Met will be cracking down on speeding in September

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Fines of up to £2,500.

Traffic Officers from the Met will be cracking down on speeding in September in a month-long targeted operation of education and enforcement aimed at drivers across the capital.

The intelligence-led operation is in addition to normal enforcement and will take place at areas where excessive and inappropriate speed has been identified or there has been a higher percentage of speed related collisions.

Road safety education and awareness will be a priority during the operation and officers will be aiming to improve road user behaviour by offering advice to drivers on how to make their journey safer. Officers will also be using mobile and static laser speed detection cameras, taking a high visibility approach with the aim to reduce collisions in the ‘hotspot’ areas.

Chief Inspector Ian Brookes, in charge of NW London Traffic Operational Command Unit said: “Excessive and inappropriate speed is a significant factor in the frequency and severity of collisions and although in the 12 months to April 04 road traffic deaths in London came down by 12 percent on the previous year, those who speed remain a priority for us in our ongoing work to increase road safety. These additional operations are essential in raising awareness of the dangers of speeding.”

George Galli-Atkinson, whose daughter Livia Galli-Atkinson was killed in a road traffic collision in January 1998, said: “The lives of victims and their families can be shattered by a road traffic collision, which in some cases could have been prevented by observing the speed limit. The work of the Traffic Police in operations of this kind is vital in our fight to remove dangerous drivers from our roads and help stop other families being devastated by the loss of a loved one.”

George Galli-Atkinson and his wife Giuletta, are founders of The Livia Award for Professionalism & Service to Justice which was instituted by the Galli-Atkinson family in 1999 in remembrance of their sixteen year old daughter. The award is made annually to the Metropolitan Police Officer who is judged to have provided the most meritorious service to road death investigation, either in a specific case or sustained through several investigations, or who has provided the family of a road crash victim with outstanding service. The next award will be made at the beginning of November 2004.

Chief Inspector Brookes added: “With the wet weather and nights drawing in earlier, drivers need to take particular care and adjust their speed to the road conditions. Brakes, tyres and lights should be checked to ensure your vehicle is adequately equipped to deal with road conditions.

“Carelessness and impatience are not excuses for poor driving. If you are caught speeding you could face a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points on your driving licence plus the court has the power to disqualify you from driving.”

August 29, 2004