A road safety initiative resulted in 11 motorists being stopped for speeding along Sunderland Road in Sandy in a two-and-a-half hour period.

The scheme known as PRIDE - Prevention and Reduction of Injuries by Driver Education – is usually run by police and council officers in towns or villages which they feel have a problem with speeding motorists.

The initiative involves going to a specific location with the Mobile Police Station and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) in a marked patrol car. A site is set up for the Police to use the speed gun and Central Bedfordshire Council’s Road Safety Officers are then set up in the mobile station. The team stops all speeding motorists, and those travelling up to 38mph are offered the driver education and will watch a short high impact video regarding speeding. All drivers travelling in excess of 38mph are given issued a speeding ticket and may either take a fixed penalty fine of £60 and three points on their driving license, or be referred to court. 

Alongside the mobile station, Road Safety Officers set up traffic cones which measure out the Highway Code stopping distance for 30mph . This gives a clear visual message to drivers about how long it would take them to stop if they were obeying the speed limit. 

Out of the 11 drivers stopped, seven of these were offered education. The other four drivers were caught travelling at speeds of 40, 43, 44 and 48mph.

Councillor David McVicar, Portfolio Holder for Safer and Stronger Communities at Central Bedfordshire Council, said: “There have been a number of identified problems along Sunderland Road, Sandy and various campaigns have taken place. 

“We chose to use the PRIDE initiative along Sunderland Road to further support the campaigns and I believe it is important that people know that we are taking action along with the Police and the Town Council. 

“Most of the drivers stopped were either parents or grandparents. The video we show them often brings the motorists to a hard realisation at what their speed could do if they hit someone. 

“I hope that drivers realise the dangers of travelling at high speeds in built up areas. It shouldn't take an accident before people take their foot off of the accelerator.”