The purpose of the operation, which is co-ordinated by the European Traffic Police Network (TISPOL), is to raise awareness of the dangers of speeding, and to remind drivers of the benefits for all road users of driving at speeds that are both legal and appropriate.

During the operation, officers will use a number of speed detection methods across all types of road. 

“We urge all drivers to challenge their own attitude to speeding,” says TISPOL president Aidan Reid. “Anyone who still believes that speeding is a trivial offence needs to think again. That’s because excessive or inappropriate speed has a singularly devastating impact on the safety of road users, increasing both the risk of a crash and the severity of the consequences. 

“It is estimated that speeding contributes to as many as one third of all crashes resulting in death, and is the most important contributory factor to road deaths and serious injuries (ETSC 2008). All across Europe this week, police officers will be ensuring that drivers respect the different speed limits. In cases where drivers choose to ignore these limits, officers will take appropriate steps to enforce the law.” 

A similar TISPOL operation in August 2014 saw a total of more than 580,000 detections in 28 countries across Europe.