The police are determined to stamp out bad driving habits

Officers will be concentrating on the four main killers on the roads - dangerous driving, speeding, seatbelt offences, and drink or drugs driving.

Sixteen people have been killed on the roads of the province so far this year.

Chief Inspector Douglas Hogg said there would be pressure on those who insisted on creating a danger on the roads.

"Sixteen people have died to date in 2005," he said.

"Sadly, death on the roads continues unabated. Lives continue to be wasted at a rate of almost three people a week."

The next stage of Operation Viper is taking place on Thursday with a further crackdown on Saturday.

In the previous stage of the operation last October, the police said motorists were still ignoring speed limits and warnings about drinking and driving.

Figures showed that 1,132 speeding drivers were detected in a three-day period.