A speed watch campaign has been launched in Bracknell to catch out illegal racers and speeding drivers.
Community speed watches involve neighbours using speed recording technology to monitor speeds. This data is then sent to police to act upon.
Following a trial, the speed watch groups are being rolled out in Bracknell and across the Thames Valley.
The launch was attended by Matthew Barber, the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley, James Sunderland, the Conservative MP for Bracknell and councillors.
READ MORE: Bracknell neighbours in flats closed by police hit out at 'do nothing' officers
Mr Barber has devised a loan scheme from which speed watch equipment can be hired.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Mr Barber said: “I’ve set some money aside, I can buy in bulk get them cheaper, then I will loan them out.
“Ultimately it’s an investment that we can keep recycling.
“Generally speaking everyone has loved the process so far, it’s gone done really well, so I’m really keen to get involved with it.”
Watch footage from the launch below:
I attended the launch of the speed watch campaign in #Bracknell earlier today with James Sunderland MP and Matthew Barber, the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner pic.twitter.com/nQVWokuKRh
— James Aldridge (@jamesAjourno) November 12, 2021
Mr Sunderland added: “The reason that we’re here is that Bracknell has a problem with anti-social driving, with traffic noise, and excessive speed.
“It’s really important that we curb it and adopt a zero tolerance approach.
“I would urge the entire community to get behind it, please develop your own teams locally.”
Speed watches can be joined or set up on the Community Speed Watch website here: https://communityspeedwatch.org/FRONT-v2-Register.php
Concerns about speeding and racing were voiced at a full council meeting in September.
Councillor Gill Birch (Conservative, Hanworth) highlighted ‘noisy and dangerous’ car meets held at the Sainsbury’s in Birch Hill during that meeting.
READ MORE: Bracknell police urged to act over 'anti social' car meets
Cllr Birch, who attended the launch, speaking about the brazenness of some drivers, said: “We’ve got chicanes as traffic calming measures and they actually go the wrong way and they see it as a challenge. They do drive very very dangerously. It is a problem. Even during rush hour, people use The Ringway as a rat run.”
Asked why Bracknell may be a hotspot for illegal racers, Cllr Chris Turrell (Conservative, Hanworth), executive member for transport said: “They like the nice smooth tarmac.
“They do at times when the roads are quiet. But sooner or later, somebody is going to hit someone at speed and someone will be on the receiving end of a serious crash.”
More information can also be found on the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner website.
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