Police are warning drivers on a Devon road to slow down amid safety concerns for workers carrying out highway improvements.
It comes as more than 3,000 speeding offences were detected in just three weeks on the A361 North Devon Link Road.
The road, which connects junction 27 of the M5 to Barnstaple, is currently undergoing a multi-million improvement scheme with several safety features being incorporated into the road’s design.
As part of this work, the speed limit for a large stretch of the road has been temporarily reduced to 40mph. In the past three weeks more than 3,000 offences have been detected on the North Devon Link Road – but Devon and Cornwall Police say workers on the road are still witnessing high speeds and dangerous overtaking from some drivers.
Supt Adrian Leisk, Devon and Cornwall Police’s roads policing lead and chair of the Vision Zero South West enforcement group, said drivers can expect to see a greater police presence on the A361.
Supt Leisk said: “I can understand why some people may find the temporary 40mph speed limit on the North Devon Link Road frustrating, but it has been put in place for a reason.
“There are parts of the road where lanes are closed, large vehicles are operating and where people are working and the speed limit has been introduced to keep them safe.
“I am disappointed that more than 3,000 speeding offences have been detected on that route, it is simply unacceptable. These road works are taking place is to improve the longer-term safety of this vital transport route and this will include the introduction of a permanent Average Speed Enforcement scheme.
“In the meantime, we will be increasing enforcement on the A361 and deploying speed detection officers at various points along the road over the next few months.
“I would ask drivers to consider – Is it worth putting the lives of others at significant risk to save a few seconds?”
