfield.
No breakdown of the locations of the drivers caught breaking the speed limit was provided.
Sergeant Anthony Gallagher, of the constabulary’s roads policing unit, said: “It’s really important we ensure the safety of all our roads across Cheshire, in particular on the large number of rural roads we have.
“More than 40 people have been killed on our roads in the past 12 months and more than 400 people seriously injured, with speeding, drink or drug driving, distraction and not wearing a seatbelt being the fatal four killers.
“By working with the community, it has enabled us to identify which of these roads are of specific concern to residents and ensure we are targeting those who don’t abide by the speed limit, or are driving while using a mobile phone.
“I want to thank businesses and local residents who have supported this operation and helped to make our roads safe.
“This operation may have come to an end but the work of officers to target those who drive antisocially does not stop and we will continue to make the roads in Cheshire safe.”
Cheshire Police And Crime Commissioner David Keane, said: “It’s important that the constabulary listens to community concerns about road safety in rural areas, as shown by this monthlong campaign aimed at tackling head-on antisocial driving on our rural roads. These results show a high number of drivers are not using the roads safely by not abiding by the speed limits and it is a priority to ensure the roads in Cheshire are safe for all drivers and the community.
“When I spoke to people during my Police And Crime Plan consultation, one of the recurring themes was road safety, and I anticipate that it will be one of the priorities in my forthcoming Police And Crime Plan.”