What is a "Community Speed Watch"?
Community Speed Watch (CSW) schemes arose from an idea to involve local residents in speed reduction activity in the village of Ash, Somerset, and which has been successfully trialled in Sussex. Put simply, speed monitoring is carried out by trained volunteers from the community, with follow-up work on education and enforcement by the Police.
This scheme is voluntary and has been 'piloted' in the Newark and Sherwood district of Nottinghamshire
Initially, letters are sent to registered keepers of offending vehicles asking for their assistance in keeping speeds down in your community, with persistent offenders details being passed to the Police for targeted enforcement. Any community could be considered for a scheme, although it is better suited to villages and rural areas than towns, and smaller communities could link together with others to help keep costs down.
Isn't this a police job?
D Division of the Nottinghamshire Police fully support the drive to achieve casualty reduction targets, and include "reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured on the road" as part of their Policing Plan. The Primary Care Trust, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Rushcliffe Local Strategic Partnership also have this objective. With ever-greater demand it is simply not possible for the police to carry out speed enforcement checks in every community that wants them on a regular basis. Indeed, having to prioritise resources means that some communities that have a speeding problem without a corresponding collision record may be unlikely to see meaningful levels of enforcement. This is where working together can help.
Does it work?
The trial schemes at Ringmer, Sussex and Ash in Somerset have been a success, so we think it is likely to work in other areas provided that schemes are set-up and run in accordance with guidelines developed during the trial.
In Ringmer data collected before and during the trial period show a reduction in overall average speeds, and a significant reduction in the proportion of drivers travelling well over the limit. This objective measurement is obviously a good indicator, but means little if people don't actually perceive that things are better. The good news is that they have noticed a difference.
Is it dangerous, and are we covered by insurance?
Experience so far has shown that the vast majority of drivers either support, or are neutral to, volunteer speed monitors. It is true that some driver's wave or gesture in a less than supportive manner, but actual confrontation has been extremely rare, and our training covers how to deal with such situations.
Risk assessment of sites is aimed at making your presence at the roadside as safe as possible, and is mostly common-sense. The Safety Code of Conduct also gives some guidance in this area.
It is the responsibility of your parish council or Neighbourhood Watch to ensure that all volunteers are provided with insurance cover for public-liability, but any additional cover for example personal accident, is for individuals or your local group to provide.
Still interested? Then read on
As you may anticipate, many drivers slow down on seeing volunteers in high-visibility jackets at the roadside, and the numbers of drivers recorded may not be as high as you think it will be. This is a good thing, as the aim is to encourage people to slow down without having to involve any further action. Most of the time most drivers co-operate, and the trial has shown that volunteers operate with little or no risk to themselves or others. It would be wrong, however, not to insist that new schemes adhere to some basic guidelines and safety practices. Here are the current guidelines:
Scheme Composition & Operating Guidelines
- There should be a minimum of six volunteers in the scheme, each willing to contribute a minimum of one hour per week. Small communities who are unable to reach this figure are encouraged to link with other interested local groups, with a view to joining together for a wider-area scheme.
- Volunteers must be over 18 years of age. Volunteers who do not wish to be involved in speed monitoring can help with administrative support, and each scheme must include at least two people in this category. Some volunteers may, of course, be able to do both.
- The scheme is to have a designated co-ordinator and deputy, responsible for the equipment and contact with the police.
- The Rushcliffe Local Strategic Partnership will nominate a liaison person from your Police District for processing the recording sheets, and for ongoing support.
- The local Council (Parish or Town) must support and recognize the scheme and assist with the provision of Insurance cover.
- The locations for monitoring are chosen by the community, based on their experience and knowledge of the area. Supporting data may be available from the police or local authority.
- Risk assessments will only be carried out by trained and recognised Health and Safety Officers who will approve the chosen site or the nearest safe site to that chosen.
- All sites must be within 30 mph or 40 mph limits.
- Training for volunteers will include use of the equipment, and health and safety issues both general and site-specific. This training may be cascaded to new volunteers by scheme members.
- Registration numbers of vehicles exceeding the speed limit must be recorded in full by volunteers – partial numbers will not be accepted. The number must be verified as accurate by both volunteers (minimum two on site), or not recorded at all.
- The aim is to encourage drivers to choose to drive at or below the speed limit For practical purposes recording of vehicle details should be restricted to those travelling at 35 mph or more in a 30 limit, or 46 mph or more in a 40 limit, in accordance with current Police (ACPO) guidelines.
- Offending drivers vehicle details are recorded on a timed, dated and signed Community Speed Watch Activity Log sheet. Completed sheets are forwarded to the police liaison person, who will arrange for letters to be sent to registered keepers. Letters will be sent in accordance with the availability of administrative support. D Division of the Nottinghamshire Police will endeavour to contact as many offending drivers as possible.
- A maximum of two letters will be sent to the same registered keeper. After this, the vehicle details may be circulated for targeted police intervention with a view to prosecution.
- Human Rights considerations in sending letters to registered keepers may be considered by some to be an infringement of an individuals' privacy. In the case of Community Speed Watch, the following factors would mitigate a challenge on privacy grounds:
- There is a social need
- It pursues a legitimate aim
- It is a strategy in the reduction of crime and disorder
- It promotes and protects public safety
- It protects the rights and freedoms of other villagers for a safer environment
- It is the least intrusive method
- It is proportionate to the problem
Safety – A Code of Conduct
The safety of all road users is paramount, and the following safety rules must be adhered to:
- Volunteers must not stand in the road at any time.
- Volunteers must not obstruct the footpath.
- Approved high-visibility jackets must be worn at all times.
- The device must be used in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions, and must not be aimed at individuals.
- Volunteers must not attempt to conceal their speed monitoring activities from passing motorists. Discuss with your liaison officer first before monitoring in darkness.
- Monitoring to be undertaken by a minimum of two volunteers at any one time.
- It is strongly recommended that at least one volunteer be in possession of a mobile phone.
- Monitoring only should take place. Do not signal or gesture to drivers.
- Drivers who stop to enquire your purpose should be treated politely and courteously, and if not satisfied with an explanation of the scheme should be given the contact details of your police liaison officer. If a confrontation occurs, abandon the monitoring and if necessary call the police by dialling 999.
If all of the above sounds a bit formal, don't worry. It's just that there have to some reassurances that the scheme is properly organised before it can be supported by the Rushcliffe Local Strategic Partnership. It will be your scheme, not ours. Monitoring sessions for volunteers are set by you to accommodate the time people are able to give, and there should be no expectation that monitoring will take place in all conditions at all times of the year – volunteers will quickly disappear if expected to stand in the rain on a cold February afternoon.
The scheme will work if we are all able to give what we can, when we can.
Together, we can make a difference.
