Devon & Cornwall zooms to second place in speeding statistics

A recent study has unveiled statistics placing Devon and Cornwall among the highest speeding hotspots in England and Wales. 

The study, completed by Go.Compare, has shown the area sees more than one in five cars issued with a speeding offence over the course of a year.

With a staggering 131,460 speeding offences issued across the region annually, the area demonstrates one of the highest ratios of violations per vehicle, indicating a significant risk for road safety.

The research, a collaboration between the Home Office and the DVLA, analysed regional data to identify areas with the highest incidence of speeding violations. 

According to the findings by Go.Compare Car Insurance, other notable speeding hotspots include Greater London and Yorkshire. 

Adrian Leisk, Head of Road Safety for Devon & Cornwall Police and chair of the Vision Zero South West enforcement group, said: “Speed is a major contributory factor in fatal and serious road collisions. Driving or riding too fast gives you less time to react and greatly increases the severity of injuries when a collision occurs.

“We know that speeding is a regularly reported concern for communities in Devon and Cornwall, and we have a dedicated team who use data and community intelligence to focus on routes where speeding is a significant concern, helping to keep our roads safer.

“We also help empower communities where speed is an issue through the Community Speed Watch scheme. This gives local residents the means to identify speeding hotspots and share their data directly with the police, allowing us to take the relevant enforcement action where needed.

“As a member of the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership, our collective aim is to halve all fatal and serious collisions in Devon and Cornwall by 2030 – and to eradicate them completely by 2040.”

In response to the alarming statistics, Devon & Cornwall Police have implemented targeted measures to address speeding concerns. 

Moreover, the Community Speed Watch scheme empowers local residents to identify speeding hotspots and collaborate with law enforcement to address the issue directly. 

Mr Leisk highlighted the importance of community involvement in tackling speeding-related risks.

As part of the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership, Devon & Cornwall Police aim to halve all fatal and serious collisions in the region by 2030, with the ultimate goal of eradicating them completely by 2040.