A THREE-week campaign which aims to remind people of the risks and consequences of speeding will be rolled out in Barnsley.
The ‘Slow Down Save Lives’ programme encourages drivers on the road to slow down, stick to the limit and travel to the conditions.
The campaign will be putting a spotlight on dangerous and inappropriate speeds across the borough - with digital billboards displaying warning signs on display across Barnsley.
During last year’s campaign, almost 300 motorists were stopped by officers across South Yorkshire, 126 verbal warnings were given, 145 fixed penalty notices were issued and eight people were reported on summons.
Inspector Jason Booth hopes that similar statistics will come from this year’s campaign.
He said: “We are all taught about the dangers of speeding, yet so many people choose to put themselves and others at risk behind the wheel.
“As part of Op Illuminate, officers in roads policing regularly enforce the ‘fatal four’ causes of road collisions which are speeding, using a mobile phone behind the wheel, drink/drug driving and not wearing a seat belt.
“Throughout the campaign our officers will be conducting additional speed checks across the county, targeting locations causing community concern and roads with a higher incidence of reported collisions.
“I would urge all drivers to think twice before driving at excessive speeds, drive to both the speed limit and road conditions at that time.
“If you don’t, the consequences can be devastating for you and other road users.”
Studies by national charity Brake show that lowering speed by just 1mph reduces the chances of being involved in a collision by five per cent.
In Barnsley last year, road traffic collisions caused more than 400 injuries - including nine fatalities.
The majority of the 444 casualties 329, or 74.3 per cent were deemed as causing ‘slight’ injuries.
But fatal injuries on Barnsley’s road network account for almost a third of all South Yorkshire’s 30 deaths in 2020.
There were 114 motorists killed or seriously injured (KSI) in the borough, which is down by 25.5 per cent on 2019’s figures and the lowest of South Yorkshire’s four local authority areas.
Joanne Wehrle, manager for South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership (SYSRP) - who are supporting the campaign- added: “Speed does kill. It sounds shocking but it is true, and this campaign is all about reminding people that if you do the right thing you will save lives.
“Ultimately, drivers and riders who are travelling at inappropriate speeds are more likely to crash and their higher speed means the crash will cause more severe injuries, to themselves and/or to other road users.
“With restrictions about to be lifted, we want people to be able to enjoy their new-found freedom and make the last year count, don’t let speeding cost you your licence, your job or even worse.”
