Safe Speed Forums

Dear Clerk to Parish Council,

I am writing to you once again about the seeming obsession of the PC with vehicle speed in the village as I note that the Meeting Notes of 10th December report that all the PC members agreed to proceed with Community Speedwatch. I assume that all the members already know that these practically ineffectual schemes are the constabulary’s method of appeasing local activists who continually make complaints about alleged "speeding" in their area.

The PC needs to consider the issues relating to the following:

- As, by your own admission, only persistently detected "speeders" are likely to have any further action taken against them, these will probably be local people regularly travelling through the village. Will the operators of the scheme be willing to "shop" their neighbours and tolerate the attendant bad feeling that this will produce? Remember that anyone reported is likely to know the operator (and where they live).

- If an operator spots both Mrs Smith and Mrs Brown over the limit but Mrs Brown is their best friend, would they report both miscreants without fear or favour? My point is that these schemes are open to favouritism and unfairness.

- Suppose an operator has a dispute with one of their neighbours. A few false reports of them speeding would be a good way to get back at them wouldn’t it? These schemes are doomed to decay into a morass of disputes and injustices.

Experience with these schemes shows that they are started by one or two locals with "axes to grind" but soon peter out due to lack of interest and support. I urge you not to get involved in this pointless folly and spend more time pressing to get the large potholes in the main road repaired. This would be a service more useful to the general community.

Surprise result after speed checks in area
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So far we have held speed enforcement patrols in [3 major-ish roads named]. We found the result interesting as, during the patrols, not one vehicle was captured exceeding the speed limit

A while ago, I posted on here about the obsession of my local Parish Council with "speeding in the village". I have written to them on various occasions and here is my last missive from January:
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The latest news is that they have had a speed survey carried out which only showed one slight concern and have decided not to to go ahead with the Community Speedwatch as they could only get one person to volunteer.
They are now going to ask for VAS to be installed instead. Idiots. They dont' get it. THERE IS NO PROBLEM.

I got a police newsletter through my door the other day. It said:

Now I saw them actually triggering the gun, so much for prior opinion

The problem isn't the typical driver, it's actually the nutters who whizz along past the pub/shops at 60+ late at night; that's more than likely what the residents are complaining about!

So would a TrafPol patrolling sort it out ?

What else might work ... ?

Why do they travel too fast for conditions ? (One assumes that it is.)

Would greater understanding / education stop or slow them ?

Would alternative 'car play park' work ? (Take interest elsewhere?) ....