Thousands of motorists were snapped putting their foot down by speed cameras on the A12 in the first four months of 2018, official police figures reveal.

%image(14547954, type="article-full", alt="Suffolk's police and crime commissioner Tim Passmore said he was "disturbed" to hear thousands of motorists had been caught in four months Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN")

Monitoring devices between East Bergholt and Stratford St Mary processed 3,040 speeding offences from January 1 to April 30, latest data shows.

That’s the equivalent of 25 motorists caught every single day – though some may be repeat offenders, according to police chiefs. Over 1,000 speeding incidents were logged in January alone, while the April figures were not far behind at nearly 900 (891).

Meanwhile, on the Orwell Bridge, more than 800 vehicles were clocked.

However, those snapped were on the eastbound carriageway – as the westbound camera was out of action when the data was published.

%image(15205388, type="article-full", alt="More than 3,000 offences have been processed by average speed cameras on the A12 between East Bergholt and Stratford St Mary in a four-month period Picture: GREGG BROWN")

It was damaged back in December and has since been fixed – Highways England bosses said figures should be updated from May onwards.

Police chiefs are continuing to urge motorists to keep to the limit in the wake of the latest data – and have an important message for those who exceed it.

Meanwhile, Suffolk’s police and crime commissioner Tim Passmore said it was “very disturbing” to see 3,000 speeding incidents on the A12 in such a short period of time.

“As the difference of a few miles per hour can mean the difference between life and death, we would urge all drivers to adhere to the limit on the road they are driving on,” police bosses said.

%image(15205388, type="article-full", alt="More than 3,000 offences have been processed by average speed cameras on the A12 between East Bergholt and Stratford St Mary in a four-month period Picture: GREGG BROWN")

“Safety cameras exist to try to prevent road casualties and to reduce collisions. Excess speed is one of the ‘fatal four’ offences, along with mobile phone use, not wearing seatbelts and drink/drug driving, that are known contributory factors in fatal and serious injury collisions.”

Since the A12 cameras went live in 2015, 27,541 speeding offences have been processed.

Reacting to the data, Mr Passmore said: “I find it deeply frustrating that drivers continue to speed through this stretch of road. The cameras are there because there have been serious collisions in the area.

“I can’t understand why so many drivers are clearly not getting the message.

“To see over 3,000 offences in such a short time is very disturbing and while this should not be looked at in isolation, it is nevertheless a huge number of offences.

He added: “I am committed to doing all I can to improve the safety of our roads.

“We will continue to invest in areas such as driver education, awareness initiatives on the fatal four – and, where necessary – enforcement.

“We have to continue putting the message across that excess speed can kill.”

In July last year, British Army captain James Golding was clocked by the average cameras travelling at speeds of 100mph to 130mph along the A12 at Dedham.

The 26-year-old Sandhurst graduate, based at Wattisham Airfield, admitted speeding but was spared a ban due to him awaiting deployment overseas.