Police launch scheme to catch speeding motorists

Date: 18/6/2010

Children at a Birmingham school have joined forces with West Midlands Police to target motorists driving above the 30mph speed limit.

Youngsters from Perry Beeches Junior School in Great Barr took part in the Speed Watch initiative, which is a traffic monitoring scheme designed to catch those flouting the law.

Volunteers used speed detection devices to monitor and record traffic in areas where there are high volumes of speeding drivers.

Police Community Support Officer Wendy Woakes said children are particularly at risk of speeding cars, as their road sense is still developing.

"By setting up the region's first junior Speed Watch scheme, we hope to teach those selfish drivers who speed in school zones a very serious safety lesson," she added.

During the first session, six cars out of 218 were caught going above the limit and the fastest driver was clocked doing 40mph.

Last week, road safety charity Brake announced it would be encouraging youngsters to get involved in this year's Road Safety Week, which will take place in November.

Posted by Sarah Bailey