SLOW down for the festive season, is the message from Okehampton Police Station. Neighbourhood beat manager PC Nadine Wilson, and Police Community Support Officer Joe Raeburn are making sure motorists stick to the speed limit in Okehampton and surrounding areas. After concerns from a number of parish councils, police have spent the last few weeks patrolling Okehampton and the surrounding villages, enforcing the speed limit. They have been in Okehampton, Sticklepath, Whiddon Down, Exbourne, Jacobstowe, Sampford Courtenay and Chagford and have stopped a whole range of motorists. In Jacobstowe one motorist was caught doing 52 mph in a 30 mph zone while in Sampford Courtenay they stopped a number of heavy goods vehicles. PC Wilson said: ?It is often locals who are the main offenders. ?With winter upon us the weather conditions are more adverse. Motorists need to be aware of reducing visibility and how stopping distances are affected on wet roads. ?They need to always make sure there is at least a two-second gap between them and the vehicle in front of them. In the wet this distance should be doubled. ?Motorists need to be aware to drive legally, safely and adhere to the speed limit. In particular, with darker mornings and evenings, they need to be aware of children going to and from school in decreased visibility. It is vital that motorists concentrate 100 per cent on driving.? Since the drive to enforce the speed limit began, PC Wilson said she has already noticed a difference. After spending the morning of November 27 on the Exeter Road, Okehampton, PC Wilson and PCSO Raeburn only had to stop two motorists out of more than fifty. Full information about safe driving and stopping distances is available in the Highway Code which can be purchased in all good book shops or is available online from the website http://www.direct.gov.uk/highwaycode">www.direct.gov.uk/highwaycode
