Police in Hampstead said they had made several vehicle stops

DRIVERS have been warned by police not to treat the sight of empty roads during the coronavirus crisis as an invitation to increase speed or take risks.

And cycling campaigners have called for a blanket 20 miles per hour speed limit across London during the lockdown to protect those using bikes as exercise.

John Chamberlain, from the Camden Cycling Campaign, said: “It is clear that although there is much less motor traffic, travelling speeds are higher than usual. Traffic that used to crawl along these roads is now doing 30 miles per hour.”

Last week, a cyclist died in hospital after a collision in Euston, although nobody has been accused of any wrong-doing or speeding, and no arrests have been made. The circumstances are being looked at by the police.

Mr Chamberlain said discussions were taking place with the council on “possibilities of what we could do to make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists, not just in terms of road safety, but social distancing”.

Cycling has become a popular choice for those using their daily exercise allowance during the lockdown, while critical workers have opted for bikes amid citywide attempts to cut down the number of people using buses and tube trains.

“We don’t want people to be in danger and we also do not need people going to hospital, especially during this time. Reducing collisions would reduce the number of people going to A&E,” said Mr Chamberlain, who has suggested temporary cycle lanes during the lockdown period.

He added: “We ought to be making adjustments and better use of the road space. A lot of key workers are choosing to go on foot and bicycle – people see it as a way that doesn’t involve getting on public transport.”

While there is an ongoing demand for people to stay at home and not make unnecessary car journeys, police have also warned that those who do get behind the wheel should drive carefully.

Police in Hampstead said on Monday that they had made  “a number of vehicle stops” over the Easter weekend, adding: “Empty streets are not an excuse for driving dangerously.”

Meanwhile, detective Superintendent Andy Cox, the Met’s lead for road safety, warned on social media that there had been some cases of “extreme speed” in London over the weekend. He said drivers needed to protect the NHS during the virus crisis by limiting the likelihood of collisions.