An operation to crackdown on speeding at accident hotspots launches next week.

Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Road Policing Unit (RPU) will be carrying out extra speed checks across the county from Tuesday, October 1, with Broadhall Way in Stevenage among the chosen locations.

Operation Slowdown will also be targeting Pirton Road in Hitchin, as well as the A505 between Hitchin and Luton.

Motorists caught speeding for the first time will be offered the chance to go on a speed awareness course run by Hertfordshire County Council, which costs £85 to attend.

Those with a history of speeding will face points on their licence, a fine of up to £2,500, and court proceedings in some cases.

The county-wide crackdown will run every day throughout October and November, with chosen locations revealed on social networking website Twitter via the @roadpoliceBCH account.

Inspector Phil Bloor, from the Beds, Cambs and HertsRPU, said: “We are publishing the locations because our aim is not to catch motorists out but to encourage them to slow down in these accident hotspots and educate them about the dangers of driving too fast.

“Excessive speed dramatically increases your chances of being involved in an accident. And the higher the speed, the more likely it is that it will be a serious collision where you or someone else is hurt or killed. Our message is that you’ve been warned so don’t be a dummy – don’t get caught speeding this autumn.”

The operation is part of a joint road safety campaign between the police and Hertfordshire County Council called Don’t Be A Dummy – which features a motorist wearing a crash test dummy mask.

The aim is to warn drivers about the speed checks and the dangers of irresponsible driving.