Volunteers help police catch North Staffordshire's speeders
POLICE are appealing for volunteers to help catch speeding drivers in a town.
A community 'speedwatch' group has been set up in an effort to get motorists to stick to the speed limit in Leek.
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KEEPING WATCH: PCSO James Naylor, Reg Davies and Anthony Kirk.
Staffordshire Police approached the Action West End residents group for volunteers in a bid to tackle problem roads in the town.
Speedwatch volunteer and Action West End secretary, Reg Davies, said: "It's vital that we support the community and act as a warning to drivers who speed along these roads.
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"We are very concerned for the safety of our school children and pedestrians who are vulnerable to careless drivers.
"I think the scheme will make a difference because people will see us and slow down.
"We just want to keep people safe. It would be terrible if there was an accident because of reckless driving."
Newcastle Road, Buxton Road and Springfield Road have all been highlighted as problem areas by police.
The speedwatch volunteers will work in pairs to check the speed of drivers in these areas, and several others.
The teams will record the registrations of cars who break the speed limit, before handing them into the police.
Officers will then send out warning letters and charge motorists caught twice with a £60 penalty and three points on their licence.
Volunteer Anthony Kirk, aged 58, from Fountain Street, Leek, said: "I volunteered because I'm concerned about pedestrians being hit by cars. I often see people racing each other, playing chicken or mounting the kerb to try and get around park cars.
"If you're elderly, or a parent with a pram, you might not be able to jump out of the way in time."
Anthony will spend six to eight hours a week volunteering following the two hour mandatory training session.
He said: "I'm happy to do it because I think it will make a big difference."
Equipment for the scheme was funded by the Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership.
PCSO James Naylor said: "We're really hopeful that this will make a difference to the safety of the roads in Leek. We find that the biggest problems are on long roads where people can really get their speed up. Obviously this can be very dangerous."
The sessions are due to start at the end of the month.
Mr Naylor added: "We're looking for anyone that can spare a few hours a week. It's as much or as little as they can manage, and we offer free training for all volunteers."
Anyone interested in volunteering for speedwatch should contact PSCO Naylor or PCSO Amanda Dale on 101.
Comments
by arthurheath1
Sunday, January 13 2013, 7:50PM
“I drove past these three Muppets the other day and I was driving like billyo. I think I'll test them again tomorrow and flick the vees at them or get my passenger to moon them.”
by FFDP1
Saturday, January 12 2013, 3:28AM
“I'll do it, and I would not hide. if you are speeding, your breaking the law, I'd zap you, fine you and have done with it.”
by stevenweiss
Friday, January 11 2013, 8:53PM
“I've seen these so-called community speed traps. The volunteers soon get bored and give up. The police should stop shirking their responsibility and do it themselves.”
by amartinone
Friday, January 11 2013, 6:48PM
“One bit jumps out at me - "I often see people... mounting the kerb to try and get around park cars". If people need to do that, shouldn't the police be fining the owner of the parked car?”
by Alberus
Friday, January 11 2013, 3:50PM
“I hope them two guys in the hi-viz jackets are taking out extra life insurance on themselves, because some snotty motorists won't take kindly to pensioners pointing speed guns at them. I'd hate to think of them crossing an irate driver who's just had a run-in with his boss/wife/girlfriend/neighbour. I do hope they've also been given a full risk assessment of the perils of their new "job". Maybe they've just been thrown in at the deep end with a pat on the back and a out-of-earshot "sucker".”
by DJofTNE
Friday, January 11 2013, 1:30PM
“Can anyone see the similarity in the stories these days? They are all about the council trying to fleece its occupants of money, try spending time on making this city a half decent place to live in ay? At the moment its at the bottom of the league for a reason and Perez seems intents on keeping it there, damn shame cos the people of Stoke deserve more.”
by DJofTNE
Friday, January 11 2013, 1:27PM
“One word ....... JOBSWORTH'S !!!!!!!!!!!!!”
by The_Tool
Friday, January 11 2013, 11:08AM
“I hope one of these do-good volunteers with no life to get on with ends up with a smack in the chops for what they are doing.
Little Hitlers”
by THX1138
Friday, January 11 2013, 10:48AM
“@ Backdoored - Reckless driving is unacceptable however using members of the public to raise revenue is not the answer!”
by Backdoored
Friday, January 11 2013, 10:42AM
“The 'saddest' story in the Sentinel today -is here on the web -THOSE LAST TWO COMMENTS.
So 'spoiling the fun' of reckless irresponsible young drivers is sad is it? Two more cases for 'treatment'.”