The question of how effective Community Speed Watch is can be answered very easily with statistics gained since 2004. In one South Somerset village with a traffic flow rate of 350 vehicles per hour, regular sessions of between one and two hours have been run during busy periods of the day.

• On weekday mornings in 2004, it was found that an average of 7.8 per cent of vehicles exceeded the speed limit. In 2009 this average has been reduced to 1 per cent (showing a 6.8 per cent reduction in vehicles exceeding the speed limit).
• On Saturday mornings in 2004, it was found that an average of 7 per cent of vehicles exceeded the speed limit. Again in 2009 this has been reduced to 2 per cent (showing a 5 per cent reduction in vehicles exceeding the speed limit.

This proves that Speed Watch is an effective and useful scheme to reduce the growing problem of vehicles travelling too fast.

Where were we?

Avon and Somerset are committed to casualty reduction within its communities.

• Nationally around 10 people per day die on Britain’s roads.
• In the Avon and Somerset area during the year 2000 there were 84 fatal collisions, and 591 serious injury collisions.
• The national casualty reduction targets announced by the Department for Transport in 2000 are to achieve a 40% reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured in road collisions by 2010. Further, a 50% reduction in the number of children killed or injured, and a 10% reduction in slight casualties. Avon and Somerset are committed to casualty reduction within its communities.
• In 2001, Avon and Somerset Constabulary introduced the Community Speed Watch Scheme. Since its introduction, the scheme has contributed in reducing fatalities to 68 and serious injury collisions to 492 for the year 2009.
• Excessive speed is often cited as a major contributory factor in collisions.
• The vast majority of rural locations claiming to be affected by excessive speed do not fit the profile for regular robust police intervention, or physical road calming measures from the Highways Agency.

Where are we now?

• Community Speed Watch has evolved in recent years, and as can be seen by the above statistics, the force, with help from local communities, has helped reduce fatalities by 36 in the past eight years, making the Force on target for the 2010 casualty reduction aims.
• Speed Watch is supported by the Somerset and West of England Road Safety Partnerships and the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service. The (DSFR) have joined the Partnership to try and reduce casualties further and are involved in road safety road shows and presentations especially aimed at young, inexperienced drivers.