Police forces and camera partnerships across the south coast of England – from Kent to Cornwall – will carry out a speed enforcement campaign of goods vehicles on 19 August.
Officers throughout the region will be targeting speeders driving commercial vehicles under 7.5 tonnes, in support of the TISPOL European Speed Week. They will deploy a combination of roadside detection, camera vans and unmarked cars and motorcycles. Roadside deposits will also be collected from foreign-registered goods vehicles.
Officers will also be handing out campaign materials and cards that show which limits apply to which vehicles and roads.
Inspector Martin Stevens, from Kent Police’s Roads Policing Unit, said: “Most commercial vehicle drivers drive considerately and legitimately on our highways. However, companies and drivers who choose to ignore the rules of the road put themselves and other road users at risk.
“We do our bit by carrying out regular enforcement operations targeting unroadworthy vehicles and speeding offences, but it is imperative that all road users ‘Play Your Part’ in keeping our roads safe too.
“That includes driving at the appropriate speed for the conditions and within legal limits. Many drivers are not aware that in a national speed limit zone the maximum speed limit depends on the class of vehicle and type of road. For example, van drivers are often surprised that their maximum legal limit on a dual carriageway is 60mph as opposed to 70mph.”
Steve Horton, road safety team leader for Kent County Council, said: “In the last three years in our county 75 people were killed or seriously injured either as a passenger in, or as a driver of, a goods vehicle.
“Stopping distances are a crucial element in road safety and this can be influenced by both speed and weight.
“Our ‘Country Roads’ campaign highlights that speed limits are a maximum, not a target, and drivers need to ensure they are driving at an appropriate speed in order to have time to react to unexpected hazards, which are a regular feature on rural roads.
“We also ask that drivers of other vehicles respect the speed restrictions of larger vehicles, keeping their distance and being mindful of overtaking.”
Hello Mark, you make a good point. The campaign was planned prior to the DfT’s announcement. The current speed limits are valid and enforceable and the proposal to raise the speed limit is in consultation for vehicles over 7.5 Tonnes – this campaign focuses on vehicles below that weight. The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of the law and the speed restriction (whatever that may be) for some vehicles and that inappropriate behaviour on the road, including speeding, have consequences. Hope that helps.
Anne-Marie, Kent
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It seems odd to be handing out campaign materials that show the speed limits that won’t apply when the new regulations are introduced (but it saves destroying them). Also there is a tension between the Government’s contention that the higher speeds will be safe and the statement that “Stopping distances are a crucial element in road safety and this can be influenced by both speed and weight”.
Mark, Caerphilly
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Was up in Scotland the other weekend and travelling on A roads, the HGVs over 7.5 ton were driving to their maximum regulated speed on both 50 and 60 mph single carriageway roads. Even though there were signs up at regular intervals telling them that their maximum speed was 40 mph.
bob craven Lancs
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