Shock as driver caught racing along New Forest road at more than double speed limit
RESIDENTS and road safety campaigners expressed their shock after a motorist was caught speeding through the New Forest at over 90mph.
Hampshire police reported one of its speed camera vans clocked the vehicle travelling at 93mph – more than twice the 40mph limit.
It happened on an undisclosed stretch of Forest road in the Beaulieu area last Friday.
A force spokesperson said the offending vehicle’s registered owner would be contacted to progress matters.
A tweet by the Hampshire roads policing unit said: “Hitting an animal, cyclist or person at that speed would almost certainly kill them.”
Gilly Jones, of the New Forest Roads Awareness campaign group, told the A&T the incident demonstrated the importance of speed camera vans in helping protect livestock and other road users.
“It is such a shame that people still think it is okay to go well over double the speed limit within the New Forest,” she said.
“We are lucky that Hampshire police are going to follow this up and their continued support is much needed.
“This example shows why average speed cameras are needed Forest-wide.”
As reported in the A&T, Forest authorities are looking into the feasibility of average speed cameras on the B3078 Roger Penny Way – one of the worst roads in the area for livestock fatalities.
Among the Twitter users responding to the police post, one argued the current 40mph limit on Forest roads should be lowered to 30mph.
“Though it wouldn't stop the madness of the 93mph speeder, I've seen ponies be struck by drivers within the limit and be killed – genuine accidents occur but 40mph is still too fast,” they wrote.
“You can drive from Lyndhurst to Beaulieu and the difference in time at 30 v 40 is negligible.”
A separate operation in Totton, by the local police-backed SpeedWatch group in Salisbury Road, recorded 110 drivers exceeding the 30mph limit in an hour last Thursday.
The highest speed clocked was 51mph.
“That speed is totally unacceptable as there is no reason ever to go that speed,” a local police Facebook post said afterwards.
