Are you concerned about speeding vehicles in your area?

Motorists who speed through residential neighbourhoods are very often unaware of the impact their actions have on local residents, or the danger they pose to other road users and pedestrians.

It is often found that offenders, who exceed a speed limit, are themselves local to the neighbourhood.

• Every year around 2000 people are killed on the nations roads and a significant number of those casualties are pedestrians.
• There are approximately 800,000 reported road casualties each year with many, less serious injuries not being reported.
• Each fatal collision costs the community, on average, £2 million and each serious injury collision costs an average of £215,000
• Even a slight injury collision costs an average of £22,000 and the average cost to the community of each casualty in a collision is £53,000.

The personal, human costs are, of course, devastating and immeasurable.

• In 2009, the Annual Report for Road Casualties in Great Britain published by the Department for Transport concluded that the cost to the tax payer and local commerce in the Avon and Somerset area was in excess of £350 million as a result of fatal and serious injury collisions.
• National statistics show that there were over 100,000 people injured, and over 600 people killed on B roads, C roads, and unclassified roads, which pass through built-up areas.
• Rural crime surveys and the police consultation process have revealed that real or perceived incidents of rural speeding is a major factor in preventing people from enjoying the environment in which they have chosen to live.
• Speeding is a true quality of life issue and high profile media coverage has shown it to be an extremely emotive matter.
• Excessive speed is a contributory factor in 25% of all road deaths.

What is the Community Speed Watch Scheme?

Community Speed Watch gives local people the ability to actively get involved in road safety.

• A Community Speed Watch can be set up in any village, small town, or urban area, governed by either a 30 or 40 miles per hour speed limit, to discourage drivers and motorcyclists from driving faster than the set speed limit.
• Community Speed Watch is a partnership between the Community, the Police, Fire Service, Parish Council, and County Council, with an aim to tackle the problem of speeding motorists, therefore improving the quality of life of the local residents.
• A Speed Watch consists of local residents, who are willing to volunteer a small amount of time each week to monitor speeds with speed detection equipment
• Persistent offenders will receive a second warning letter, and on a third occasion, offenders can expect further action by police.
• At present there are in excess of 100 Community Speed Watch schemes successfully running within the Avon and Somerset area.

If you feel that Community Speed Watch could help to improve your quality of life, please click in your area to make contact with your local Neighbourhood Policing Team, who will assist in the implementation of a Community Speed Watch.

Speed Watch is supported by Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue, Safer Stronger Neighbourhoods PACT, (Partners and Communities Together), Somerset Road Safety Partnership, and West of England Road Safety Partnership so please do take the time to visit the links to assist you.

Watch the video below to find out more: