About Speed Watch
Speed Watch is scheme that empowers and involves entire communities in our quest to drive down the speeds of vehicles in limits of 40mph and below.
Through our Partners and Community Together (PACT) panels, we asked local communities to tell us what their local priorities are. Speeding motorists have been identified as the biggest priority. In response to this feedback, we established Speed Watch.
Speed Watch involves members of the local community, and aims to engage and educate drivers rather than give fines and court appearances. Using a staged warning system, first time offenders will receive education and warnings, persistent offenders can expect further police action and even a court appearance.
We have three types of Speed Watch;
- School Speed Watch
- Neighbourhood Speed Watch
- Community Speed Watch School Speed Watch
School Speed Watch
Imagine being asked ‘Why were you speeding?’ and ‘How would you feel if you had run me over?’ by a group of 10 year olds!
This is the concept of School Speed Watch. As an alternative to prosecution, offending motorists are asked probing questions by children from local schools or youth groups.
School Speed Watch provides offending motorists with an opportunity to address their driving behaviour before having a fine, collision or worse. We also hope the scheme provides the young people involved, with an experience that will hopefully stay with them until their driving years.
Neighbourhood Speed Watch and Community Speed Watch
Teams of police volunteers and/ or police officers/ police community support officers will stand at the side of the road monitoring traffic. Speeding vehicles will be recorded, and warning letters will be sent to the vehicle owner together with educational information.
Persistent offenders with receive a further warning letter, and possibly a visit from their local neighbourhood policing team to deliver some words of advice. Persistent offenders that ignore the warnings will not receive any further letters, but will be given a fixed penalty ticket or summonsed to court should the circumstances allow.
All sessions are carried out, in accordance with strict guidelines at risk assessed sites.