This month sees a nationwide crackdown on speeding motorists.

The three-week long 'Speed Enforcement' campaign is being co-ordinated by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and will take place across the country until January 27.

The campaign means you might see more speed cameras on the roads as officers aim to:

  • Reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on UK roads
  • Tackle irresponsible and dangerous drivers committing speeding offences
  • Increase awareness of the dangers – both to offenders and to other road users – of speeding
  • Encourage motorists to drive at speeds that are safe for the road environment and to always adhere to speed limits

Officers will be targetting areas where residents have raised concerns about speeding motorists.

One of the other forces taking part in the nationwide campaign is Cheshire Police.

Inspector Steve Griffiths, from Cheshire’s Roads Policing Team, said: “Speeding can have fatal consequences – driving at an unsafe speed has been shown to be a contributory factor in nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of road deaths.

“Most people have been affected at some point by injury or death caused by a collision and it is essential that we do everything we can to reduce the number of incidents by educating drivers and enforcing speed limits."

Drivers and riders travelling at unsafe speeds – whether that be in excess of the speed limit or too fast for the conditions, for example bad weather, poor visibility or high pedestrian activity – take longer to stop and are more likely to crash.

Inappropriate speed also magnifies other driver errors, such as driving too close to other vehicles or driving when tired or distracted, multiplying the chances of causing an accident.

Insp Griffiths added: “One of the comments we often hear is that we should be doing more important things with our time like catching burglars rather than catching speeding motorists. My response is that speed kills and preventing somebody from dying on the road has to be one of our priorities.

“It is important that everyone realises that speed limits are in place for a reason.

“You may want to make up time when running late, but travelling at excess speed could be the difference between a safe journey and one that ends in a fatality.

“It doesn’t matter how experienced a driver you are, it’s just not worth the risk."

What will happen if I'm caught speeding?

If prosecuted for speeding, the minimum penalty is a £100 fine and three penalty points.

You could be disqualified from driving if you build up 12 or more penalty points within a period of three years.