Staying speed safe  

Driving is unpredictable and if something unexpected happens on the road – such as a pedestrian stepping into the road – then the speed the driver is travelling at will affect the outcome and whether they are able to stop in time.

It will also effect the injuries a person sustains if they come in to contact with a motor vehicle.

Ensuring you stay inside the speed limit will give you the best chance of being able to react to anything unexpected.

Speed limits

The local authorities set the speed limits on the local roads while the speed limits on all other UK roads follow national standards.   Remember – the speed limit is the absolute maximum – it doesn’t mean its safe to drive at this speed in all conditions.

National speed limit guidelines can be found here

Community Speed Watch

Community Speed Watch is a volunteer programme run between Northamptonshire Police and Northamptonshire County Council that aims to increase awareness of the dangers of speeding by education.  The programme has more than 600 trained volunteers who operate a speed measurement device on the roadside in their local community.

If you are concerned about speeding in your community and would like more information about setting up a Community Speed Watch Scheme, click here.

You can also contact the Safer Roads Team to talk about any road safety concerns that you may have in your area.