SPEED is undoubtedly one of the biggest killers on Wiltshire's roads. Causing an estimated one third of all fatalities, breaking the speed limit it is a commonplace crime with the potential to reap very tragic results.

Just over a year ago the Wiltshire and Swindon Road Safety Partnership became fully operational. Part of its role is to make speeding as unacceptable as drink-driving and slash the number of road deaths and injuries by 40 per cent over the next seven years.

One of its latest projects involves posting 300,000 leaflets to homes in Wiltshire, spelling out the frightening statistics on speed-related road smashes a shock tactic aimed at making people slow down.

From next year speeders caught on camera could be offered the chance to undertake a three-hour awareness course, at centres in Trowbridge, Swindon and Salisbury, instead of getting three penalty points on their licence. A staggering 6,000 people a year could be eligible for the scheme.

Unit manager Dave Frampton said: "There is a misconception speed cameras monitor drivers in a covert fashion. This is simply not true. We want to be highly visible to encourage people to slow down. The cost of accidents to the NHS is extreme."

The number of bikers killed or injured on the county's roads is becoming a major concern. Sgt Nick Blencowe said: "They are definitely over-represented in the road casualty figures. There are certain roads in the county that give people an opportunity to travel at ridiculous speeds. This simply is not acceptable."

Many communities call for speed cameras to cut crashes, but statistics doe not always allow their use: the triple-fatal smash on the A350 at West Ashton in 2000, followed by a fatal motorbike crash last year, prompted speed checks on the road in May.

Of 146,000 vehicles over a seven-day period, 25.7 per cent were caught speeding. But not enough drivers were going fast enough to justify installing speed cameras.