Speeding - a partnership approach to tackling this thorny issue

Posted on April 17 2014

Written by Gary Green, Police Community Support Officer:

Over two years ago I along with a colleague designed and implemented a non-enforceable Speed Awareness Campaign centred around local schools but with the focus directed squarely at speeding motorists. The idea was born from the numerous requests Police and other agencies receive from Schools (Children & Parents) / Parish Councils and other concerned local residents in North East Derbyshire. The Police led initiative targeted speeding motorists at key times of the day and at specific locations around the area. The approach whilst being novel in its approach quickly became a hard hitting campaign which has gained plaudits from all sections of our communities.

Police attend and carry out the relevant checks around predetermined locations using a calibrated Speed Detection Device. Once identified, offending drivers are brought to a halt in a safe, controlled way and advised by those officers. Once stopped, drivers are given the option of being spoken to by local school children who are particularly enthusiastic about the prospect of being involved in community issues. Many offenders choose to engage with our young as a penance for their actions, believing it to be the soft option, however, they subsequently and very quickly become shocked and embarrassed by the forthright views and advice offered by the children.

I have been complemented on the hard hitting message this initiative sends out and on more than one occasion drivers have been reduced to tears with others shocked at being advised about their behaviour by a child. As one driver said recently, “That’s the hardest thing I have ever had to endure. Listen whilst a child advises me about my behaviour and how it can have such a devastating impact into the lives of those affected by it. Generally it’s the adult that is supposed to educate the child not the other way round. This has become a most sobering experience. Keep up the good work!”