TEESDALE residents with a few spare hours a week are being sought to join a road safety scheme that is hailed for benefitting communities.
Excessive speed is a common issue raised with councillors and is said to have an impact not only on road safety but on the quality of life for those residents who endure it.
The Community Speed Watch scheme enables volunteers to work in their community to raise awareness of the dangers of speeding and to help control the problem.
Volunteer Susan Dodgson said: “Some people think we are being vigilantes, but that simply isn’t the case. Speed limits are in place for a reason
All we want is for people to obey them, making local neighbourhoods safer. I would love to do a session of Speed Watch and not have taken details of any vehicle”
Ms Dodgson has good reason to want to make neighbourhoods safer. She explained: “I lost a brother to a speeding motorist and I have been knocked down myself.”
Community Speed Watch seeks to promote safer driving by educating motorists rather than prosecuting individuals.
Data collected by Community Speed Watch groups will be passed to Durham Police and may still result in drivers being prosecuted after three recorded offences.
PCSO Preet Singh, of Barnard Castle Police, said: “Community Speed Watch involves joint police and community activity. Since starting the scheme last year in Barnard Castle there has been a serious reduction in speeding motorists.”
In a recent one-hour session only three out of 103 motorists in Darlington Road were found exceeding the limit. Volunteers receive training and are supported by the police. For a session to be run, a group of at least two trained volunteers are needed. Community Speed Watch operates in areas subject to 20mph, 30mph and 40mph limits. In Teesdale the scheme is so far run in Barnard Castle as well as Gainford, Cockfield, Romaldkirk and Middleton-in-Teesdale.
Anyone interested in becoming should contact Barnard Castle Police Station via 101 or via their Facebook page.
