A NEW traffic speed machine will leave motorists with no excuses if they go over the limit.

The SpeedVISOR device flashes up the exact speed of an approaching vehicle on an electronic display screen.

Police and Darlington councillors hope the equipment will encourage drivers to slow down.

The first machine was installed yesterday in Fitzwilliam Drive, which police have highlighted as a hotspot for speeding.

If the SpeedVISOR proves a success, it will be installed in other parts of the town.

The police will also use it to monitor traffic speeds and patterns throughout the town, which will help them identify other speeding hotspots.

Superintendent Barry Peart, Durham Constabulary's head of traffic, said: "There is no doubt that excess speed is responsible for a great many accidents and serious injuries on the roads. Anything that will help reduce such tragedies will be beneficial. I see this system as an opportunity to inform and educate the public."

The SpeedVISOR on Fitzwilliam Drive is on a week-long trial.