CHESHIRE Police is launching a crackdown to tackle speeding, with ‘robust action’ to be taken.

The force’s Roads and Crime Unit officers will be patrolling hotspots around the county for the next month, looking out for road users travelling at excessive speeds.

Throughout the course of the month-long operation, officers will be educating drivers on how to stay safe while on the road and will be enforcing the law against those who actively choose to drive recklessly.

The force will also be working closely with partner organisations and communities to actively discourage speeding, and is encouraging the public to ensure they are reporting any issues or concerns in their area.

Speed limits are set for a reason and exceeding them is illegal. The minimum penalty for speeding is a £100 fine and three points added to your licence. Receiving 12 or more points within three years may disqualify you from driving.

If you are a newly qualified driver and receive six points during the first two years after passing your test, your licence will automatically be cancelled. To get it back you’ll need to apply and pay for a new provisional licence and pass both theory and practical tests again.

Inspector Anton Sullivan, of the Roads and Crime Unit, said: “We have been extremely proactive in our crackdown of speeding drivers, and we have dealt with a significant number of motorists in the past 12 months.

“We expect the roads will start to get busier over the coming weeks and I want to reassure our communities that our officers are working tirelessly to track down these offenders who are using the roads as their own personal racetracks.

“Our officers will be out patrolling the county's roads over the next month looking for drivers speeding and those show no concern for the welfare and safety of residents and their fellow motorists.

"Not only have we seen incidents of speeding and racing, but there has also been the associated anti-social behaviour with large groups causing undue concern to residents.

“We will continue to do all we can to educate and encourage all motorists to drive safely throughout this seasonal operation.

“I hope the activity will send a strong message that we will not hesitate to act against those individuals set on flouting the rules of the road and who think the law does not apply to them.”

Officers are also asking drivers to familiarise themselves with the 'fatal five' offences, in order to minimise the risk of any accidents occurring on the county's roads.

Investigations into collisions show that some of the incidents could have been prevented, and that there are five main contributory factors that cause serious road traffic collisions.

They are careless driving, drink and drug driving, not wearing a seatbelt, using a mobile phone and speeding.

Road users who commit one of the fatal five offences are far more likely to be involved in a fatal collision than those who do not.

Superintendent Saf Ali, head of the Roads and Crime Unit, added:“As the nights get lighter and longer, the weather gets better and with many children at home for half term during April, we expect to see more people travelling on our roads.

“The message is simple: slow down. We do not want to stop people from enjoying themselves, but we would urge all road users to please stay safe and be aware while on Cheshire’s roads.

"Our officers will be out and about observing motorists, looking out for excess speed and educating drivers on how to stay safe.

“Operations like this one help to make our roads safer and we will continue to engage with, and educate, motorists on how to use the roads safely – and we will fully enforce the law against those who are not doing so."

If you have any information in relation to dangerous driving or speeding, call Cheshire Police on 101, visit cheshire.police.uk/tell-us or contact CrimeStoppers anonymously.