POLICE have spoken out against motorists who are ignoring a new safety zone brought in to improve the accident record along a notorious stretch of the A1.
A 50mph speed limit was imposed by the Highways Agency on a five-mile stretch of the road, near Stannington, Northumberland, in April, in a bid to improve safety.
But Northumbria Police speed cameras have shown that drivers are disregarding the limit.
Between May 19 and June 19, 1,001 motorists were recorded doing an average speed of 67mph - all will face fines - and 64 are being summonsed for travelling at more than 75mph.
Chief Inspector Mick Hassen said: "It's of great concern that a measure which was introduced with the express intention of making this stretch of the A1 safer is being so blatantly disregarded by motorists, often repeatedly. Drivers should be in no doubt that they ignore this restriction at their peril."
Between January 1995 and the end of December 1999 there have been 52 injury accidents, including one fatal and six serious, on this stretch of road.
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