THE majority of speeding drivers caught by police during a clampdown across the Thames Valley were men and those aged over 25.

A total of 463 people were caught going too fast as part of a seven-day enforcement operation last week.

Of these 70 per cent were men and 78 per cent were over 25 years of age, with car drivers making up 93 per cent of those caught. A joint operation across Hampshire and the Thames Valley, found in total 2,470 drivers to be exceeding legal speed limits.

Of these, 75 per cent were travelling in 30 or 40 mph zones.

Sgt Rob Heard, from the Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit, said: “Research from across Europe suggests speeding is the most important factor that contributes to road deaths and serious injuries. The results in the space of just one week show that too many people are putting their lives in danger on our roads."

He added speeding on lower limit roads could mean the difference between life and death, saying: “If you collide with a pedestrian at 30mph they have an 80 per cent chance of survival, however if you collide at 40mph then the pedestrian only has a 10 per cent chance."

Nearly half of all those caught will be offered a National Speed Awareness course as an alternative to prosecution. Sgt Heard said the aim was to encourage better behaviour, adding: “It’s not worth the risk and you massively reduce the chances of you avoiding a collision when an unexpected hazard occurs in front of you.”