MORE than 2,000 people have been caught speeding in a regional police crackdown.

Figures released by Hampshire Constabulary revealed that 2,470 drivers were caught across Hampshire and Thames Valley as part of a seven day enforcement operation.

According to the figures, total of 2,007 people were caught in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight between August 6 and 12.

Officers stopped and dealt with 162 people, 70 per cent were male and 71 per cent were over 25 years of age. The force said 75 per cent were in 30mph limits.

During the week, the police’s safety camera vans caught 1,845 people.

Forty-two per cent of them were in 30mph limits and 34 per cent were in 40mph ones.

Meanwhile, 463 people were caught across Thames Valley.

The force said 75 per cent of people caught speeding across Hampshire and Thames Valley during this period were travelling in 30 or 40 mph limits, which are in locations where there are often greater hazards and numbers of different road users present.

Now officers are urging people to slow down and cut the chance of involvement in a serious collision.

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.

“Excessive or inappropriate speed has an appalling impact in a collision. 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.”