So far in 2024, 16 people have lost their lives on the roads of South Yorkshire, with loved ones left devasted and lives ruined.

South Yorkshire Police officers are dedicated to improving road safety across the county, with officers committed to intercepting, enforcing, and educating all road users, but road users must start taking responsibility and action.

During an operation in April, roads policing officers supported the national Fatal4 campaign, raising awareness of the dangers of the four main attributing factors to fatal and serious collisions on our roads: speeding, mobile phone use, seatbelts and driving while under the influence of drink and drugs.

Each week saw officers focus their efforts on one of the fatal four. During week one, 129 drivers were processed for speeding, week two saw 23 drivers test positive for drink or drugs, week three saw 24 drivers caught using their mobile phone and week four saw 47 drivers processed for not wearing a seatbelt.

In addition to the proactive stops by officers, 4615 drivers were caught speeding by fixed cameras, with the highest speed of 114mph caught on the M1.

Roads Policing Inspector Matt Collings said: “Everyday officers are out patrolling and responding to reduce risk on our roads.

“But to achieve this, we need ALL road users to step up and change their behaviour.

“People think it won’t happen to them, but road traffic collisions can happen to anyone, any age. 

“We have heard every excuse and reason possible to why people decide to risk it, but it’s not worth it. You could kill or seriously injure someone and face a lengthy prison sentence.

“Think ahead, plan and act.”