Police launch operation to stop drivers breaking limit

Over the next four weeks the county's 130 traffic officers will be taking the force's mobile speed camera to speeding blackspots. They will also patrol the routes in marked and unmarked vehicles.

Drivers caught breaking speed limits could receive a fixed penalty notice or be summoned to court.

Last year 1,950 accidents produced 2,809 casualties. The force estimates that at least a third of these were due to excess speed.

It hopes the campaign will help reduce the toll of deaths and injuries.

Chief Inspector Wilf Lavery, Durham's head of traffic, said people were beginning to take heed of the message about the dangers of excess speed.

"I get the impression, driving through 30mph limits, that more people are complying than not, which wasn't the case ten years ago.

"Unfortunately, the statistics haven't changed greatly in relation to the impact of speed.

"Modern vehicles perform better than in the past but the stopping distance hasn't changed very much.

"At 30mph you stand a 50/50 chance of killing a pedestrian if you hit them, at 40mph death is a virtual certainty.

"Knocking someone over is a burden I wouldn't want anyone to carry around with them."

Chief Insp Lavery said most people obeyed the law but some drivers were "stupid and selfish'' and ignored speed limits.

"We all know people like that. They don't care about what happens. They are the ones we will be targeting," he said.

In the north of the county, the A690 at West Rainton and between Langley Moor, Meadowfield and Brandon, is being targeted.

The A1088 Coast Road in east Durham and the A693 Chester Road in Stanley, Essington Way in Peterlee, and the B1285 through Murton will also receive attention.

In Darlington routes covered will include Coniscliffe Road, North Road and McMullen Road.

The A67 in Barnard Castle, the A689 in Wolsingham and Howden-le-Wear, Greenfield Way in Newton Aycliffe and Salter's Lane, Fishburn, will also receive attention.