Safe Speed Forums

Police to launch clampdown on dangerous drivers
KENT NEWS: A crackdown on speeding and irresponsible driving is to be launched in Tunbridge Wells in the spring.
As well as tackling those who go too fast it will also target drivers who don’t wear seatbelts, those who use their mobile phones while at the wheel and others who are over the drink drive limit.
Police will be out in force across the district and will pay particular attention to routes where residents have expressed concerns.
They will work in conjunction with the Kent and Medway Safety Camera Partnership to catch speeding drivers, and officers and police community support officers will be out with hand-held speed detection devices across the borough.
Insp Simon Wilshaw said: “Residents of Tunbridge Wells regularly raise speeding as a concern which is why we are tackling it.
“It is a concern they raise with us at Police and Communities Together (PACT) meetings, with the local council and when speaking to officers out on patrol.
“Across the county it is a force priority to reduce the number of people who are killed or seriously injured in road accidents and there will be regular operations across the county to address this with the aim of driving down the figures.
“There are four main causes of collisions: driving under the influence of drink or drugs, excessive speed, the use of mobile phones and the failure to wear seatbelts.”

Police in Tunbridge Wells recently took action in Southborough following concerns in the area about speeding which were raised by residents and the parish council, following an accident near the primary school at the Yew Tree Road and Powder Mill Lane junction.
They monitored traffic in the area and are now working with Southborough Town Council and Kent Highway Services to see if traffic calming measures could be installed. They have also spoken to pupils at the primary school and parents about road safety.

Insp Wilshaw said: “We wanted to make the children aware of road safety and to ask parents not to ignore the road markings near the school.
“The neighbourhood task team has visited and enforced parking restrictions and messages have gone out in school newsletters asking parents to park in a more considerate way.
“We took a good look at the area and found road markings were not clear. We told Kent Highways and they have repainted the white lines.
“There was also an overgrown hedge next to the school which did not encourage people to use the path and we organised for this to be cut back. It has also improved visibility for drivers.”

Police are also tackling speeding through Community Speedwatch, a scheme to help people reduce speeding traffic in their local area.
It enables trained volunteers to work within their community to raise awareness of the dangers of speeding and to help control the problem locally. Many community Speedwatch schemes across the county are run in conjunction with parish councils.

Volunteers are trained to use hand-held speed devices which can record a vehicle’s speed. If a driver is caught speeding the registration number is taken down and given to the police. The driver will then receive a warning letter from the police.
If problems persist in a certain location then police officers will go there and carry out enforcement.

Insp Wilshaw said: “When motorists see speed checks taking place it reminds them to show down and to watch their speed.
“One of the worst parts of a police officer’s job is knocking on someone’s door and telling them a loved one has died as a result of a road traffic collision.”

Aside from the human cost of road accidents there is also a financial consideration.
Insp Wilshaw estimates that the average road traffic collision costs in excess of £1 million, with this total including damage to the vehicle, the cost of the emergency services attending the scene, resulting road closures and the knock on effect these can have on local businesses and the local economy.
During the spring police in Tunbridge Wells will be tackling all forms of anti-social driving. This will also include those who cause a nuisance with mini-motorbikes.
POSTED: 01/03/2010 08:00:00

Residents of Tunbridge Wells regularly raise speeding as a concern which is why we are tackling it.

There are four main causes of collisions: driving under the influence of drink or drugs, excessive speed, the use of mobile phones and the failure to wear seatbelts.”

This statement sounds suspicious on its face. Shouldn't these complaints be backed up with hard data of some sort? Or is loud whingeing alone enough?