Motorists in Luton have been given an opportunity re-educate themselves about the dangers of driving too fast by the Luton North Safer Neighbourhood Team and potentially avoid points on their licence and a costly penalty fine.

Under the banner of Bedfordshire Police’s speed reduction campaign, Operation Pride, uniformed officers have been carrying out speed checks across the north of the town. Today is the third of the four-day operation, which also involves Luton Borough Council’s Road Safety Department, and concludes at the end of the month.

Sergeant Frank Griffin from Luton North SNT says the speed checks have been carried out in direct response to residents’ requests. He said: “Speeding is one of things that residents in the north of Luton have said worries them so we have deployed Operation Pride in the area to see just how bad the problem is and tackle those motorists who are driving too fast.”

“Although we have stopped a number of people I am pleased to say the problem is not as bad as it may seem. Over the last three days we have dealt with a few people driving over the 30mph limit and they have been given the appropriate fixed penalty notice which is three points and a £60 fine, however, the majority of motorists are driving within the correct limits, which is great news. Those who are borderline are being given the chance to go through the Operation Pride education scheme instead.”

Those selected for the road safety talk by council advisors have also viewed videos of road traffic accidents where driving too fast for the conditions was a factor, all of which is specially designed to bring home the vital message that ‘speed kills’.

Sergeant Griffin added: “We’ve had five or six people a day sit down with us and go through this process. We’ve issued around two fixed penalty notices a day on top of that to people who were obviously speeding and simply had to be dealt with according to the law.”

“It was the public who asked us to run an operation of this kind and so far those motorists we have pulled over have been very receptive. One woman left in tears after viewing the films and realising the impact even driving a couple of miles an hour over the limit can have. She put her self in the shoes of a mother who’d lost a child or had been seriously injured and said she would never speed again. If we only manage to change the driving behaviour of one person as a result of this operation then it has been worth it. It’s certainly been an education,” he said.

Operation Pride has been running in Bramingham, Limbury, Icknield, Runfold, Sundon Park and Marsh Farm.

If you want to get in touch with your Safer Neighbourhood Team log onto www.bedfordshire.police.co.uk or call the Luton North SNT on 01582 473473 or email: SNT.Luton-North@Bedfordshire.pnn.Police.uk