Through town at 58mph (From Witney Gazette)

Through town at 58mph

2:28pm Tuesday 23rd January 2007 in Witney By Rosalind Miles

A MOTORIST was caught speeding at 58mph in Burford Road, Witney.

The motorist and 30 others were caught red-handed during a joint police and county council's road safety team speed check, at the Bridge Street end of the road on Monday evening last week.

Roads policing officers spoke to drivers who were exceeding the speed limit - even if only by a few miles per hour.

Those drivers found to be travelling at excessive speeds were dealt with severely by police.

A total of 68 people were killed on Oxfordshire's roads last year.

Road safety experts say an early analysis of these collisions shows one of the biggest factors was excessive speed and the fatal accidents were predominantly on rural roads with higher speed limits.

Inspector Paul Winks, from Thames Valley Police, said: "I am pleased that we worked in partnership with the county councils road safety officers in this worthwhile casualty reduction initiative. The level of deaths and serious injuries on the roads of Oxfordshire are unacceptably high. The police and other agencies must work closely together to make the roads safer."

Councillor David Robertson, county council's member for transport, who lives in Witney, said: "It saddens me to see so many lives lost.

"We will be looking closely at the data to see if there is anything at all the council can do to change this. However, at this early stage it appears that the deaths were largely due to human error."

Mayor of Witney, Chrissie Curry, said: "That's unbelievable. It is so irresponsible. I watch my speed in Witney, you have to be careful because the roads are so busy especially in the middle of the town.

"You can creep a few miles above 30, but to go at over 50 is just potty."

Witney town councillor Roger Curry, who campaigned for improvements to the safety of Newland, said: "I'm surprised to hear that, I have never seen anyone personally go that fast but about 18 months ago I saw a car knock down a pedestrian in Mill Street.

"I think 58mph is clearly far too fast. It's just like at Newland, where you have cars coming down the hill to the roundabout very fast.

"It is very difficult for pedestrians to cross."