Police chiefs 'shocked' as someone caught speeding every two minutes

Speeding: The campaign ran for three days.© STV

Police chiefs have been left "shocked and dismayed" by the number of drivers caught speeding during a recent crackdown.

Officers caught one person every two minutes during the three-day campaign across the country.

A total on 1837 motorists were caught for speeding and another 62 for driving dangerously or carelessly during the campaign, which ran from July 20 to 23.

A 21-year-old man was caught doing 114mph on the A952 near New Leeds in Aberdeenshire on July 21.

The next day, a woman was stopped in Edinburgh after she was found to be driving at 71mph in a 40mph zone with three young children in the car.

In Fife, a coach driver was caught doing 59mph in a 40mph zone while the vehicle was full of children. An HGV driver was also stopped after tailgating an unmarked patrol car and flashing its lights at the vehicle.

An 18-year-old will be reported to the procurator fiscal after driving at high speeds on the A74 near Lockerbie before crashing into two other vehicles while overtaking on July 20. He was found to be driving under the influence of alcohol and had taken the car without permission.

Chief Superintendent Derek Robertson said: "I am shocked and dismayed at the level of speeding and inappropriate driving which my fellow officers have dealt with during the three days of the campaign. The links between excessive speed and collisions causing death or serious injury are clear and those who flout the speed limits put themselves and others at risk.

"Almost 115,000 speeding offences were recorded in Scotland in 2010/11 which represents over a third of all motor vehicle offences. Speeding is dangerous, costly and unacceptable. This has only reaffirmed the intention to continue our focus on irresponsible drivers, to make sure speed limits are acknowledged and the roads are made safer for everyone in Scotland."

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