Dorset speedwatch needs more volunteers for 2023

But they're still catching plenty of people going too quickly

Author: Faye Tryhorn & Trevor Bevins - Local Democracy ReporterPublished 28th Dec 2022

The number of volunteers working on Dorset's Speedwatch scheme still hasn't returned to pre-Covid levels, according to the county's Police and Crime Commissioner.

But David Sidwick says that the teams are still clocking thousands of drivers every week who are breaking speed limits on our roads.

There are 86 Community Speedwatch schemes operation across Dorset.

Latest figures, for April to July 2022, show a total of 188,000 vehicles were spotted going too quickly.

That's compared to 155,000 in the same period last year.

Dorset's PCC is asking if we'd be willing to pay more towards policing in the county, through council tax

4,463 people were sent letters warning them about their speed this summer - with 222 getting a second letter and even 18 drivers getting three of them.

Those letters do not signal a prosecution, but the Speedwatch figures help to identify hotspots, which can be patrolled by the Dorset Road Safety Team, who can issue tickets.

Dorset PCC David Sidwick had told a Police and Crime Panel meeting:

“We are again getting more volunteers for the fantastic work being done in trying to drive down speeding on the roads of Dorset."

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