Speeding motorists targeted by volunteers

Worthing Community Speed Watch targeted speeding hotspots including Terringes Avenue, Salvington Hill, Southdownview Road, Findon Road, Grand Avenue, Marine Drive and Marine Crescent in its first week with the gun.

PCSO Eddie Mitchell said: “It was a success. Sussex Police is having a lot of funding reduced at the moment. It’s really for the community to be able to assist in reducing the speed of vehicles in Worthing.”

Mr Mitchell said that speeding is usually a key priority at neighbourhood panel meetings.

“This scheme actively involves members of the community in doing something for themselves,” he said. “If we find the sites have a high number of speeding vehicles we will go down and conduct speed enforcement on those sites.”

The introduction of the gun coincided with a European-wide speed enforcement campaign co-ordinated by the European Traffic Police Network (TISPOL).

Vehicles caught speeding will be issued with a warning letter informing them they have been caught and police action could be taken if repeat offences are filed. Their details are also uploaded to Sussex Police’s Operation Crackdown database.

In total, 26 vehicles were caught speeding. The fastest recorded speed was 45mph in Terringes Avenue, which has a 30mph limit.

David Wakefield, Worthing Community Speed Watch co-ordinator, said: “In the first week of using the speed gun it was noticeable just how many motorists are prepared to risk speeds in excess of the legal requirements and put other motorists and pedestrians in danger.

“The belief of some that they have complete control of their vehicle at any speed is a non-starter as this kind of logic doesn’t take into account the reaction or response from others on the road.”

Terry Rickards, Community Speed Watch volunteer, said most people welcomed speed cameras in their own street but did not have the same desire when it came to implementing them in other roads.

Mr Richards said: “We are hoping for an increase in sites and are looking for people who are prepared to join Speed Watch. We hope to see the camera out more and more.”