CITY cops are driving home the message that speed kills with an intensive roadside campaign this week.

Throughout the city until Sunday, road safety officer PC John Bulman and his team are wielding a speed gun to stop motorists from exceeding the limit – and a Citizen First reporter joined the team on Marsh Drive, Great Linford, yesterday (Monday) morning.

During the hour and a half blitz, police stopped a speeding motorist every five minutes.

And while the majority were driving between 35 and 39mph, the highest recorded speed was 48mph, which in such a built-up area, can be
extremely dangerous.

"A pedestrian would probably die if they'd been hit by that car," said PC Bulman, "and even if another motorist pulled out in front of it, both drivers would at least be seriously injured."

The 13 motorists driving between 35 and 39mph were given the choice between three penalty points and a £60 fine, or a four-hour speed awareness course, while those driving at 40mph or more were automatically fined and penalised.

"Those driving at 50mph or more in 30mph zone will be sent to court," said PC Bulman.

"And if you kill someone from excess speeding, you can be looking at 14 years imprisonment and a lifetime of guilt, which is often the hardest thing to live with, especially if you hit a child."

This week's campaign is part of a European-wide push on the enforcement of speed limits.