Speeding motorists in Ruddington are being monitored by a new volunteer team. The Community Speedwatch team have been out on their first roadside operation to check on speeding car drivers. They set up in two locations on Easthorpe Street on the evening of Friday 14th June.
Armed with a speed gun, paperwork, hi-vis jackets and yellow signs, the three volunteers kept a look-out for speeders in the 30mph zone.
During the two-hour stint, 307 cars and motorbikes were monitored. The vast majority of drivers slowed down as soon as they spotted the signs, but three drove above the speed limit and registration numbers were taken.
The Speedwatch forms, which are sent to Nottinghamshire Police, record a speeding car’s registration number, colour, make and model, and the time and speed it was travelling.
The volunteers’ actions can’t be used for prosecutions, but the police do write to the drivers who are reported to alert them to the results of the Speedwatch operation.
One of the volunteers said: “We got a lot of positive comments from motorists and people walking by. Many were angry about speeding in the village, had seen high speed car crashes in Easthorpe Street and / or had suggestions about which streets we could patrol next.
“Easthorpe Street was a good place to start as it’s being used as a cut-through by drivers avoiding the roadworks at the Loughborough Road and Kirk Lane junction.
“Drivers are also ignoring the ‘no right turn’ sign on Loughborough Road, which is a matter for the police.”
Ruddington Parish Council Clerk, Claire Dorans, who organised the training for the nine volunteers with Nottinghamshire Police, said she was pleased the sessions had started.
“The volunteers braved the rain to do a great job at checking the speeding traffic. The signs acted as a deterrent just as we wanted them to, and our volunteers already have a list of streets for the next lot of sessions.
“We’re looking to hold more training with Nottinghamshire Police later in the year, so please contact the Parish Office at office@Ruddingtonparishcouncil.gov.uk if you’d like to help.”
Pam Pearce