Clampdown on speeding drivers launched across Lancashire

Operation Manta Ray has been launched to target speeding on the county’s road network.

It will focus on high profile enforcement and education to road users and will target the main causes of road accidents - speed, driver impairment through drink or drugs, use of mobile phones, dangerous and careless driving.

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: "The majority of people within the county are staying at home and, if they need to go out, are continuing to stick to the speed limits – but we have unfortunately seen an increase in vehicles travelling above the speed limit in the last few weeks.

"Local neighbourhood teams have been listening to community concerns around key hotspot areas across the county, where there has been an increase in speeding and dangerous and careless driving, putting themselves and others at risk."

With the bank holiday approaching and the likelihood of nice weather, Lancashire Constabulary will be stepping up patrols in these areas in a bid to crackdown on those individuals flouting the rules of the road while out for a drive, and help to protect vital emergency services at this time.

The campaign is part of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) speed enforcement operation.

The NPCC said that with the gradual relaxing of lockdown restrictions police forces throughout the UK will be taking part in a two phase operation to remind motorists of the importance of travelling within the speed limit. This operation is deliberately timed as travel restrictions start to ease, to keep people safe as the volume of traffic increases.

Phase one has already been launched and forces will be sharing messages across social media and other platforms encouraging the public to slow down and save lives, in addition to normal speed enforcement activity.

Phase two from the May 25 will see forces step up visible speed enforcement activity for the following two weeks, focusing on roads and areas where speeding is known to be an issue or there is a history of serious collisions.

Ch Con Anthony Bangham, roads policing lead for NPCC, said: “With the gradual move out of lockdown and with traffic volumes starting to increase, this national operation is an important way of highlighting the dangers of speeding, particularly when so many people have not been out on the roads for quite some time.

“Unsurprisingly, the lockdown saw very quiet roads. Many forces reported increased speeding in a general sense and some forces reported instances of very excessive speeding. It is also of particular note that we have seen an increase in pedal cyclists at this time, many of whom may be unfamiliar with busier roads. Pedestrians and runners have also got used to empty roads.

“Put this together with better weather, lighter evenings, motorcyclists itching to ride out across our country roads and you have the concerning combination of factors for a significant increase in people being killed or seriously injured. I am determined for this not to be the case.”