'It will never happen to me': Suffolk police warn over dangerous mindset behind speeding
New RAC analysis found one motorist was recorded at 51 miles an hour in a 20 zone in Ipswich.
Police say many drivers wrongly believe they're immune from serious crashes as officers step up patrols across Suffolk during the busy summer period.
Suffolk Police says one of the biggest challenges in tackling speeding isn't catching drivers – it's changing the belief that a serious collision will never happen to them.
The warning comes as officers across Suffolk and Norfolk step up enforcement this month as part of the National Police Chiefs' Council's Operation Spotlight campaign, alongside the local Operation Lifesaver, targeting speeding, drink and drug driving, mobile phone use and seatbelt offences. Almost half of all fatal collisions in Suffolk last year had speed recorded as a contributory factor.
Speaking to us, Chief Inspector Gary Miller, head of the Norfolk and Suffolk Roads and Armed Policing Team, said many motorists underestimate the risks of driving too fast.
"I think a lot of people drive around and think, 'Well, it will never happen to me.' Indeed, I speed on a daily basis. Therefore, I'm a better driver than most because nothing's ever gone wrong."
"I think that's the mindset that we have a challenge to change."
He said speed limits exist to protect everyone using the road and that the faster a vehicle is travelling, the less chance a driver has of stopping safely if something unexpected happens.
"The higher you go over the speed limit, the more risk that you present," he said.
Education, enforcement and engineering
Miller said tackling speeding requires more than simply issuing fines.
While enforcement remains important, he believes education, road design and technology all have a role to play in improving driver behaviour.
"The police can't be everywhere in terms of their enforcement," he said, adding that lower speed limits should be supported by engineering measures such as traffic calming where appropriate.
He also highlighted the value of speed awareness courses, saying they can help drivers understand the consequences of their actions before reoffending.
"We're hoping for a broader dissemination of that information that comes from a speeding education programme," he said.
Busy summer roads
With more people travelling during the summer holidays, Miller said traffic volumes naturally increase across Suffolk.
Although visitors may be unfamiliar with local roads, he said all drivers remain responsible for recognising speed limits and driving to the conditions.
"Ultimately, the driver is still responsible for everything that happens within that vehicle," he said.
"They need to be paying attention, they need to be compliant with the Highway Code and they need to make sure that they're driving within their own capability."
Police are also urging motorists to think carefully before getting behind the wheel after drinking alcohol during the Women's World Cup and other summer events.
Miller warned people could still be over the legal alcohol limit the morning after drinking.
"If you need to drive the next day and you're considering watching a match and it involves alcohol, then you need to make sure that you're not driving the next day," he said.
Operation Lifesaver will see increased patrols and enforcement activity across Suffolk and Norfolk during the first two weeks of July, alongside public awareness campaigns aimed at reducing deaths and serious injuries on the region's roads.