POLICE in Suffolk have today launched a major road safety campaign in a bid to cut the number of people killed or seriously injured on the county's roads.

POLICE in Suffolk have today launched a major road safety campaign in a bid to cut the number of people killed or seriously injured on the county's roads.

Last year 47 people died in road collisions in Suffolk, an increase of 30.6 per cent on the previous year when 36 people were killed.

And already this year there have been seven deaths, the most recent claiming the lives of eight-year-old Erica Martins Andrade, and her father Jose Gomes Costa, 30.

Mr Costa and his daughter were thrown from a vehicle on the A14 on Monday and it is believed they were not wearing seatbelts.

Suffolk police's new campaign is aimed at targeting those not wearing seatbelts, those travelling at excess speed, those who drink or drug drive, and those who use mobile phones or other hand-held devices whilst driving.

Chief Inspector Martin Barnes-Smith, head of Suffolk Constabulary's Roads Policing, said: “The simple fact is this: as long as there are motorists who ignore the law and ignore our advice, people will continue to die and be seriously injured on our county's roads.

“We issue countless pieces of advice through the media, information leaflets, poster campaigns and casualty reduction days and yet incredibly, it would appear the message is not getting across to everyone.

During January of this year, 332 drivers were issued with fixed penalty notices for speeding, 288 for using a hand-held mobile phone whilst driving and 238 for not wearing a seatbelt, 98 drivers were arrested for drink or drug driving.

The launch of the campaign coincides with new legislation that has been introduced this week for using hand-held phones whilst driving. The penalty has been increased from £30 to £60 and three penalty points on the driver's licence.