Image: IAM RoadSmart
IAM RoadSmart is backing a national crackdown on speeding, saying there is ‘clear evidence that speed kills’.
The two-week speed enforcement campaign (14-27 January) is being coordinated by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).
Forces participating include Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police, who are urging motorists to ‘stay safe and keep speeds down’ as part of a joint operation.
The campaign is also being supported by IAM RoadSmart, who says many people see speeding as a ‘victimless crime’.
Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart director of policy and research, said: “Many people see speeding as a victimless crime – that is total nonsense.
“Many drivers think they can easily handle the speed they drive, and assume their skills are great enough to handle an emergency.
“We at IAM RoadSmart would like to ask those people to take a long, hard look at their attitudes and stop kidding themselves they are always safe.”
Government statistics for 2017 show ‘exceeding speed limit’ as a contributory factor in 203 road deaths and 1,212 serious injuries.
In addition, ‘travelling too fast for conditions’ was a factor in 136 fatalities and 1,327 serious injuries.
Chief constable Anthony Bangham, NPCC lead for roads policing, said: “Driving or riding at safe speeds is a key theme of the National Roads Policing Strategy and the speed campaign during January means police forces across the UK will focus on those who are travelling too fast on our roads, putting themselves and others at risk by doing so.
“Respecting the speed limit is fundamental to reducing danger on our roads. Enforcing those limits falls to the police and officers will be doing just that to ensure all road users remain as safe as possible.”
I think that this is just another advert for the IAM. who by the way sell driving courses on how to drive faster… and apparently safer. Where do they get their ideas from.
Was this article taken from one of their Club mags at all?
R.Craven
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“Many drivers think they can easily handle the speed they drive, and assume their skills are great enough to handle an emergency.” “… and stop kidding themselves they are always safe.” Well put. I’ve said before, the typical speeder is like a parachutist who knows how to jump out of a plane and freefall, but doesn’t know how or when to deploy the ‘shute and land properly.
Hugh Jones
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