The Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership (LRSP) launched the Community Speed Watch (CSW) initiative in 2014 with the aim of enabling residents to tackle local speeding issues. In 2018 there are more than 200 parishes and town councils operating the scheme throughout the county.
CSW uses highly visible passive notices coupled with battery powered speed indication devices (SIDs) to re-enforce residential speed limits. Both types of speed warnings, purchased and operated by communities, are attached to lamp posts or other available street furniture. The speed notices and SIDs are then moved around numerous sites within a community to ensure they are always fresh and impactive.
Now, for the first time, CSW members can also register to carry out speed checks in a controlled and authorised manner within their own parish. Registered keepers of vehicles exceeding the speed limit will be sent letters of advice from the police.
Rest assured, speed enforcement remains the responsibility of the Police and will continue to be carried out by trained police officers and staff in the roads policing, neighbourhood policing and Safety Camera teams. In addition, Lincolnshire Police are introducing a specialist fatal four enforcement team using Special Constables. The newest addition to the CSW scheme is about providing a service in direct response to a clear and frequently requested desire by local communities to get involved and feel that they are contributing to making their communities safer. In addition to everything we already do we are committing extra resources and staff to oversee this new element of CSW.
Below is more information on how communities can get involved and I have included the terms and conditions and details of how to join the CSW initiative as well as the next steps for members to register their interest in undertaking speed checks. I hope you find this information useful but if you have any queries please contact the LRSP CSW Coordinator, Dave Mitchell via csw.admin@lincolnshire.gov.uk.