POLICE have issued a warning to drivers after 17 cars were caught speeding near schools. 

In a Facebook post published on Wednesday, Burnley and Padiham Police said their neighbourhood policing team had been out doing speed checks on roads in the area.

The team, who were armed with speed guns, carried out checks on Marsden Road, Padiham Road and Brunshaw Avenue. 

In the post the force said: “We aren’t out there for fun, and as some people think we are not getting commission for doing these speed checks.

“The reason we are out there is because speeding kills, slow down in built up areas.”

More than ten schools and nurseries are situated within close range of the roads, leaving parents and residents concerned for the safety of their children as they’re going to and from school.

Councillor Tom Porter, who represents the ward of Whittlefield with Ightenhill, was quick to applaud the police on the good work they are doing in the area.

He said: “I have noticed the police out recently on the road with their speed guns, so I don’t think this is a case of the police not doing their jobs, some people are just lunatics on the road.

“It’s totally unacceptable that people speed full stop, never mind near a school when there are children around.”

Officers also posted a photo reminding drivers that at 35mph you are twice as likely to kill someone as you are at 30mph.

The news of these 17 speeders near schools comes just two weeks after 30 drivers were caught racing at astonishing speeds through a 30mph zone in a similar police operation. 

A number of the cars that were stopped at the time had been clocked travelling at 60mph in a 30 zone.

“This is going to be a regular thing, moving around different areas of Burnley” said Lancashire police.

Research shows speed is one of the main factors in fatal roads.
In 2013, 3,064 people were killed or seriously injured in crashes where speed was a factor.