AROUND 12,000 drivers have been clocked speeding on Warminster Road in a three-week period, says the Mendip Community Speedwatch coordinator.
The speed limit on Warminster Road is 30mph but the local Speedwatch coordinator, Ashley Reay, said during a three-week period, 12,000 drivers were clocked driving at speeds over 35mph with 100 drivers doing over 50mph.
“Police report that when in attendance to carry out speed checks, many motorists see them on this road, some even slowing to wave to the officers, then carry on and get recorded for excess speeds,” explained Ashley.
“Over 12,000 vehicles ignored the speed limit and continued at +35mph, which is the police threshold for prosecution. We are not talking just a few miles ‘over the top’ as some 100 vehicles were recorded by the speed indication device at over 50mph.
“There have now been some 4,000+ police prosecutions in recent years at this site, all of which could have been avoided.
“With the latest figures just released, it is beggars belief that despite the presence of the road traffic police and a flashing sign that shows the actual speed a vehicle is travelling at, some motorists are still choosing to speed.
“If the public thinks that the police and speed enforcement units are simply going to go away, then they had better think again and with three recent deaths not half a mile away recently, the focus from the authorities is going to be even higher, not lower, so my appeal to the motorists yet again is to slow down, save lives and at the very least keep your licence clean and your money in your pockets, not in HM Treasury.”
In an effort to tackle the issue of speeding in Frome, the town council installed three speed indication devices which flash the speeds of approaching vehicles to remind motorists of their speed, around the town.
“The SIDs are very welcome and proactive measure and the council is to be congratulated on this measure,” says Ashley.
