THIS Valentine’s Day a campaign is being launched to encourage youngsters to slow down.

The new road safety campaign called ‘how fast can you stop?’ is backed by Chloe Sims from The Only Way is Essex and actor Matthew Wolfenden from Emmerdale and is aimed at 17 to 24 year olds.

Both celebrities travelled at speeds of 30mph, 35mph and 60mph to show the impact speed had on their braking distances.

Matthew Wolfenden said: “I think the skill is definitely in your personal reactions to what is happening on the road, because there is no skill in driving fast.

“Anyone can drive fast, you stick the pedal to the floor and go. The skill is in stopping and your reactions to stopping and to the cars around you.”

Chief inspector Richard Hann, from the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Roads Policing Unit, added: “If you need to brake at any speed, remember to consider your reaction time as well as the time it will take for your car to actually stop.

“Driving at speed increases thinking distances and braking distances, and if you are driving too close to the car in front, you may not have enough time to stop.”