‘One more death on our roads is one too many’ with cash set aside to pay for new speed cameras in Hampshire
A new approach to tackle careless driving across Hampshire has been announced alongside £340,000 worth of investment for road safety projects - including more speed cameras.
Hampshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones has announced there will be a new Roads Policing Team for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, with funding being made available for measures and equipment to reduce instances of speeding.
The news follows the recent installation of the fixed speed cameras in Portsmouth’s Eastern Road to reduce speeding, which is also expected to be followed by a camera on Portsdown Hill.
She said: “One death on our roads is one too many. Younger and older drivers are particularly at risk, and careless driving is a common cause of incidents casing death or serious injury.
“Speeding remains a huge concern for communities which is why I have made funding available for councils to apply for yellow fixed cameras on the roads that worry them the most.
“To further support communities, I’ve awarded over £300k for speed indicator signs, digital road signs, Community Speedwatch schemes, and projects to educate groups on road safety.”
The PCC said that there were 1,286 people killed or seriously injured on the roads of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight between October 2024 and September 2025, with around 30,000 people killed or seriously injured on the roads nationally every year.
The most common causes of collisions are found to be speeding, distracted driving, drink and drug driving, and not wearing a seatbelt.
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A recent Road Safety Summit hosted by the Commissioner, joined by Hampshire Police’s Chief Constable Alexis Boon, focused on how careless and inconsiderate driving will be added to the list of leading causes of collisions that devastate lives.
The PCC said “One person’s actions behind the wheel can have a devastating impact in a split second, which is why I am focused on making the roads across our two counties safer with more investment to support proactive roads policing.
“The Roads Policing Unit work hard to tackle the constant challenges posed by dangerous drivers who are speeding, being anti-social and posing a danger on our roads.
“Their new focus on combatting careless driving and the funding for road safety projects will together play a part in making our roads safer.”
Meanwhile, the Chief Constable said adding careless driving to the list of the most common causes of collisions means the force’s new Tasking Team will now focus on the ‘Fatal Five’.
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Chief Constable Boon said: “Our new Tasking Team will be a dedicated group of officers, focused on tackling criminality and dangerous driving across our roads. This team will prioritise motorists committing the Fatal Five offences, which are among the leading causes of collisions that devastate lives.
“Our roads policing officers see first-hand the trauma these incidents cause, and we are determined to reduce the number of families whose lives are torn apart by crashes that are entirely preventable. The Tasking Team will also act as a specialist resource, supporting colleagues across the force to disrupt offenders who use vehicles and our road network to facilitate criminal activity.
“Alongside enforcement, the team will work closely with our partners to continue educating motorists across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, an essential part of making our roads safer for everyone. It is vital to recognise that road safety is a shared responsibility. Whether we are commuting, heading to the shops, or doing the school run, everyone has the right to use the roads without fear of injury.”
The PCC has agreed to fund 53 initiatives and equipment to combat speeding in Fareham, Gosport, Hayling Island, Portchester and Swanmore as well as across other parts of Hampshire.
The force’s focus on the ‘Fatal Five’ areas will be enhanced during target weeks like Op Limit which ran in December last year across the two counties and resulted in 331 arrests for drink and drug impaired drivers. In July last year, a month-long operation identified more than 700 offences, with the Constabulary issuing 201 speeding tickets, 71 tickets for mobile phone use and 142 for failing to wear a seatbelt.
To find out more about the PCC’s commitment to road safety, visit Safer Roads - Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner
To apply for funding for a Yellow Fixed Camera, go to: Safer Roads - Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner