THE police are to target speeding motorists on the A38 between Liskeard and the Tamar Bridge.

Police have described the route as 'treacherous' and have pledged to get more officers onto the road to tackle what they describe as the 'fatal four' – inappropriate speed, intoxication, driver distraction and failing to wear seatbelts.

The police will be promoting safer driving and seeking to reduce casualties through enforcing the speed limits with patrols and speed detection equipment.

Fatal accidents have continued to occur on the road in the last year.

Inspector Dan Ivey said: 'Statistically, this stretch of road has a number of serious injury and fatal road traffic collisions. 

'The speed restriction for the parts of the road which extend to a dual carriageway is 50mph, and it is very clearly signposted as such.  Drivers are regularly ignoring this, overtaking and speeding way in excess of this restriction, even crossing onto the protective hatch markings or crossing double white lines to overtake.' 

Insp Ivey said an officer standing at Stoketon Cross, near Saltash, with a speed detection device, caught six drivers in just one hour travelling at between 65mph and 77mph. Insp Ivey said: 'The sections of dual carriageway on the winding stretch of this route are designed for overtaking slow-moving heavy goods and agricultural-type vehicles. We have witnessed people driving way in excess of 50mph in strong winds and driving rain, circumstances which place themselves and others in significant danger, mainly due to inappropriate speed.'