New Forest: Driver caught doing almost twice the speed limit

He was stopped on the Kings Hat to Beaulieu road - one of the routes covered by a 40mph restriction - by officers involved in the long-running Operation Mountie.

Regular speed checks are carried out in a bid to make the roads safer for drivers and free-roaming animals owned by commoning community.

A total of 30 speeding motorists were stopped during the latest Operation Mountie session - including three commoners.

A large number of accidents involving free-roaming animals occur in the New Forest every year (Image: Newsquest)

Gilly Jones, of the New Forest Roads Awareness group, admitted to feeling "hacked off" at the number of drivers flouting the law.

She said: "We had hoped the message about the speed limit and awareness of livestock was getting through but no, it isn't.

"My takeaway was the number of local people speeding. Three commoners were among those stopped, which for me is shocking.

"A range of excuses were used - 'I'm late', 'I was chatting to my friend' and - possibly the best one - 'I've driven across the Forest for 23 years and never seen a pony'."

READ MORE: New Forest Roads Awareness celebrates drop in animal deaths - but will it last?

She added: "Many people still don't know who to call if they witness or are involved in an accident. The answer is 999 - no-one else, especially if the animal runs off.

"Please have that conversation with your friends and family. Remind them why the speed limit is there. It's for your safety - and that of other road users - as much as the livestock."

Animal accidents in the New Forest at this time of year often involve newborn foals (Image: New Forest Roads Awareness)

A New Forest Heart Police spokesperson said: "A vehicle was stopped for doing 76mph on a 40mph road. The driver also failed a drug swipe and was of course arrested.

"We stopped 30 vehicles for breaking the speed limit and the majority of them - sadly and disappointingly - were locals.

"As well as the driver who was stopped  for travelling at 76mph, another nine drivers were reported for recording speeds of 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, and 58 at Kings Hat and Hawk Hill on the road into and out of Brockenhurst.

"The other 20 drivers received educational advice from our partners."