Traffic police across all EU Member States are taking part in a pan-European police enforcement campaign to target speeding drivers. The campaign, which will last one week, is being coordinated by the European Traffic Police Network (TISPOL). It’s designed to reinforce the message across the roads of Europe that speed kills.

The TISPOL Organisation has been established by the traffic police forces of Europe in order to improve road safety and law enforcement on the roads of Europe. Its main priority is to reduce the number of people being killed and seriously injured on Europe’s roads. About 43,000 people were killed in road traffic collisions in the European Union in 2007. Although progress towards the EU Commission target to reduce road deaths is behind schedule, a new target for reducing deaths by 40% between 2010 and 2020 has been introduced. To achieve this target the EU would have to go above and beyond current reduction trends by implementing new measures.

Adam Briggs, Deputy Chief Constable of North Yorkshire and the TISPOL lead on speeding, explained the thinking behind the operation. “Tackling speeding is, of course, a year-round priority, because excessive speed is so dangerous. However, campaigns such as this serve as a reminder to drivers of the relevant facts: namely that speeding is a contributory factor in a huge number of road traffic collisions, and that choosing to drive even a little too fast can make the difference between a safe journey and disaster.”