Average speed check for A14 roadworks between Elmswell, near Bury St Edmunds, and Stowmarket catches 163 drivers
Published: 05:00, 15 January 2024
Suffolk Police is urging motorists to stick to A14 speed limits during roadworks after it was revealed more than 160 speeding drivers had been caught since July.
An average 50mph speed check zone - below the usual 70mph - between Elmswell, near Bury St Edmunds, and Stowmarket recorded the speeding offences between July 17 and January 4.
A Suffolk Police spokesperson described the figures as ‘extremely disappointing’, adding: “The speed limit is in place for safety reasons and should be adhered to at all times.”
The average speed check zone is in place during works to reconstruct the A14 between junctions 47 and 49.
By January 4, 163 speeding offences had been processed.
Of those, three people have been prosecuted, 26 drivers triggered £100 fines, while others could attend a retraining course – 60 people have taken this option so far.
The police spokesperson added: “It is extremely disappointing that so many offences have been detected in less than six months.
“Speeding is one of the ‘fatal four’ main causes of killed and serious injury collisions and the potential for collisions is greater in this situation, with narrower lanes and the contraflows.
“We would urge drivers to respect the speed limits and consider the safety of all road users and road workers.”
National Highways is almost a year into its £37 million project to reconstruct the A14 between Haughley and Tothill. Work is due to be completed this summer.
A National Highways spokesperson said: “At National Highways safety is our top priority and our vision is for everyone who travels on our network to get home safe and well.
"We are committed to working to reduce road risk with the aim of ensuring no-one is harmed when travelling or working on our network and are always looking for ways to improve safety and reduce the potential risk to roadworkers.”
“We will continue to engage with local road users through and with organisations from across the region such as police forces, fire and rescue services and other highway authorities to reduce the number of speeding motorists."