5mph Over The Limit Can Be Fatal

SPEEDING motorists are to be told of the devastating affects that breaking a 30 mph speed limit could have in the event of an accident.
Oxfordshire County Council’s Road Safety Team joined forces with Thames Valley Police yesterday, January 15, to stop motorists who are breaking the law at a site known for excessive speed, Burford Road, Witney

A total of 68 people were killed on Oxfordshire’s roads in 2006. An early analysis of these collisions shows one of the biggest factors was excessive speed.

The fatal accidents were predominantly on rural/higher speed roads with car occupants being the single biggest group of casualties.

Roads policing officers talked to drivers who were exceeding the speed limit – even if only by a few mph. They were reminded of the difference in severity of injuries resulting from crashes at 30mph and 35mph.

Councillor David Robertson, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “It saddens me to see so many lives lost. We will be looking closely at the data to see if there is anything at all the council can do to change this. However, at this early stage it appears that the deaths were largely due to human error.”

Inspector Paul Winks from Thames Valley Police said: “I am pleased to be working in partnership with the county council?s road safety officers in this worthwhile casualty reduction initiative. The level of deaths and serious injuries on the roads of Oxfordshire are unacceptably high. The police and other agencies must work closely together to make the roads safer.”