Success for Speed Watch volunteers (From Chard & Ilminster News)

Success for Speed Watch volunteers

6:00pm Saturday 19th January 2013 in Chard

VOLUNTEERS in South Somerset have won a prestigious award in their work to boost road safety.

Community Speedwatch volunteers have been presented with the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award.

The awards, which were launched in 1987, recognise achievement and innovation which will help to improve road safety.

The South Somerset Community Speedwatch Group won the top award in the community category, which was sponsored by Wincanton plc.

The Community Speedwatch scheme empowers local people to manage excessive speeding in their own communities by involving civilian volunteers in traffic monitoring activities under close police supervision.

More than 250 volunteers from over 30 South Somerset communities have undergone formal police training in speed monitoring and reporting duties. The chairman of the South Somerset group, Stuart Hunter, said: “Its success can be attributed to the dedication of community volunteers led by a strong team who have established a very effective partnership with the emergency services, all working towards a common goal – to make Somerset’s roads safer.”

Insp Jackie Gold, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: “I’m truly delighted at this prestigious award for the South Somerset team – an award very much deserved.”