Police launch safety crusade

SPEEDING motorists and those not wearing seatbelts will be the target of a police campaign next week.

SPEEDING motorists and those not wearing seatbelts will be the target of a police campaign next week.

A Suffolk police chief said the force will be targeting the minority of drivers who think they are above the law and has warned that speeding and not wearing a seatbelt are some of the biggest causes of deaths on the county's roads.

Suffolk officers will be carrying out increased checks from Monday to Sunday as a part of a campaign co-ordinated by TISPOL, the European Traffic Police Network.

Fixed penalty notices will be issued to motorists and passengers who are not wearing seatbelts and speeding drivers will also get three points on their licence in addition to the fine.

Chief Inspector Mike Bacon from Suffolk's Roads Policing Unit said: “Safety on Suffolk's roads is a priority all year round but this campaign is a chance to reinforce some key messages.

“Driving at excessive speed is a contributory factor in a great number of collisions. Just a couple of miles an hour too fast can make all the difference between having a collision or completing your journey safely.

"In terms of seatbelts, it seems that some people forget they are there to save lives.

“Even on the shortest trips and at low speeds the importance of seatbelts cannot be underestimated. Putting on a seatbelt is such a simple task and can mean the difference between life and death.

“It's a minority of drivers who feel they are above the law and it's these motorists we will be targeting throughout this campaign and beyond.”