THOUSANDS of motorists on Southampton’s busiest road could be caught after its speed limit was cut.

From Monday it was reduced on the main route into Southampton from the Redbridge roundabout to West Quay Road.

The limit between Redbridge Causeway and Mountbatten Way was dropped from 50mph to 40mph following a major accident earlier this year.

The city council took the decision to cut the limit following the collision, where a vehicle hit and damaged a flyover on the route.

The council says the damage has been repaired but there are concerns that structures on the road are vulnerable.

The “temporary precaution” will be put in place in both directions until a permanent solution has been found.

Cllr Jacqui Rayment  Southampton City Council’s cabinet member for environment and transport, previously said of the decision: “This is the busiest road in the city with on average 70,000 vehicles using it daily and with over 20 recorded road traffic accidents in each of the last three years.

“We are carrying out evaluations on any longer term actions that are required but in the meantime we believe this restriction will improve safety and also contribute to lowering emissions which is an important issue for the city.”

The limit will apply to both inbound and outbound carriageways from the city boundary on Redbridge Causeway through to the existing 40mph zone at the Mountbatten Way junction with West Quay Road.

The change in speed limit comes almost a year after Hampshire police launched a new war on speeding drivers with the installation of new hi-tech speed cameras at accident blackspots across the county.

Fitted with the latest technology they take crystal clear pictures of culprits helping officers trap more drivers and the move triggered debate with Simon Letts, leader of Southampton City Council, who admitted at the time it was “welcome to see that the police are joining the 21st century”.

Two hotspots which were identified immediately were the A3024 Maybray King Way and the A33 Kingsway, Southampton.

Last year Hampshire roads police caught 2,656 people exceeding the speed limit and figures revealed that 82 per cent of speeding drivers were caught on 30 and 40mph roads.