Drivers targeted in tough new speeding campaign (From South Wales Guardian)

Drivers targeted in tough new speeding campaign

7:00am Thursday 6th September 2012 in News

SPEEDING motorists in the Ammanford area are being ‘gunned down’ by the Community Safety Partnership.

Following county-wide complaints about speeding at PACT (Partners and Communities Together) meetings, the Carmarthenshire Road Safety Action Group has acquired three additional speed camera guns.

Community Safety Officer PC Robert Chapman said the handheld speed guns had already been used in Ammanford and booked out by officers at short notice at school and park sites like Pantyffynnon.

He said: “The portable devices enabled neighbourhood police teams to evaluate community speeding issues, and carry out speed awareness and enforcement campaigns at short notice.

“They have been used 21 times over 37 days in Carmarthen resulting in nine fixed penalties notices, which carry a £60 fine and driving licences being endorsed with three penalty points. Eight of the drivers elected to attend speed awareness courses and one driver had been summonsed to court.”

In Ammanford, drivers were spoken to for exceeding 20mph limits.

Fifty vehicles were checked and seven stopped in Pantyffynnon Road near a park.

The drivers were invited to accept a fixed penalty £60 fine or speak to children. All drivers spoken to by the children apologised.

County executive board member for transport Colin Evans said: “I make no apology for this tough course of action against speeding motorists.

“Residents have voiced their concerns. We are responding to stamp out dangerous and inconsiderate driving behaviour across the county.”