Welcome to Community Speed Watch

Speeding is a community problem with speeding checks often revealing that many drivers exceeding the speed limit are local to the village and surrounding area.

Community Speed Watch [Be a Local Hero] is a partnership initiative operating only in Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland using the combined efforts of the local residents and supported by the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Road Safety Partnership.

Community Speed Watch is a scheme to help people reduce speeding traffic though their community. The scheme enables volunteers to work within their community to raise awareness of the dangers of speeding and to help control the problem locally.

Community Speed Watch incorporates poster campaigns and a pledge system linked to direct action using radar speed guns and Vehicle Activated Signs, all under the supervision of the County Council. The use of the radar devices will not lead to prosecution – drivers will get a letter from the police instead – but will help to underline the community’s commitment to reducing speed.

Already operating successfully elsewhere in the country, the Leicestershire and Rutland scheme was initially piloted in nine communities before being made available more widely. The County Council has already received over 200 expressions of interest.

Lesley Pendleton, Leicestershire County Council lead member for Highways & Transportation said:

“The scheme forms part of an overall strategy with the police to help manage speeding throughout the County.  It does give communities the opportunity to help themselves and highlight the issues that are a concern to the residents. Having taken part in a scheme myself, I have seen the positive effects the volunteers can have and would recommend other parishes or groups to make use of it.“

The scheme is a partnership between Leicestershire County Council and the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Road Safety Partnership.