Motorists who risk lives by speeding will be targeted in increased checks.

Hertfordshire Constabulary is to increase the amount of speed checks and enforcement procedures at speeding and collision hotspots across the county throughout August.

The force will work together with officers in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire in a bid to tackle one of the main causes of fatal road incidents.

Chief Inspector Richard Hann of the three counties’ Roads Policing Unit said: “Speed limits exist to keep our roads safe and are in place to reduce casualties and save lives. Those drivers who choose to speed are not only putting their own lives at considerable risk but also the lives of other road users.”

Drivers caught speeding will be issued with a fixed penalty notice, resulting in points on their licence, a fine of up to £2,500 or even court proceedings.

In some cases drivers may be offered speed awareness courses as an alternative option.

Inspector Hann added: “Drivers must remember that driving a few miles over the legal speed limit increases your stopping distances and it really does make the difference between life and death. This focus on speeding should remind motorists that they stand a significant chance of being caught if they choose to drive recklessly on the roads across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.”