In several federal states, the police are now taking action against speeders with a so-called “speed camera marathon”.

Drivers in Hesse, Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania have to be prepared for increased checks for 24 hours.

The number of nationwide speed cameras was unclear in advance.

In Hesse alone, over 800 police officers are to be deployed at almost 300 measuring points.

In Bavaria, around 2,000 emergency services are said to be working at around 2,200 possible checkpoints.

The “Blitzermarathon” starts here on Thursday morning and ends on Friday morning.

According to a police spokesman in Thuringia, the controls this year are limited to the pure flashing of speeders.

Because of the corona pandemic, vehicles with personal contact with drivers are not stopped.

The police initially did not provide any information on the number of flash units installed.

Excessive speed is the number one cause of accidents

"Everyone must expect to be flashed if they do not keep to the prescribed speed," said Baden-Württemberg's Interior Minister Thomas Strobl.

They also want to raise public awareness of the risks of driving too fast.

Traffic safety has reached a very high level in Baden-Württemberg in recent years, said Strobl.

"Nevertheless, we have to state that 126 people lost their lives on our roads last year - and that was only because a road user was traveling too fast." Inappropriate speed is still the number one cause of fatal traffic accidents.

In Bavaria, almost a quarter of road deaths are due to speeders.

According to the ministry, 109 people died in speed accidents last year – 38 fewer than a year earlier.

The "Blitzermarathon" is coordinated by the European traffic police network "Roadpol".

The "Operation Speed" campaign week has been taking place across Europe since Monday, during which there are more controls on European roads.