Community SpeedWatch

Local Update: 1st January 2019

In surveys of residents, speeding on the Houndwood estate is the biggest concern. Consequently, several resident volunteers have undertaken training and are operating radar detection equipment.

  1. Unfortunately all but one of the volunteers have left the estate so Speedwatch has been suspended. If we were able to raise at least three volunteers we could restart it. The of time committment is only two hours a week ideally at rush hour. It can’t be done in the rain or in the dark.
  2. Whilast we were running Speedwatch we have checked 1250 vehicles
    1. 90% less than 20 mph (the speed limit)
    2. 52% less 14 mph or less
    3. Most of 10% over 20 were near 20
    4. 3 vehicles have been reported to the police
  3. Our intent was to encourage drivers to look at their speedometers and drive slowly not to report them.

Thank you to the residents that encouraged us with their support.

SpeedWatch Overall Objectives

Motorists who speed through residential neighbourhoods are very often unaware of the impact their actions have on local residents, or the danger they pose to other road users and pedestrians and this is something we are working with communities to address.

Community SpeedWatch gives local people the ability to actively get involved in road safety.

  • A Community SpeedWatch can be set up in any village, small town, or urban area, governed by either a 20, 30 or 40 miles per hour speed limit.
  • Community SpeedWatch is a partnership between the Community, the Police and Local Authorities.
  • A SpeedWatch consists of local residents, who are willing to volunteer a small amount of time each week to monitor speeds with speed detection equipment.
  • Vehicles observed speeding will be sent a warning letter along with advice to help change their driving behaviour. Further action will be taken by the police against persistent and high end speed offenders as well as targeting individual locations.

To see the Avon & Somerset Police video click here