Data reveals highest excess speeds in Bedfordshire

Bedfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Kathryn Holloway, is urging motorists to continue to support the ‘No Need to Speed’ campaign beyond Road Safety Week (16 – 22 November).

Speeding data for 2019 revealed one driver exceeded the legal limit by over three times.

Bedfordshire has the highest recorded speed (outside of London) in a 20mph zone. These zones are usually reserved only for areas close to schools, but one driver was recorded travelling at 73mph. The highest recorded speed that year in the county was 134mph in a 60mph zone, over double the speed limit.

Commissioner Kathryn Holloway said:

“At 134mph in a 60mph zone the road conditions will mean this could never be safe or it wouldn’t have this limit.

“This isn’t just reckless, its criminal and if causing a death through such complete disregard for the safety of others you may be on your way to prison irrespective of whether you’ve ever been in trouble with the law before.”

The national road safety charity, Brake, reports that excess speed contributes to over 75,000 crashes and around 1,500 deaths every year nationally.

The charity’s ‘No Need to Speed’ campaign details the impact speed has on the severity of a crash and subsequent injury of someone involved.

For example, if a child is hit at 27mph, the impact is equivalent to falling from a third-floor building, compared to at 18mph, where the impact is equivalent to falling from a first-floor storey.

Joshua Harris, director of Campaigns for Brake, said:

“It’s simple, speed is a factor in every single road crash. It’s vital that drivers understand the importance of always keeping below speed limits and driving to the conditions of the road.

“That’s why, this Road Safety Week, we are reminding everyone that there is no need to speed and asking that they carry that message with them whenever they are on the road.”

In 2020, Bedfordshire Police has attended 2,207 vehicle collisions on the county’s roads. Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has attended 386 road traffic incidents over the past 12 months and continues to raise awareness around road safety in the county.

Chief Fire Officer Paul Fuller, said:

“We want to maintain the benefits of Road Safety Week 2020. We have a number of rural roads in Bedfordshire, which can be hazardous at this time of year due to the change in weather conditions and the early dark nights.

“I would urge you to be aware of the roads that you drive on and of those that you share these roads with. Always drive at a safe speed for the road conditions and never exceed speed limits! They are there for a reason and that is to keep road users safe and save lives. Help us to keep our roads safe this winter.”

For more information regarding the Brake ‘No Need to Speed’ campaign, please visit Road Safety Week.

The Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service will be sharing helpful road and speed safety advice on their social media channels. For more information, please visit @BedsFire on Twitter.

If you are interested in joining the Bedfordshire Speed Watch Scheme, please email: speedwatch@bedfordshire.pnn.police.uk.