School Speed Watch

School Speed Watch pilot a success

In May 2009, PC Mark Barry, Surrey Heath's Casualty Reduction Advisor, teamed up with the Surrey County Council Community Travel Advisor to pilot out a School Speed Watch at Ravenscote Junior School on the Old Bisley Road, Frimley.

The object of the exercise was for speeding motorists to be stopped by the police and then given the option of being prosecuted or spoken to by Year 6 school pupils about the fact that they were speeding, to shame them into driving more responsibly in the future. The aim was also to show the children how dangerous it could be playing adjacent to a busy road where vehicles are speeding. The school head, David Harris, embraced the idea and welcomed the team into his school.

The Watch was carried out between Monday 18 May and Thursday 21 May. More than 220 Year 6 pupils took part, working in groups of eight, with each child having the opportunity to use the speed detection radar and to question motorists using a pre-written questionnaire prepared by the Community Travel Advisor.

In addition, PC Barry carried out speed checks using a calibrated laser. As a result, 259 motorists were stopped over the course of the four days and spoken to by the children. Four motorists were deemed to be travelling so fast by PC Barry that they were not given the option of speaking to the children but were dealt with by way of fixed penalty notices instead. All four were travelling in excess of 45 mph.

PC Barry said: "It was the first time the School Speed Watch had been tried in Surrey Heath and the week was a great success. Most motorists welcomed the option of being spoken to by the children rather than being prosecuted. The pupils enjoyed themselves and the school felt that it was a valuable exercise and have asked us to come back and do the same next year."

For more information about Community or School Speed Watches, contact PC Mark Barry on 01483 631787.