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Landlady backs speed warning

by Tom Rowley
23/ 4/2008

A LANDLADY whose dog died in a road accident is backing a campaign to cut traffic speed.

Bob, a collie/terrier cross, was killed on the A624 in Chunal after being hit by a motorbike outside The Grouse Inn.

Landlady Jackie Evans said she and husband Arthur had owned the much-loved pet for 13 years.

"We have three other dogs but Bob acted the most human. He used to sit at the side of the bar sipping a pint of beer and open a tin of Quality Street."

Jackie said that while there was no indication the biker was speeding, it highlights the need for people to keep to the 50mph speed limit.

She said: "We’ve been here three years and in that time there have been nine or 10 accidents. Once a car was pulling out of the entrance and was hit.I am appealing to everyone to keep to the 50mph speed limit."

A police crackdown on speeding motorists began this week. Speed checks will be stepped up during the month-long initiative in Glossop and throughout the county.

The campaign will focus on roads where speed-related collisions have occurred and where residents have complained of excessive speeding.

Chief Superintendent Lynn Harris said: "There can be no doubt that exceeding the speed limit or simply driving too fast for the road conditions is a contributory cause of many road collisions.  The higher the speed, the more likely the risk of serious or fatal injury. That is why we have given priority to the enforcement of speed limits as part of our road safety strategy. Although it is an all-year round priority, we do conduct speed enforcement campaigns which are designed to draw attention to the misery that can be caused by excessive speed."

Motorists found to be breaking the speed limit can be issued with a £60 fixed penalty notice and three penalty points on their licence. Magistrates can impose a maximum of £1,000 fine and order driving tests to be re-sat.

Last year there were 4,472 road accidents in the county, 55 resulting fatalities, 544 classed as serious and 3,873 slight.