Policing on the cheap?

[daktulos]

I'm not sure what I think about this ... in the monthly circular from our MP:


Volunteers wanted for new 20mph speed watch scheme

Residents who are concerned about drivers breaking 20mph speed limits in their roads are being invited to apply for a new speed watch scheme. Citizens living in streets that already have the lower speed limit can volunteer to form a DriveSafe group with their neighbours to encourage vehicles to slow down. Those taking part in the programme, will be trained to stand at the roadside and record details of speeding vehicles for sending advisory letters to the owners, with the aim of encouraging them to reduce their speed. All applicants must have the backing of ten other residents, including at least four people prepared to volunteer at the roadside. The groups will be asked to operate for 12 roadside sessions, starting in spring and ending in autumn 2022.

[Kenzie]

Nothing new, we have a few of them around here. Mostly in the smaller villages.

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[CheGuevara]

We have that (community speed watch) in our village as well, and after being told that additional measures (cameras, speed bumps, additional signage, policing etc) would not be suitable in our area - with no explanation why. :rolleyes:

[Kenzie]

We have that (community speed watch) in our village as well, and after being told that additional measures (cameras, speed bumps, additional signage, policing etc) would not be suitable in our area - with no explanation why. :rolleyes:I'd read that as they don't want to pay out.

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[Bibio]

round my way the volunteers would get bricks put through their windows.

if scamcams were really about saving lives then there would be one outside every school in the UK.

whats next volunteer police officers... ohh wait..

[keith_d]

I'd read that as they don't want to pay out.


Maybe we need a scheme where a group of concerned residents share of the costs of a mobile camera which will be sited there on a random day each month. Only paying about 5% of the full cost would make it affordable if the local police already have a mobile unit that's not heavily used.

If residents were willing to pay for a year of random visits, this would indicate that they were serious about speed reduction. And once a few of them have received speeding tickets on their own street they might realise what a stupid idea it was.

[CheGuevara]

round my way the volunteers would get bricks put through their windows.


It's welcomed here- or at least well received in the village whatsapp group (it's a very small village). Plenty of families with young children, residents walking to/from local footpaths or into the centre of the village etc, plus no shoulder on the road to walk on, a couple of blind corners, and generally limited visibility with cars parked on the roadside -it's really not an appropriate place to speed.

Our main issue is commuters and commercial vehicles using the road as access to/from the A14. The first outing of the community speed watch registered one car at nearly 65mph approaching a blind & narrow corner where most cars would struggle to keep their side of the road at anything North of (I'd estimate) 20mph.

So far the best deterrent I've found (while I'm outside at least) is to hold up my phone like I'm recording (I'm not). Not had one instance yet where a speeding driver didn't slow and slink by with a look of shame/fear-of-being-busted on their face. Funny that when the same "tough" people respond with rude gestures and language from inside their car when you politely wave them to slow down.

[Bibio]

So far the best deterrent I've found (while I'm outside at least) is to hold up my phone like I'm recording (I'm not). Not had one instance yet where a speeding driver didn't slow and slink by with a look of shame/fear-of-being-busted on their face. Funny that when the same "tough" people respond with rude gestures and language from inside their car when you politely wave them to slow down.

i would be very careful about doing that. up here you run the risk of getting your kurnt kicked in. it only takes one nutter to get upset.

[Adam Ef]

if scamcams were really about saving lives then there would be one outside every school in the UK.


The one that got me was outside a school. 36 in a 30. 7am in the morning Jan 2nd. Everything closed in a small village.


I was impressed my van actually managed to get up to the limit.

[Adam Ef]

We've also had a Police letter for our car speeding caught by a resident scheme. Unfortunately it was the garage it was in with being repaired who were test driving it at the time. No one to reply to state that though according to the letter as it's a resident scheme, not Police, but it would be taken into account in any future incidents of Police concern.

[CheGuevara]

i would be very careful about doing that. up here you run the risk of getting your kurnt kicked in. it only takes one nutter to get upset.




I'm 6'4", the wrong side of 240lbs (I'm working on it!), and reasonably capable of looking after myself, so I reckon my odds are good that I'll be alright ;)

[Bibio]

I'm 6'4", the wrong side of 240lbs (I'm working on it!), and reasonably capable of looking after myself, so I reckon my odds are good that I'll be alright ;)

dont underestimate nutters. just coz your big dont mean to say your tough (there is always someone tougher). what if the nutter has aids or some other blood related disease, all it takes is for you both too break skin..... is it really worth the possibility????

[CheGuevara]

dont underestimate nutters. just coz your big dont mean to say your tough (there is always someone tougher). what if the nutter has aids or some other blood related disease, all it takes is for you both too break skin..... is it really worth the possibility????


I guess, based on my own experience and beliefs, I'm less inclined to live in fear of what might happen, than I'm inclined to act (and act reasonably) where there's a far more tangible and immediate threat to my children, and my friends/neighbours, and their children and pets etc.


Would any of us ride motorcycles if we focused too much on "what if's"?

[redtrummy]

The parish council have fitted a speed register display outside my house, on the lamp post. We now have this young kid (we think) using it just after 8.00am as some sort of timed run on his modern scooter. Would not be too much of a problem had he not removed all the baffles from its silencer. We are old and like to wake up slowly and in our own time. Not much chance of that with him riding up and down. I will get his reg and will then pass his details to the police and the district council. Not that I have high hopes of getting the nuisance stopped

[CheGuevara]

I keep meaning to try the yellow-painted bird box trick. For certain any regulars would soon figure it out, but then I wonder how much (casual) speeders might still instinctively feel like they need to slow.


I'm sure I read once about someone who stood on the side of the road with a high-vis vest and a hair dryer and had good results :smt042

[dirtydog]

Most people speed though the next village from me, it’s crazy through there. I’ve been doing the 30 limit and had a car fly past me like I was parked before.
Came through one day and found cars doing the speed limit, then noticed what at first glance looked like a police officer. Closer look revealed it was a mannequin dressed in police uniform.
It was gone the next day, someone nicked it overnight lol