Police in Wiltshire have been conducting covert operations to catch speeding motorists during the Christmas period, using hidden cameras to enforce speed limits across the region.
The operation comes as part of a seasonal crackdown on dangerous driving during the festive period, when roads typically see a significant increase in speeding offences.
Officers have been lying in wait at various locations, particularly targeting areas where local residents have reported persistent speeding problems.
Wiltshire Police have confirmed this is just the beginning of their enforcement campaign, with more hidden speed checks planned across Swindon and Wiltshire throughout the remainder of the festive season.
Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
The initiative specifically focuses on 30mph town roads, which data from the Department of Transport shows experience the highest number of speeding incidents on Christmas Day.
On Sunday, December 29, officers from the Royal Wootton Bassett Neighbourhood Policing Team conducted targeted speed checks across several key locations.
The operation focused on Calne Road, Lyneham, Broad Town, Hook and Bath Road, areas which had been specifically highlighted by local residents as problematic for speeding.
Royal Wootton Bassett and its surrounding villages received particular attention during the operation.
These locations were chosen following direct feedback from community members who had expressed concerns about persistent speeding in their neighbourhoods.
The Department of Transport statistics revealed that Christmas Day consistently sees a surge in speeding incidents, particularly on 30mph town roads.
Even more alarming are the figures for New Year's Day, when speeding reaches its peak on 20mph roads. In 2021, a staggering 92 per cent of cars were found to be exceeding the speed limit on roads with 20mph restrictions on January 1, reports revealed.
According to Wiltshire Police, the majority of motorists were found to be complying with speed limits during their recent operation.
However, one driver received a verbal warning for exceeding the 30mph limit. Three other motorists were issued traffic offence reports after being caught driving at 40mph in 30mph zones.
A spokesperson for Wiltshire Police told Gazette and Herald: “We are pleased to say the majority of road users were abiding by the speed limits at these locations. Please remember speeding is one of the fatal five and there is no excuse."
Drivers caught speeding face a minimum penalty of £100 and three points on their licence, according to government guidelines.
Tom Banks, car insurance expert at Go Compare, warned: "Some roads can be quieter, which might make it tempting to put your foot down. However, it's critical that you resist the urge and stick to the speed limits. Christmas is a special time of the year for all of us and nobody wants to spend it dealing with an accident.”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
New drivers face particularly severe consequences, with licences revoked if they accumulate six points within two years of passing their test.
Find Out More...
The operation comes as part of a seasonal crackdown on dangerous driving during the festive period, when roads typically see a significant increase in speeding offences.
Officers have been lying in wait at various locations, particularly targeting areas where local residents have reported persistent speeding problems.
Wiltshire Police have confirmed this is just the beginning of their enforcement campaign, with more hidden speed checks planned across Swindon and Wiltshire throughout the remainder of the festive season.
Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
The initiative specifically focuses on 30mph town roads, which data from the Department of Transport shows experience the highest number of speeding incidents on Christmas Day.
On Sunday, December 29, officers from the Royal Wootton Bassett Neighbourhood Policing Team conducted targeted speed checks across several key locations.
The operation focused on Calne Road, Lyneham, Broad Town, Hook and Bath Road, areas which had been specifically highlighted by local residents as problematic for speeding.
Royal Wootton Bassett and its surrounding villages received particular attention during the operation.
These locations were chosen following direct feedback from community members who had expressed concerns about persistent speeding in their neighbourhoods.
The Department of Transport statistics revealed that Christmas Day consistently sees a surge in speeding incidents, particularly on 30mph town roads.
Even more alarming are the figures for New Year's Day, when speeding reaches its peak on 20mph roads. In 2021, a staggering 92 per cent of cars were found to be exceeding the speed limit on roads with 20mph restrictions on January 1, reports revealed.
According to Wiltshire Police, the majority of motorists were found to be complying with speed limits during their recent operation.
However, one driver received a verbal warning for exceeding the 30mph limit. Three other motorists were issued traffic offence reports after being caught driving at 40mph in 30mph zones.
A spokesperson for Wiltshire Police told Gazette and Herald: “We are pleased to say the majority of road users were abiding by the speed limits at these locations. Please remember speeding is one of the fatal five and there is no excuse."
Drivers caught speeding face a minimum penalty of £100 and three points on their licence, according to government guidelines.
Tom Banks, car insurance expert at Go Compare, warned: "Some roads can be quieter, which might make it tempting to put your foot down. However, it's critical that you resist the urge and stick to the speed limits. Christmas is a special time of the year for all of us and nobody wants to spend it dealing with an accident.”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
- Number plate could fetch £500k as cash-strapped council is 'forced to look' at selling 100-year-old relic
- Britons who own popular car models face parking fines for strange reason - are you at risk?
- Petrol and diesel drivers issued urgent warning as fuel prices will 'start heading back up in 2025'
New drivers face particularly severe consequences, with licences revoked if they accumulate six points within two years of passing their test.
Find Out More...