Witney News - Europe-wide road safety week enforced in Oxon

Europe-wide road safety week enforced in Oxon

Officers from Oxfordshire Roads Policing Department will be carrying out speed checks across the county in support of a Europe-wide speed enforcement campaign.

The European Road Policing Network, known as TISPOL, speed campaign begins next Monday (21/4) and runs until Sunday (27/4). Road Safety Constable PC Mark Pilling, along with officers from Roads Policing and Road Safety Officers (RSOs) from Oxfordshire County Council, will be carrying out a number of checks throughout the week.

The checks will be a mixture of education and enforcement, with the council RSOs giving advice to drivers who are travelling within the threshold, such as 40mph or less in a 30mph zone, and Fixed Penalty Notices being issued by officers.

PC Mark Pilling, co-ordinating the week, said: “Both the council and the police will be working together throughout the week in support of the campaign. Drivers may think breaking the speed limit by a few miles an hour is acceptable, but statistics prove that speed can kill. Consultation with our communities has also shown that speeding is often a top priority in their neighbourhoods.

“In previous campaigns, 16 countries have taken part and Thames Valley Police will be doing our bit to educate drivers on the dangers of speeding and make our roads a safer place.”

Oxfordshire County Council Road Safety Officer Sarah Gniadek-Pitt said: “We want to get the message out to motorists that reducing your speed by just a few miles per hour can make a real difference - potentially the difference between life and death.

“By stopping and talking to drivers we hope to make them more aware of speed limits and the important safety reasons behind them.”