Speeding concerns raised in Frome

Concerns have been raised about speeding in Frome, with Community Speedwatch volunteers reporting that figures have doubled in some areas of the town.

A Community Speedwatch volunteer has reported that drivers are reaching speeds of nearly 80mph on the A361 Frome Bypass, which recently became a 50mph zone.

Warminster Road and roads near Frome College, which are 30mph zones, have also recorded speeds of over 50mph.

Mendip Community Speedwatch volunteer Ashley Reay said it had been hoped that reports of excess speeds in Frome would have reduced compared with previous years.

He said, “Those hopes have been sadly dashed. The A361 Frome bypass, the highest area within the whole of Somerset for deaths since 2020, is now complete with improvements and new speed reductions but is still showing more than expected prosecutions for excess speeds. Areas like Frome College and Warminster Road have seen their speeding numbers double in 2026 to date compared with 2025.

“The object of police speed enforcement and the Community Speedwatch is not, as many would think, to prosecute as many as possible but to be a visible presence and encourage vehicles to slow down.

“Speeding contributes to around 25% of road deaths and the theory of some that say ‘there have been no accidents at X’ bears little weight. Saying ‘we did not see you’ is even worse, as all roads are clearly marked with the relevant speed limits. The heavy presence of the now fully staffed traffic police shows that it is a case of ‘won’t’ rather than ‘can’t’ slow down and there will be no slackening off of police checks until the public realises that excess speed, in many cases, does kill.”