THE police officer in charge of a crackdown on dangerous drivers in Bradford has urged motorists to slow down and protect lives.

Sergeant Cameron Buchan was speaking after the number of drivers caught speeding during Operation Steerside passed the 3,000 mark.

Last week, 55 drivers were caught speeding, taking the total for that offence to 3,019 since the operation started in February last year.

Speeding tops the list of offences that Steerside officers are looking for, ahead of not wearing a seatbelt.

Sgt Buchan said: “Speeding is the single biggest factor in crashes where someone is killed or seriously injured. It accounts for 25 per cent.

“Where people are killed or seriously injured, speeding is the single biggest factor from the Fatal Four.

“We have seen some very high speeds on Shipley Airedale Road in Bradford. There was an 83mph on there and the driver got a six-week ban as well as a fine and points.

“When we have gone to places where speeding is an issue, like Wakefield Road, we have caught speeders who turn out to have no insurance or are disqualified.”

Sgt Buchan said there was no excuse for speeding, despite what motorists tried to claim.

“People say they are running late,” said Sgt Buchan.

“But the small amount of time you could claw back by speeding is not worth it, especially as you are putting people’s lives at risk. The bottom line is, don’t speed.

“The number of people I catch who give some feeble excuse - not that there is any worthwhile excuse for speeding - like ‘I am late for work’ or ‘my children were running late for school’.

"Just plan better. We have all been in a situation of being caught on the hop, but it will never be an excuse for speeding. It is like saying ‘I was late for work so I killed somebody’. It is ridiculous.”

Last week, as well as speeders, Steerside officers caught 58 drivers not wearing a seatbelt, seven people using a phone at the wheel, ten driving without insurance, and six for other road-related offences.

The running total of drivers caught breaking the law during Steerside now stands at 8,175.

Sgt Buchan said: “There are speeders in Bradford, just like in every other place.

“We are going out looking for the Fatal Four offences. We cast our net and we get what we get.

“Phones have dropped off, so I hope that is because people are taking notice of the new legislation.”

Sgt Buchan said his officers were instructed to target the worst cases.

“Our time is precious, so we need to use it to catch the worst offenders,” he said.