Aberdeen Police Begin Speeding Crackdown

Aberdeen Police Begin Speeding Crackdown

According to the BBC, the campaign, which starts today and finishes on Sunday, will see officers targeting motorists who” flaunt” the limits in the city centre and surrounding area.

Grampian police indicted that speeds seemed to be increasing as the recent poor driving conditions caused by a severe winter begin to subside.

Inspector Jim Wood said: “We have detected drivers who have been driving in excess of 50 mph.”

He stated that “Collisions involving pedestrians are the most prevalent form of injury to occur within the city centre. At 30 mph or above the likelihood of serious or fatal injuries is greatly increased.

“Drivers are asked to remember that the speed limits of 20 mph and 30 mph which have been set are limits and not a target that they should seek to meet or exceed.”

To my mind it is always a disappointment when police have to go to these extremes to enforce the rules of the road. Speed limits are just that: limits. This is of particular importance in built up and residential areas where pedestrians are more prevalent. By increasing their speed, these drivers increase the time and distance that it will take them to stop their vehicle making it much more difficult for them to respond to any unexpected obstacles which come in to the road. According to government road safety organisation Think!, nine out of every 10 people hit at a speed of 40 mph will be killed, yet these statistics still fail to deter  people from breaking the speed limit.