A speeding campaign aimed at saving lives on rural roads has led to more than 350 people caught speeding in Cleveland and Durham. The campaign, which took place between Monday 18th August and Sunday 24th August, found that on average 51 people per day were speeding on rural roads within the two counties, a total of 357. Between 2011 and 2013, there were 2024 collisions on rural roads with a speed limit of 60mph or 70mph in Cleveland and Durham and 51 people were killed as a result of these collisions. In one hour, 69 people were caught speeding past roadworks in Wynyard on the A689, putting those working on the road improvements at risk of being injured or even killed. One person was recorded travelling at 57mph on the temporary 30mph road whilst workers were clearly present close to the carriageway. Since 2008, nine road workers have been killed in collisions across the UK. In 2013 alone, ten road workers suffered serious injuries, although thankfully none were fatally injured. Chief Inspector Mick Robson, Acting Head of the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit, said: “It is alarming that 357 people would put their lives, the lives of their passengers and the lives of other road users in danger by exceeding the speed limit. We repeat our warnings time and time again but still there are a minority of people who are prepared to risk suffering serious or fatal injuries on our roads due to excessive speed. “Putting the lives of innocent road workers at risk is also unacceptable. These people are just doing their job and trying to earn a living and they want to return home to their family after their shift. As officers we do not want to have to turn up at homes to deliver devastating news to families because their loved ones have been injured, or even killed, by a speeding driver.” Highways Agency Asset Delivery Manager, Chris Holehouse, said: “Road workers deserve respect in their workplace, and it is vital that road users show them consideration by keeping within the speed limit and driving safely. “Any death or injury is one too many and we would like to send a clear message to drivers: do not risk lives and wreck families for the sake of a few seconds saved on a journey.”
Posted on: Mon, 08 Sep 2014 10:58:46 +0000
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