Julia Mulligan announces plans to roll out Community Speed Watch across North Yorkshire
Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan has today announced plans to roll out Community Speed Watch (CSW) across North Yorkshire.
Very much led by local people in their communities, the scheme will help educate drivers about their behaviour, especially the impact it has in villages and other communities where it is seen to be a problem.
The launch follows a successful pilot last year, which proved hugely popular with parish councils, as well as residents wanting support. Under the scheme, North Yorkshire Police will train up volunteers, who using specially purchased equipment, will measure the speed of vehicles travelling through their community. If the driver is speeding they will receive a notice from the police warning them about their driving and the impact of speeding.
To receive the scheme, local people and volunteers will be able to register their concerns online, which will then be assessed and, as appropriate, volunteers trained and the scheme rolled out.
Julia Mulligan said: “Speeding is one of the issues people raise with me most often, and until now, the police have not been geared up to respond as well as I would have liked.
“Community Speed Watch is a major step forward in helping change the behaviour of speeding drivers by educating them on the impact they are having in a local community. The scheme is in addition to enforcement measures, which together add up to a comprehensive plan to keep people safe on our roads in in our communities.”
“The beauty of Community Speed Watch is that it puts residents back in the driving seat. It enables them to influence speeding drivers – many of whom are locals – to slow down and consider impact on the communities they are driving through.”
Julia decided to roll out the scheme countywide following a successful six-month pilot which began in May last year and operated in York, Harrogate and Selby. The scheme, including training volunteers and the specialist equipment, will be funded by the surplus generated by people attending speed awareness courses.
Deputy Chief Constable Tim Madgwick, Chair of 95 Alive Road Safety Partnership, said: “The Community Speed Watch scheme has been well received and the communities involved have told us of the benefits they have experienced by having the scheme running in their local area.
“I’d like to thank those who engaged with us as part of the pilot and enabled us to realise the potential the scheme has to assist local people to clamp down on the blight of speeding through their towns and villages.
“Community Speed Watch will be incorporated as one part of the solution that North Yorkshire Police can deploy, alongside the safety camera vans, our Roads Policing Group and the proactive work we carry out with our partners at the 95 Alive Road Safety Partnership to combat speeding through residential areas.”
Communities interested in taking part in CSW should register their concerns about speeding via the Speed Management Protocol which is at https://northyorkshire.police.uk/what-we-do/road-policing/community-speed-watch/
Each concern registered will then be assessed with the Road Safety Task Group – comprising the police, North Yorkshire County Council and other members of the road safety group 95 Alive – recommending the best course of action.
Communities who have already registered a concern do not need to do so again.
Decision notice:
Find out more about Community Speed Watch
Archive video produced for the CSW pilot