THE county’s two fixed speed cameras snared more than 4,000 motorists in only a year, figures revealed today.

Following a Freedom of Information request, it was revealed that during 2012, 4,310 speeding offences were recorded by the two fixed speed cameras in Suffolk.

The cameras, one on the A12 at Benhall and the other on the A140 at Coddenham, are both in areas where there is a 50mph limit.

The Benhall speed camera on the A12 caught 1,759 speeding motorists in 2012, while the camera on the A140 at Coddenham recorded 2,551 speeding offences.

The top speed recorded by the cameras was 108mph at Coddenham – more than twice the legal speed limit.

So far, 561 fixed penalty notices have been paid for the A12 Benhall camera and 929 have been paid from the A140 Coddenham speed camera. Many of the speeding offences from 2012 have yet to reach a final outcome and have therefore not been paid.

A spokesman for Suffolk police emphasised the importance of speed cameras as well as other measures in getting motorists to reduce their speed on the county’s roads.

He said: “Speed is one of the fatal four driving offences.

“Last year there were 24 deaths on Suffolk’s roads and the role speed plays in both fatal and serious road traffic collisions cannot be underestimated.

“The difference of a few miles per hour can mean the difference between life and death.

“The faster someone is driving, the less time they have to stop if something unexpected happens.

“Our aim is to reduce the amount of casualties on the county’s roads whether this is through enforcement campaigns, education or the use of fixed and mobile cameras.”

Do you think enough is being done to combat speeding offences in Suffolk? Write to Your Letters, Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN, or email starletters@archant.co.uk