Could you make a difference to the safety of the roads in your community?
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With Community Speed Watch now in its eighth year of operation within West Mercia, local communities are being reminded about the scheme and how volunteers can get involved in speed monitoring and improve the quality of life in their area if speeding traffic is causing concern.
Community Speed Watch is a community driven road safety initiative, coordinated by West Mercia Police but managed and run by volunteers in the community. It involves trained volunteers from the community monitoring the speeds of vehicles with approved, hand-held speed measurement devices. Where vehicle speeds are found to be inappropriate, a letter is sent to the registered keeper by the police with the aim of encouraging them to reduce their speed when driving in the future.
The scheme was introduced within West Mercia in 2014 and has gone from strength to strength over the last 8 years with over 40 active sites currently operating. It was introduced to enhance the force’s speed enforcement strategy, by addressing community concerns in areas that do not meet either speed or collision criteria for police-led enforcement.
A Community Speed Watch scheme is initiated when ‘speeding traffic’ has been identified as a community road safety concern by a parish council or safer neighbourhood team. However, a number of criteria must be met before a scheme can be established:
- The area must have a 30mph or 40mph speed restriction.
- Speed data collected by West Mercia Police must show that speed levels in the area do not meet the national industry requirements for police enforcement.
- No other enforcement activity is currently in place.
- There must be at least six volunteers in each Community Speed Watch scheme.
- Speed checks must be conducted by at least three volunteers at any one time.
Superintendent Gareth Morgan, West Mercia Police said: “Excessive or inappropriate speed continues to affect the quality of life for many communities across West Mercia. As part of our continued support towards the Local Policing Charter, we are enabling local communities to take an active role in addressing concerns about speeding traffic.
“The aim of the scheme is not to catch as many speeding drivers as possible, but to encourage them to drive within the speed limit. Feedback from active group members suggests that motorists visibly slow down when they see the volunteers by the roadside carrying out speed monitoring. In many local areas where Community Speed Watch is already in place, local residents have seen a positive change in driver behaviour and compliance with the speed limit and we look forward to replicating those results across more areas in the future.”
In areas where community concerns about speeding are raised, speed data will be collected by West Mercia Police to determine the nature of the problem and action will be taken accordingly. Any new Community Speed Watch schemes are evaluated periodically to ensure they are having a positive impact on vehicle speed, driver behaviour and community reassurance.
To raise concerns about speeding traffic, contact your local parish council in the first instance.
To find details of your safer neighbourhood team, visit www.westmercia.police.uk
Read some of the first-hand experiences from our active Community Speed Watch volunteers below…
Cockshutt, Shropshire
Cockshutt Speed Watch was formed in 2019 with the cooperation of the parish council in an attempt to reduce the speed of cars through the village and increase the safety of pedestrians. I had been coordinating a Speed Watch group in Sussex before moving to Cockshutt and knew the value of the scheme so was keen to promote the idea and establish the team.
We currently have 9 active members and we usually manage three one-hour sessions per week where we see between 4 and 10 vehicles exceeding the 30mph limit. Having said this, over our time of operation, we have seen a significant drop in both the number of drivers exceeding the speed limit and the speeds travelled.
We were very lucky last year to have a younger volunteer who was doing his Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award join us to fulfil his voluntary work module, he was a great asset to the team. We greatly appreciate the support provided by the Force Community Speed Watch Coordinator, the whole CSW team and the support of local police units.
Loft Longhurst.
Local resident and CSW Group Coordinator, Cockshutt.
Colwall, Herefordshire
We are a new Community Speed Watch team. Over recent years, the average speed of traffic and numerous accidents have concerned many of the villagers. So, with the backing of the local parish council, we decided to do something about it.
After undertaking risk assessments and appropriate vetting, the Force Community Speed Watch Coordinator provided a thorough training session, both theory and hands-on.
Our goal is not to catch speeding motorists. It is to be visible and therefore drivers check their speeds, making it safer for pedestrians and indeed the drivers themselves.
The vast majority of reactions has been positive, both on the village Facebook page and by passing parents walking their children to school.
So has it made a difference? Absolutely it has. It is very noticeable after only 3 outings, how gentile the driving has become. Very few speed past us. Some do, despite large yellow signs and bright yellow high-vis jackets. We dutifully clock the speed, take the vehicle details and pass the information on to the police.
Our objective is to be known as a Speed Watch area, which hopefully positively changes driving habits. Let’s hope careful driving results in a safer village.
Paul Hetherington
Local resident and CSW Group Coordinator, Colwall.