SPEEDING motorists will get a stark reminder of how fast they are going when new signs are installed across Hyndburn.

Vehicle-activated signs, which flash drivers’ speeds at them as they approach will be placed on busy roads across the borough following complaints from fed-up residents.

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Hyndburn Council leader, Cllr Miles Parkinson, said: “Residents have requested these signs, which are all about educating drivers about how fast they are actually driving. “In the last year, there have been 36 collisions involving serious injury, and 228 resulting in slight injury.

“Locally, eight children were seriously injured and 38 children received a slight injury.

“If the signs prevent just one accident they will have done their job.”

The scheme is being funded by Hyndburn Council, and the signs will be installed and cared for by Altham Parish Council.

Chairman, Cllr Rennie Pinder, said: “These signs have a proven track record of bringing down speeds by heightening speed awareness and we plan to use them on a rolling programme in speeding hotspots, where residents have said they would like to see the signs go up.

“This is just the first phase of measures to reduce road traffic casualties and increase road safety.

“Phase two will see residents working in partnership with the police in a Road Watch campaign aimed at enforcing road safety particularly in relation to speeding.”

The signs, which can be moved around the borough, record drivers’ speeds but do not have the ability to be used to issue speeding tickets.

Watch liaison officer for Lancashire Police, Tony Ford, said: “Road safety is a topic that generally doesn’t grab our attention.

“There are many reasons for this – believing that we are safe drivers or giving it low priority in our considerations because of more important issues, such as crime prevention.

“To put things into perspective, there are far more people killed in road collisions than as a result of violent crime.

He added: “Recently, I helped promote a Road Safety Campaign in Hyndburn aimed at reducing the number of casualties from road traffic collisions.

“Speed is the single most influential factor in determining the degree of injury in road traffic collisions.”

“Don’t take driving a vehicle for granted, consider it an art form; improve your skills, your observations and your car control.

“Be the best and set an example for others to aspire to.”