More than 130 drivers were warned about speeding during a day of action under Operation Harness carried out across Swindon and Wiltshire yesterday.

The operation -  aimed at raising speed awareness and educate drivers about road safety - involved over 170 Community Speed Watch (CSW) volunteers and 50 Wiltshire Police officers who carried out roadside checks through out the day.

Wiltshire Police Roads Policing Unit (RPU) and Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPT) worked with CSW to identify drivers that were speeding.

As a result, 208 vehicles were identified as speeding, 147 vehicles were stopped with 132 drivers given warnings about their speed.

• Eight drivers were given warnings for having defective vehicle lights 

• One driver had a road side alcohol breath test – negative result

• One driver received a warning for not wearing a seatbelt

• One driver received a warning for have a defective number plate

• Four drivers had no further action after being stopped

• 70 letters from Community Speed Watch have been sent out.

Chief Constable Pat Geenty said: “Yesterday's day of action highlights the key partnership working between CSW and Wiltshire Police.

"Many reactions to yesterdays visibility out on the roads have been positive with drivers listening to the advice given by our officers and many people giving us a wave as they drove by. I think the day of action has definitely made drivers think twice about their speed.”

Speeding is one of the ‘fatal four’ factors in road traffic collisions, say police, the others being drink/drugs, driving while on a mobile phone and not wearing seatbelts.

Angus Macpherson, Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, said: “Community Speed Watch is about local volunteers driving down speed and driving up safety. They are getting involved with local policing matters and showing that speeding will not be tolerated in their area.

"The teams I met yesterday were enthusiastic and dedicated to their watch scheme and it was great to see them work collaboratively with Wiltshire Police out on the roads.”

Operation Harness is a long-term collaborative project tackling issues which matter most to our communities. It involves all police officers and staff over a number of organised days of action throughout the year.

More information on Community Speed Watch can be found on at www.wiltshire.police.uk or Facebook at www.facebook.com/WiltsCSW