FROME continues to be a ‘hotbed’ for speeding offences, forcing police to change tactics to combat the issue.
And according to the community speed watch team, other driving offences – including using a mobile phone whilst driving – are also on the rise.
Mendip community speed watch coordinator, Ashley Reay, reports, “Avon and Somerset Police has this month started using a new tactic to try to combat excess speeds in areas where there are consistently high speeds. Instead of one-speed enforcement vehicles being sent to an area the police are sending a complete enforcement team to cover whole areas on one day.
“Unfortunately, the Frome area has fallen into the category of very high speeding and recently the speed enforcement team paid a snap visit to the area. Some 134 motorists were recorded as exceeding the threshold limit for excess speeds some near to double the posted speed limit and all will face prosecution.
“In addition to speeding offences, there were vehicles reported for illegal use of a mobile phone whilst driving, driving without due care and attention, and illegal number plates. The speed enforcement unit has now added these offences to their watch list when they carry out speed checks.
“The constant reports on social media lambasting the now many speed checks being made does little to encourage those who indulge in speeding to slow down.
“By all means have your own opinions but those who are reported for excess speeds despite there being a generous allowance before any prosecutions, driving while using a mobile phone, and without due care and attention have only themselves to blame.
“It is the fault of the driver, not the police and no police force is going to stand idly by and let speeding and other road offences go unreported when there have been so many deaths in, and around Frome over the past 3 years and traffic is travelling at way over the posted speed limits. Hopefully, the message will now be getting through as the speed enforcement team will be back again in Frome later in the month.”
