Speeding drivers targeted by new campaign

A new campaign has been launched in the Midlands to highlight the risks and pitfalls of speeding.

The Drive4Life campaign has been devised by the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity (MAAC), who attended 672 road traffic collisions in 2018 – at a cost of £1.68m.

The charity says speeding heightens a driver’s risk of a serious incident on the roads – pointing to statistics which show that 52% of cars exceeded the speed limit on roads with a 30mph limit in 2018.

The DfT statistics, which measure speed and compliance at sites where the road conditions are ‘free flowing’, also show that on 20mph roads, 87% of cars exceeded the speed limit.

MAAC is calling on drivers to know the speed limits and how to identify them – without seeing the speed limit signs.

Emma Gray, fundraising and marketing director for MAAC, said: “When major RTCs occur in our region, we are generally called to the most traumatic collisions because the flight doctors and critical care paramedics are able to bring advanced specialist medical care to the scene. 

“These statistics show that some drivers are continuing to take unnecessary risks by speeding, and ultimately putting themselves and others in danger.”

According to the MAAC’s corporate partner, TTC Group – which runs speed awareness courses across the UK – drivers can make it easier to follow the posted speed limit by using second gear for 20mph, third for 30mph, four for 40mph and so on.

Andy Wheeler, head of technical delivery at TTC Group, said: “Research suggests that a third of all collisions are caused by excessive or inappropriate speed. 

“Having dealt with hundreds of collisions while serving in roads policing, I would even suggest this figure is rather conservative.

“Driving at a safe and legal speed is not an option, it is a necessity for the driver or rider, and the wellbeing of all other road users.”

---