Sixteen motorists have been caught speeding on the A140 following a speed enforcement operation.

Officers from the Roads Policing and Firearms Operations Unit carried out speed checks at Brockford Street between 6.30pm and 8.30pm on Sunday. Three drivers were reported for summons for speeding, while ten received fixed penalty notices. A further three drivers were referred to attend speed awareness courses. Since January 1, 23 people have been killed on Suffolk’s roads, compared with 25 for the whole of 2013.

Reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on Suffolk’s roads remains a priority for the constabulary and throughout the year campaigns take place to not only carry out enforcement but also educate drivers of potential dangers and consequences of their actions.

Sergeant Jon Eaves from the Mid Suffolk north safer neighbourhood team said: “Local residents living in the area had complained on a number of occasions about the issue of speeding motorists on the A140 and particularly along this stretch of road. The issue often increases in the summer when the number of vehicles using the roads during the holiday period increases.

“Speeding is considered one of the ‘fatal four’, so together with driving while under the influence of alcohol, driving while not wearing a seatbelt and driving whilst using a mobile phone, it is one of the main contributing factors leading to people being killed or seriously injured on the county’s roads.

“We hope the operation over the weekend, will not only go some way to reassuring local people that we do listen to their concerns, but also make people think about speeding before getting behind the wheel.”