Shropshire Star

Shropshire police backing global anti-speeding campaign

Police in Shropshire are joining a global event urging motorists to keep speeds down.

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West Mercia Police have issued a warning as part of UN Global Road Safety Week, which runs this week.

The campaign is being run across the world and is focusing on raising awareness of reducing speed and how driving safely within speed limits will save lives.

Police said that over the past three years in West Mercia, 125 people have been killed and 934 seriously injured in collisions where speeding or inappropriate use of speed is noted as a contributory factor.

During the week there will be a focus on enforcement and community speed-watch activity in urban and residential areas.

With national advice in place encouraging more people to walk and cycle to work, officers will also be covering the Operation Close Pass initiative where they deal with drivers not giving cyclists enough room when they are overtaking.

Superintendent Mel Crowther said: “Supporting national campaigns such as this with local activities and increased enforcement is an important way of highlighting the dangers of speeding, especially in our local communities.

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

"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."