A brand-new Community Speed Watch scheme aimed at tackling speeding drivers has been launched across Nottinghamshire.
One community in Awsworth said they are already reaping the benefits with 12 volunteers tackling hotspot areas in the village.
Now police are calling for more areas to sign up to the scheme, with training provided.
The new project aims to expand on schemes already established across Nottinghamshire.
Community Speed Watch is where volunteers can monitor and record the speed of vehicles travelling through their community.
Hayley Holt is the coordinator for the Awsworth Community Speed Watch scheme, which was launched this Autumn.
She said: “We are at three different locations in the village at different times of the day. We wanted to be involved because we were worried that someone will get seriously injured.
“We have had a number of cars veer off the road into walls and into the front of people’s gardens – and it is not like this has happened once. It happens a few times a year. This is the first step towards sorting this problem out.
“It is quite worrying the amount of people we do catch speeding, but we hope that people now know we are about.
“I would definitely encourage people to sign up. It is run by volunteers and it is a real community scheme to make the area safer.”
Chief Inspector Chris Pearson, in charge of City Neighbourhood Policing, said: “Speeding is a major concern for lots of communities across our city and county.
“Speed limits are there for a reason and deciding to go over them has the potential to really hurt someone or even cause a fatality.
“This relaunched scheme will act on results sent through by the Speed Watch teams.
“Once a driver is clocked by the teams it will be recorded and a letter sent. If that driver is caught elsewhere in the city and county speeding, then we will know this is continuous behaviour and will be considering paying them a visit.
“We want this relaunched scheme to have teeth. Yes, it is about prevention, and we know having Speed Watch in areas does make drivers think twice about speeding.
“However, we also need to enforce when drivers are showing the same patterns of behaviour.
“We are in the process of launching a scheme in the Sherwood area of the City. Currently, we have no schemes in the city and we really want neighbourhoods to take up this offer. We would love to welcome you onboard.”
Broxtowe Neighbourhood Inspector Mike Ebbins said the relaunched scheme aims to address residents’ concerns.
He said: “We have decided to relaunch this scheme because we know this is what residents want.
“We certainly don’t want the public to think we are passing over the responsibility to volunteers to do our work for us. That is certainly not the case. This is about working in partnership with our communities”.
“Our volunteers play a pivotal role in the communities where they live and all the information they provide on speeding motorists will be updated and reviewed by officers.
“Areas, where Community Speed Watch is clocking lots of speeding motorists, will be visited by police teams and enforcement action will be taken. We will also be visiting motorists who are continuously being caught by these teams.
“Motorists can lose their licences as a result of speeding affecting their family and work commitments.
“Speeding can also cost lives and this scheme is one of many steps we are taking to make the roads of Nottinghamshire safer for everyone.”
Police are now actively looking for volunteers to drive the speed watch programme in their communities. If you are interested in volunteering please contact CSW@notts.police.uk.
