THE public is invited to comment on a plan to tackle speeding drivers.

The draft County Durham and Darlington Speed Management Strategy, which would run for five years, is the result of consultation between the police, the county council, Darlington Borough Council, the Highways Agency, fire and rescue and ambulance services, and primary care trusts.

Maxine Stubbs, Durham police's traffic management officer, said: "The whole point of the strategy is to work towards creating safer communities, and to achieve the Government's targets in relation to reducing casualties by 2010, by examining issues surrounding speed and putting in place measures to combat the problems identified.

The plan emphasises the reduction of excess speed through enforcement, the education of drivers and road engineering.

People can comment until June 4 on websites www.durham.gov.uk, www. darlington.gov.uk and www. durham.police.uk