With money from the Vision Zero South West road safety collaboration, volunteer police officers in Devon and Cornwall are being taught to enforce speed restrictions in local communities.
To reduce speeding at locations across the region, Special Constables have been outfitted with the newest Home Office Type Approved speed enforcement cameras.
In Devon and Cornwall, volunteers are now able to deploy this technology for the first time for law enforcement purposes; some have already been able to apprehend drivers travelling at speeds of up to 109 mph.
Enforcement sites are chosen based on data from past collisions, statistics, and complaints from locals who have cited speeding as a problem. Additionally, volunteers can police speed limits at any time and on any road during the day or night.
SC Special constable Mike Fleming, who works out of South Devon, believes that utilising the device has opened his eyes.
“I have been using the new speed camera for a little over four weeks, and I recently surpassed 1,000 activations,” stated SC Fleming. As of right now, the quickest speed I’ve seen on the A38 is 109 mph.
“I was really astounded to see how many people speed on our roadways. Hopefully, more speed monitors will persuade drivers to reduce their speed.
In addition to serving as the chair of the Vision Zero South West enforcement committee, Adrian Leisk is the Head of Road Safety for Devon and Cornwall Police.
According to Mr. Leisk, “We know that speeding considerably increases the risk of serious and fatal collisions.” In the case of an accident, driving too quickly reduces your reaction time and raises your risk of suffering life-threatening or fatal injuries.
“To make the road network in our area as safe as possible, Devon & Cornwall Police employs a cohort of Special Constables who are incredibly committed and well-trained. They work side by side with regular colleagues.” Their capacity to address issues and objectives within the community is enhanced by this investment.
That they were able to receive the training necessary to enforce speed limits on any route encircling the two counties makes me very happy. More significantly, they can use infra-red technology to enforce at any time of day or night and respond quickly and nimbly when issues are detected.
Remember, there’s an extremely easy way to stay out of trouble for speeding: obey the speed limits and contribute to the safety of our communities.
