Speeding in Locks Heath / Western Wards is one of Park Gate Police’s top three priorities – but are they doing enough?

Speeding in Locks Heath / Western Wards is one of Park Gate

Police’s top three priorities – but do you think they do enough about this serious

problem?

The Policing of roads in the Fareham Borough is the joint

responsibility of the five local Safer Neighbourhoods Teams (SNTs) together

with the Road Police Unit (RPU) which is based in Cosham and covers most of the

South coast area of Fareham Borough.

Currently Hampshire Safer Neighbourhoods Officers are able

to issue Fixed Penalty Notices and Driver Awareness Training, however they

cannot alone enforce the speed limit, as they are not trained to use speed

detection devices. An officer from the much-stretched RPU must also be present

to record the vehicle’s speed.

However this system is currently under review:

“Hampshire Police are at present carrying out a feasibility

study to establish if it would be cost-effective to train SNT Officers to use

speed guns. This would greatly reduce the time it takes us to respond to

complaints from the public regarding vehicles travelling at excess speed in

their area, as, rather than waiting for the availability of an RPU Officer to

attend and assist us we would be trained and equipped to tackle the problem

ourselves." Says Sgt Dave Spacey of Park Gate Police.

In June the Department For Transport issued their Road

Statistics Report on Traffic Speeds and Congestion for 2009. This states that

in 2009 48 percent of cars exceeded the 30mph speed limit in built up areas

(although this has in fact dropped in the last ten years from a 67 percent in

1999). 18 percent of cars were recorded as travelling at 35mph or more. On

40mph roads 23 percent of cars exceeded the limit – 8 percent by 5mph or more.

The numbers are similar for other types of vehicles, with

light vans being the worst offenders on 30mph roads with 51 percent of these

breaking the limit. Motorbikes follow them closely at 49 percent. What is

perhaps surprising is that 27 percent of busses and coaches break the 30mph

speed limit and 13 percent the 40mph speed limit!

The

DfT’s full report can be seen here.

Currently

the roads receiving the most complaints locally are Locks Road and Longacres

and both are regularly visited by SNT and RPU. Yet not all complaints are

justifiable.

“In my experience it is not uncommon to find that from a

pedestrian point of view perceived speed is often greater than actual speed.”

Says Dave, “This coupled

with racing exhausts and a minority of drivers' desire to rev their vehicles at

every possible opportunity can lead the public to feel they are living in the

middle of a race track., when this is not really the case at all.”

Leader of Fareham Borough Council Councillor Seán Woodward,

who is also a member of Hampshire County Council and of the Hampshire Police

Authority, says:

"I believe speeding to be as serious an offence as

drink driving or driving without insurance. It is antisocial and needs to be

treated as such. Sadly most people caught speeding are within about half a mile

of home; some local people treat the roads with contempt. Fareham Borough

Council is investing in six flashing 30mph signs which can be "bid

for" by residents through the Community Action Teams to be sited in

particular areas. The data can then be used to inform the RPU where they need

to spend their time."

If

you would like to bid for a flashing 30mph sign you can do this by contacting

the CAT officer, Janine Hensman on 01329 236100 or by emailing jhensman@fareham.gov.uk.

What

do you think about Speeding in the Western Wards? Leave your comments here!