NEW speed camera vans helped Warwickshire Police catch over 17,400 speeding drivers during a month-long operation.
The three new state-of-the-art vans were deployed alongside other fixed, mobile and average speed cameras during a national road safety operation in April.
The vans, which were added to the force’s fleet last October, feature high specification cameras that provide clearer images, better facial identification, and night vision.
During the operation, the force also took the National Highways Op Tramline HGV supercab out on the M40, M42, M6 and M69 to film dangerous and careless driving offences from an elevated position.
Officers in the cab caught 62 drivers using a phone behind the wheel, 21 drink-drivers, 25 drug-drivers, 24 people not wearing a seatbelt, and nine speeding drivers.
Insp Dave Valente said: “We know that some people don’t think that speeding is wrong or indeed an offence, but it’s a fact that even small increases in speed result in significant increases in risk to you and other road users. Your speed determines the severity of any crashes and injuries.”
“That’s why we have grown our speed enforcement team. We’ve got three new speed detection vans, new technology and processes to encourage drivers to take responsibility for road safety by driving safely within the speed limit at an appropriate speed for the conditions.
“Many of the speeding drivers we’ve caught have been offered a speed awareness course if they have not already attended one in the last three years.
“Driver retraining courses have a direct effect on road safety because we know that those who go on a training course are less likely to reoffend in the next six months after the course.
“While most drivers play their part in reducing collisions by always driving safely within the law, we are asking the few who choose to ignore the law to change their dangerous driving behaviour.”
