MOTORISTS are being urged to take more care after a series of crashes on Mole Valley roads last month.
PC Tom Arthur, roads casualty reduction officer for Surrey Police, told the Advertiser that drivers were putting the lives of themselves and others at risk by driving dangerously.
The warning comes after seven serious crashes in the district in July, two of which were fatal.
Speaking to the Advertiser on Tuesday, PC Arthur said: "I have been out this morning on the A24 and people are quite easily going 20mph over the speed limit.
"I know everyone has heard it before, but the speed limits are there for a reason.
"What people forget is that you need to drive to the limit but also to the road conditions."
He added: "During the summer it can go a whole week without raining, which means you get a build-up of oil and debris on the road and motorists just do not realise there are hazards there.
"With the sun shining like this it can go in your eyes or shimmer off the road and obviously that adds to the danger."
As a casualty reduction officer, PC Arthur admitted that attention was being paid to both the A29 and A24, where accidents are more frequent.
Of the accidents reported by Surrey Police, three occurred on the A24, and one on each of the M25, A29 and A25.
"We patrol them both regularly," continued PC Arthur. "You have that deceptive bend going into Ockley on the A29 and lots of work has been done to make it safer, but accidents still happen.
"I went to a recent incident with a motorcyclist and it was very tragic, but this sort of thing is becoming too familiar and, as a police officer, you do not want to keep seeing it."
He added: "On Saturday I was standing on the side of the road with another officer in Beare Green, wearing high visibility jackets, which should make us easily seen from 300 metres.
"Yet we still recorded someone going 82mph in a 50mph zone.
"We all know that cars are built to be faster with better brakes and steering these days, but it still comes down to the driver and what action they are taking to be safe."
