Why you may see more police on roads across South Yorkshire and Sheffield today as ‘crackdown’ starts

Linking in with the National Police Chiefs Council’s campaign to reduce speeding this month, South Yorkshire Police traffic officers and partner agencies are set to flood South Yorkshire’s roads to educate drivers and enforce the law.

Officers are carrying out speed checks and community speed watch operations are also planned.

Vehicles found to be in a dangerous condition will also be removed from the roads, South Yorkshire Police has warned.

Commenting on the initiative, which comes under the Operation Duxford umbrella, which sees the police tackling issues of concern to communities and residents,

Inspector Jason Booth said: “A few miles per hour over the speed limit can have serious consequences and devastating effects affects for victims and families of those involved in collisions. We want people to think twice before speeding.

“We will be kicking off our Operation Duxford outside of local schools, we will have static speed sites where officers will carry out speeding checks and will also have local residents and councillors carrying out community speed watch.

“We will have marked and unmarked police cars on the motorway network pro-actively ensuring the speed limits set are not exceeded and speed camera vans in place on roads.

“In addition to our roads policing officers we have joined forces with the DVLA to target those drivers whose vehicles are unsafe, in poor condition or uninsured.”

Joanne Wehrle, Manager of the South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership, said: “If you speed or travel too quickly for the road conditions, you are putting your life and other lives at risk.

“Think about how you would feel if you caused a collision because you were driving too fast.

“The faster you are driving, the longer it will take you to stop if something unexpected happens.

“Please drive to the road conditions and remember that the weather, time of day and the state of the road all have an impact on your speed.

“Remember – the speed limit is the absolute maximum and not a target.”