SEVERAL hundred motorists have been reported for speeding after a week of action by South Somerset’s volunteer Community SpeedWatch teams.

The SpeedWatch volunteers, including a group in Tatworth, were closely supported by our Neighbourhood Police, Road Policing and Speed Enforcement Units.

Twenty CSW teams carried out a total of 76 hour-long roadside watches between April 7 and 12, during which they monitored almost 22,000 vehicles and reported 714 for speeding.

Police officers directly supported almost 60% of the sessions, dealing with 79 speeding motorists at the roadside.

Somerset Road Safety staff also supported the initiative by giving advice to the public at a number of supermarkets in the area, particularly with regard to setting up a CSW scheme.

Stuart Hunter, chairman of South Somerset CSW Group, said: “Our week of action in getting the ‘Don’t Speed’ message across exceeded all expectations, both in the number of sessions we were able to conduct and in the amount of direct support given by the police.

“We are certain that our message reached a high number of members of the motoring public who we hope will respect posted speed limits wherever they drive.”

South Somerset neighbourhood manager, inspector Tim Coombe said: “The week of action was a huge success with over 70 Community SpeedWatch checks completed across the area with many supported by local beat managers, road policing officers and members of the Speed Enforcement Unit.

“We have achieved our primary aim to highlight and support the great work that residents do to reduce speed in their own neighbourhoods, further driving down the speeds of errant motorists and making their communities safer.

“The fact that enforcement teams were embedded with members of the community will mean that for some motorists expecting warning letters about their speed, they will in fact be receiving an option to attend an education session, pay a penalty notice or, for a few, have a trip to court.”