The Newlands Lane and Westfield Drive areas of Workington are the first places in which the 'Respect' initiative will operate.

The project hopes to change drivers' habits and includes measures such as training days for drivers found speeding, and slow-down warning signs.

Young drivers will also be targeted as they feature heavily in accidents.

Local drivers

Free courses will be provided for them, after a similar scheme in Barrow was found to be successful.

The scheme also focuses on local drivers.

Road safety officer Chris Wills said: "The majority of people caught in speed enforcement areas are from that locale which shows, in a sense, that familiarity breeds contempt.

"That's why we have labelled the project Respect, to try to get that respect back into the community."

Local residents say they hope a new approach will make a difference.