Essex Police's new campaign to target speeding drivers comes after a month which saw 11 people killed on Essex roads - and more than 50 accidents which resulted in serious injuries.

The campaign will last for a month and involve more than 200 officers from road policing units in the county.

Road policing manager, Chief Inspector Tom Diment, said: "We are telling motorists that speed kills and maims.

''We are giving them a fair warning that they will be hit hard the moment they exceed the speed limit."

He added: "We have already had 11 fatalities and over 50 serious injury crashes in the first month of this year alone.

''Anyone who has witnessed these accidents at close quarters will understand the agony we are seeking to avoid."

Officers working on the campaign will try to beat last year's 20 per cent reduction in the number of people killed on the county's roads.

Police will strive to ensure motorists are made aware of their responsibilities and hopefully reduce the number of collisions which result in death or injury.

Measures used will include fixed penalty notices with a fine of £60, which will be issued to the majority of drivers who are caught exceeding speed limits.

Those found travelling at excessively high speeds will be prosecuted in court.

Police say 90 per cent of pedestrians who are hit by a car travelling at 40mph are killed instantly.

At 30mph this figure is halved and at 20mph only one in ten people will die.

The message to motorists is to slow down - and not just during February.

By Fred Hammerton

Reporter's e-mail: fred.hammerton@essex-chronicle.co.uk

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