Police plea to take it easy as Northamptonshire gets ready to get behind the wheel again

Police are begging rusty motorists to take it easy on the first weekend back on Northamptonshie's roads since Covid-19 lockdown restrictions were eased.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's announcement last week gave the green light for trips out, to the county's open spaces or even to the seaside irrespective of distance.

But Superintendent Kevin Mulligan warned getting back behind the wheel for the first time in two months.

He said: "We want you to be out on the roads and enjoying relaxation that these rules bring.

"If you are a motorist, cyclist or a pedestrian, you need to take care now you're allowed back on the road network.

"Most of us been off the roads for seven or eight weeks and despite what we might think about our own skills we are going to be rusty. So please think about what your doing, take your time and gradually ease yourself back into it."

A spate of recent deaths on the county's roads was followed by figures from the Safer Roads Alliance that the number of people killed or seriously injured hit an eight-year high in Northamptonshire in 2019.

One speed camera snapped the same driver going too fast twice in the space of just 30 MINUTESand anther not wearing a seatbelt.

And Supt Mulligan issued a warning to those who have been out on the roads during the last two months but will now find them busier than they have been used to.

He added: "In Northamptonshire in the last 28 days we have seen nearly 300 motorists exceeding speed limit by 30mph. Our highest recorded speed was 150mph on the M1, now that is simply unacceptable

Read the full Government guidance on what you can and cannot do HERE.

"If it goes wrong at150 mph only going to be one outcome and that's the driver passengers or other road users are going to be killed or seriously injured. We're not talking numbers, we're talking families' lives that are shattered. That's the reality for us.

"One person killed on our road is too many and we're working terrifically hard to make sure we get as low as pssiblle in terms of that number.

"over the last seven or eight weeks we've been policing the road network, engaging and educating those that use it.

"We're still going to be doing that but it's important that you as road users do your bit."

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