More than 1,200 motorists were clocked by speed cameras on the A12 last month – the equivalent of 40 a day.

East Anglian Daily Times: Detective Inspector Chris Hinitt from the Norfolk and Suffolk Roads Policing Unit Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWNDetective Inspector Chris Hinitt from the Norfolk and Suffolk Roads Policing Unit Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant)

Average speed devices between East Bergholt and Stratford St Mary snapped hundreds of drivers putting their foot down in May, official police figures reveal.

New data shows a total of 1,281 offences were logged by the cameras in just a month – which works out at around 40 per day.

Slightly more offences were recorded towards Stratford St Mary, at 661, while 620 were logged towards East Bergholt.

So far this year, a total of 4,321 incidents of speeding have been processed by the cameras.

East Anglian Daily Times: Average speed cameras on the A12 between East Bergholt and Stratford St Mary Picture: GREGG BROWNAverage speed cameras on the A12 between East Bergholt and Stratford St Mary Picture: GREGG BROWN

Last May, 827 motorists were clocked going over the limit, which means this year’s figures are up 55%.

Suffolk’s police and crime commissioner Tim Passmore said: “I find it increasingly exasperating that drivers continue to speed through this stretch of road and over the Orwell Bridge.

“The average speed cameras are there for a reason – I can’t understand why so many drivers are clearly not getting the message.

I know the A12 is a very busy stretch of road but even so, for over 1,200 drivers to be caught speeding is very disturbing.

East Anglian Daily Times: Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner, Tim Passmore Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWNSuffolk Police and Crime Commissioner, Tim Passmore Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant)

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.”

More than 400 speeding offences were processed by safety cameras on the Orwell Bridge in May.

Data for the westbound carriageway has not been available for the last four months after one of the cameras was damaged, but has now been added to the force’s website.

East Anglian Daily Times: Average speed cameras on the A12 between East Bergholt and Stratford St Mary Picture: GREGG BROWNAverage speed cameras on the A12 between East Bergholt and Stratford St Mary Picture: GREGG BROWN

Detective Inspector Chris Hinitt urged drivers to take extra care on the roads – and always remain under the speed limit.

He added: “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 or drug driving, that are known contributory factors in fatal and serious injury collisions.

“As the difference of a few miles per hour can mean the difference between life and death, we would urge all motorists to drive to an appropriate speed to the road and conditions, always remaining under the speed limits.”