From 7 to 13 April 2025, ROADPOL – the European Roads Policing Network – will conduct its first pan-European Speed Operation of the year. The highlight of the operation will be the 24-hour Speed Marathon, set to take place on Wednesday, April 9th.
The Speed Marathon is the world’s largest synchronized, organized, and comprehensive anti-speeding enforcement action. It involves traffic police forces from over 20 European countries and mobilizes tens of thousands of officers to enforce national speed limits using both direct interventions and automated enforcement technology.
Achievements
Last year’s Speed Marathon saw over 150,000 speeding violations recorded in just 24 hours, with a significant number of drivers stopped, fined, and educated on the dangers of speeding. Thousands of driving licenses were suspended due to excessive speeding, highlighting the continued seriousness of this offence.
Public Engagement
For 2025, the operation is taking a step further in community engagement. In the Czech Republic and Estonia, citizens have been invited to participate by nominating locations where speeding is a recurring issue. In the Czech Republic, a popular traffic safety portal allows members of the public to suggest dangerous spots—especially near schools, busy intersections, or low-visibility areas—helping police focus enforcement on high-risk zones. Among other countries to survey public opinion when selecting control locations are also France, Serbia, Hungary, Ireland, Croatia and Luxembourg.
Importance
Speeding remains the number one cause of fatal road collisions across Europe. According to recent data, over 25,000 road deaths occur annually in Europe, and excessive speed is a key factor in many of these cases. ROADPOL’s goal is not just to issue fines but to raise awareness and encourage behavioral change among drivers. “Speed itself is not dangerous—speeding is. The limits are there for a reason”, said Jana Peleskova from the Czech Police, Chair of ROADPOL’s Operational Working Group. “The Speed Marathon is not about punishing drivers, but about putting the topic of speeding and road safety in the public spotlight. We want communities to understand that respecting speed limits can save lives.”
Тactics
During the operation, officers will be deployed at strategic points across the participating countries, using radar, laser guns, and video-equipped patrol cars. In addition, thousands of fixed speed cameras and automatic control systems will be in use. In 2023, over 3 million vehicles were checked at more than 10,000 checkpoints during the Speed Marathon. In many cases, police selected enforcement spots based on citizen suggestions—a trend expected to grow in 2025.
The ROADPOL Speed Operation represents a unified European effort to address speeding—a threat that transcends borders. With more than 150,000 officers involved, the Speed Marathon sends a strong message: speeding is not tolerated, and road safety is a shared responsibility.