Yahoo News West Country driver caught doing 79mph in 20mph zone
A driver was caught doing a shocking 79mph in a 20mph zone. It is just one of the almost 12,500 vehicles driving above the speed limit caught by Community SpeedWatch volunteers in Somerset last year.
Community SpeedWatch is a partnership between the Community, the Police and Local Authorities, to give local people the ability to get actively involved in road safety. The aim of the scheme is to make motorists who speed through residential neighbourhoods aware of the impact their actions have on local residents, and the danger they pose to other road users and pedestrians.
A team of local residents who are willing to volunteer each week are trained and issued with speed detection equipment to monitor vehicle speeds. Last week, Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, expressed her admiration for the work of the local Community SpeedWatch (CSW) Association during her attendance at their quarterly meeting of scheme coordinators.
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Around 25 Community SpeedWatch groups operate in B&NES, each of them giving their time to improving their neighbourhood and making our roads safer. Last year, CSW groups across B&NES reported to Avon and Somerset Police almost 12,500 vehicles driving above the limit.
The data gathered by the groups cannot be used to track repeat offenders due to privacy regulations, but the teams report some breathtaking stories around persistent speeders. One such incident clocked a driver doing a shocking 79mph in a 20mph zone.
Maureen Breeze, Chair of B&NES Community SpeedWatch Association, said: “It was motivating to the Community SpeedWatch scheme coordinators at our quarterly SpeedWatch Association meeting to have Wera speak and show her wholehearted support for the work we do; her input was much appreciated. Each of the coordinators manages a group of volunteers, who stand all year round at the roadside in their localities where speeding is a problem.
Their presence is intended to visibly show that their communities care about the safety of everyone moving through their area, be it pedestrians, cyclists or other drivers, and encourage drivers to keep to the speed limit. Speeding traffic endangers our communities, but thanks to the tireless dedication of our SpeedWatch volunteers, their admirable efforts are helping to keep our roads safe."
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, added: “It was great to attend Community SpeedWatch’s meeting and hear about the work they do to combat the plague of speeding traffic. Every 16 minutes someone is killed or seriously injured on UK roads. Not only can the work of these groups make a huge contribution to the reduction in avoidable deaths and injuries on our roads, they are a direct benefit to the resources of Avon and Somerset Police and it is so important that their work is fully appreciated.
“Community Speedwatch is a prime example of how the power of collaboration with volunteer organisations can alleviate strain on emergency services and make our roads safer for everyone.”
