Peeblesshire News | News | Police on a fast track to catch the speedsters

Friday, 16th May, 2008

Published: Friday, 2nd May, 2008 12:00

Police on a fast track to catch the speedsters

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A BIKER was clocked at speeds of over 120 miles-per-hour during a police clampdown at the weekend.

Roads officers caught the motorcyclist hitting a high speed of 122 on the A701, between Leadburn and Broughton, during high visibility patrols on Sunday.

And the traffic Inspector for the area has vowed to continue tracking bikers in a bid to cut road deaths in the Borders.

Two traffic-policing crews have been deployed specifically to Peeblesshire roads.

And mobile camera units are regularly being stationed at sites near Eddleston, Mountain Cross, Broughton and around Peebles.

Inspector Richard Latto said: “Peeblesshire has a particular problem with motorcyclists and there will be extra patrols out – especially at weekends.

“We will be out on the roads and at popular stops to educate and enforce wherever we can.”

A total of 17 motorists and passengers were killed last year on local roads.

And the Inspector is determined to see that number fall.

He added: “Since I came to the Scottish Borders I have been committed to reducing the number of deaths we have on our roads.

“There are no particular roads where you can say there is a definitive problem – but I have noticed seasonal variations with Peeblesshire having problems in the summer.

“Every death last year was out on open rural roads.”

Roads officers will be targeting speeding, non use of seat belts, using mobile phones behind the wheel, and also drunk and drug driving.

Tweeddale Councillor Willie Archibald said: “The A701 is normally a race track for bikers.”

But police won’t be deployed to the village of Cardrona to snare speeders.

Local Inspector Stewart Sandilands said: “There has been one accident in Cardrona over the past five years and it involved a child running out from a school bus.

“I’ve had a long-running correspondence with one member of the public from Cardrona about speeding in the village but I’m not going to deploy resources on the basis of one complaint.

“I don’t believe there is a speeding problem in Cardrona and I have much more important issues to concentrate on.”

But Tweeddale East councillor Gavin Logan believed there was an issue.

He said: “There is a problem with speeding and it is something that is regularly raised in Cardrona.”

A 47-year-old from Penicuik has been reported to the Procurator Fiscal for a number of road traffic offences, including speeding, on the A701 on Sunday.

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