Along with many other local authorities and police forces throughout the UK, Hampshire County Council has launched a new campaign to alert and remind drivers and riders of the often lethal contribution that speed – in particular inappropriate levels of speed – has in many road accidents.

Hampshire is a County with a high proportion of rural roads and country lanes, environments where appropriate speed in particular has a huge impact on safety. Throughout the UK, almost two thirds of all road fatalities occur on country and rural roads. On average, three people a day lose their lives on country roads, with a third of these fatalities occurring on a bend. Sobering statistics indeed – for comparison, the UK motorway network is ten times safer in terms of serious injuries and fatalities. As well as the often life changing impact such injuries and fatalities have on the individuals affected and their families, those that are at fault in causing such accidents will also carry the psychological and emotional burden for the rest of their lives.

Hampshire’s campaign emphasises a number of important factors for all motorists to understand:

1. Country roads often have unexpected junctions and sharp bends
2. Just because the posted speed limit is 60mph, that does not mean it is appropriate to travel at this speed on all sections  of the road. The speed limit is a limit, not a target.
3. Weather and road conditions play a big part when driving or riding at an appropriate speed. Bad weather, limited        visibility, road surface quality and traffic density should all be taken into account.
4. Your speed decisions when driving have consequences – not just in terms of injuries and fatalities, but also through        points on your licence, fines and often a subsequent increase in your insurance premiums

If you've been injured in a road accident and it wasn't your fault, see if you can claim - to find out more, contact one of our friendly team for further advice on 0800 977 4852 or via email here.