Sandridge residents sign up to safe driving scheme to improve road safety
The speed indicator device that the volunteers use. - Credit: Archant
Caring neighbours who have witnessed a number of car accidents on their street have teamed up to try and improve road safety.
Ten residents of Sandridge High Street signed up to a safe driving scheme in August and as a result, have warned nearly 700 motorists to stick to the speed limit.
The Community DriveSafe scheme, set up by Herts Police and Crime Commissioner, David Lloyd, allows volunteers to use an illuminated speed indicator display sign (SIDS) that tell motorists what speed they are doing.
Volunteers then record the details of the vehicles that are caught speeding and a warning letter is sent to their home. Motorists who receive more than two letters may be visited by a police officer.
According to the lead volunteer of the Sandridge High Street team, who did not wish to be named, five separate collisions involving 14 vehicles happened over the course of five weeks on the street last year.
He said: “These incidents included a hit and run, which left one car written off and a house damaged.
“A few days later, on the exact opposite side of the road, a car collided with two parked vehicles, having first mounted the path, driving over a grass verge and demolishing two road signs, this resulted in a six-car pile-up, leaving three vehicles written off.”
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Resident, Janey Hulme, also believes that speeding on the street is a problem.
She said: “I work from home but I am forced to work from my kitchen as the noise from the speeding vehicles is like standing on a race circuit or three feet away from a motorway.”
The lead volunteer added: “DriveSafe is an excellent initiative that local people can really get involved with.
“I would thoroughly recommend it; yes, there is still work to do and a long-term solution to be found, but the Police and Crime Commissioner has already promised to help with this too and I am thoroughly impressed by this genuine commitment.”
The commissioner said: “Our volunteers on Sandridge Road have been very committed to the scheme and as a result hundreds of letters have been sent to educate speeding motorists.
“DriveSafe is a powerful way for local people to make where they live an even safer place, working in partnership with their local police to change behaviour.
“I hope this success encourages others who are thinking of starting their own scheme.”
For more information about the scheme or to sign up, visit: http://www.hertscommissioner.org/community-drivesafe-scheme-hertfordshire
