Police officers are increasing patrols across Norfolk this week amid a crackdown to help protect “vulnerable road users”. 

The Joint Roads and Armed Policing Team (RAPT) are conducting high-visibility roadside speeding checks until Sunday (September 24). 

They will be using both marked and unmarked vehicles to target reckless and speeding drivers. 

These patrols are part of police support of two national campaigns - The Vulnerable Road Users Operation and the National Eye Health Week campaign called 'Your Vision Matters?'. 

The Vulnerable Road Users Operation aims to raise awareness of the added risks faced by pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders on the roads.

These groups account for a disproportionate number of deaths and serious injuries in collisions. 

Chief Inspector Jonathan Chapman, head of the Joint Norfolk and Suffolk Roads and Armed Policing Team, said: “We want all motorists to drive with care, to be on the lookout for vulnerable road users and ensure you pass them at an appropriate speed, allowing sufficient time and space to do so. 

"Pedestrians, cyclists and riders have as much right to be on the roads as anyone else."

Officers across Norfolk will be on high alert for the 'Fatal Four' offences of drink and drug driving, speeding, using a mobile phone while driving and driving without wearing a seatbelt.

Norfolk's Police and Crime Commissioner, Giles Orpen-Smellie, added: “We seem to see road deaths as a routine occurrence as opposed to other fatalities such as knife crime.  

“I would very much like society to be more concerned about this.  

“We can only address the unnecessary loss of lives on our roads by educating people to drive safely in a manner that permits all road users a safe passage and this is why it is one of the key priorities in my Police, Crime and Community Safety Plan.”