https://www.dorsetroadsafe.org.uk/enforcement-operations/community-speed-watch/

Update – October 2023

From October 2022 to August 2023, the Community Speedwatch Group had not been operating, largely due to a lack of volunteers. After some active recruiting, however, we now have seven new volunteers registered and trained, and have been out conducting Speedwatch sessions since August.

Throughout August and September, the Piddle Valley Team have conducted 9 sessions, monitored over 1800 vehicle movements and reported 42 vehicles for speeds of 35mph and above. This represents 2.3% of vehicles. Whilst it is encouraging that the number reported is down on 2022, where 3.4% of vehicles were reported at a higher threshold of 36mph, we know that the statistics can change quickly. Since Speedwatch was started in the Piddle Valley in 2014, an average of 3.4% of vehicles using our roads exceed the threshold set by Dorset Police for reporting.

Across Dorset, to the end of August Community Speedwatch teams have monitored >54,000 vehicles and reported >1500 incidents. Teams are occasionally supported by a member of the Dorset Roadsafe Team who issue offenders with a fixed penalty notice. In August alone, this resulted in >200 fixed penalty notices.

SID

Our other road safety aid is our Speed Indicator Device (SID) that is periodically deployed:

• near the entry points to the villages on Rectory Road and Church Hill in Piddlehinton
• on the northern entry to Piddletrenthide from Alton Pancras
• south of the School.

This acts as a reminder to drivers exceeding the speed limit to slow down, and the majority do, which is supported by data from the Community SID Team at Dorset Council. The graph below shows the latest evaluation of SID effectiveness carried out in South Street, Fontmell Magma (July 2023). The graph shows the speeds before a SID programme, after the SID programme was established, with and without the SID in place.

REPORT BAD DRIVING

If you witness any incidents such as: dangerous driving, road rage, speeding, careless or inconsiderate driving, you can report them here:

https://www.dorsetroadsafe.org.uk/enforcement-operations/reporting-traffic-concerns/