Hertsmere Borough Council has pledged to support a campaign encouraging drivers to slow down.

The council has joined the Make The Commitment - Kill Your Speed campaign, which calls on drivers to make a written pledge that they will try to drive within speed limits.

According to statistics, a person hit by a car travelling at 40mph stands a nine out of ten chance of being killed, whereas if they are hit at 20mph there is a nine out of ten chance they will survive.

Hertsmere borough councillor Bob Calcutt, who is vice-chairman of the Hertsmere Highways Partnership Joint Consultative Board, signed the pledge on behalf of the council at the Civic Offices, in Borehamwood, last Monday.

He said: 'We hope as many local drivers as possible will join us and rise to this challenge, as it will make a difference to both road safety and the quality of life for all Hertsmere residents.

'This is a crucial support to other approaches that reduce speeding, such as police enforcement and road engineering, and is a way that all drivers can play their part in keeping Hertsmere's roads as safe as possible.'

The campaign supports the Community Safety Strategy, being implemented across the borough by various agencies including the council and police, which sets down improved road safety as one its five aims.

All borough council staff are being encouraged to make the pledge, and residents can make their commitments to stick to speed limits at the Civic Offices in Elstree Way.

Drivers can also put stickers in their cars to show they have signed up.

So far 100,000 people have joined in the eastern region, where the campaign is being run, including 17,000 in Hertfordshire.