Volunteers pause speeding checks after abuse

Verbal and online abuse from drivers has led to a community SpeedWatch group pausing its work.

Volunteers had been monitoring the speed of vehicles being driven through Keinton Mandeville, in Somerset, since 2021.

But the group has paused its work for a month due to "rude gestures" and "verbal abuse" from drivers as well as "personal" and "very, very insulting" online abuse.

Avon and Somerset Police said it was "hugely disappointing" that volunteers had been on the receiving end of such abuse.

"It's usually people driving past, making rude gestures at you, occasionally someone stopping, winding down the window and hurling abuse at you verbally," said SpeedWatch volunteer Trevor Ryder.

"That we can take, but recently it has started appearing on Facebook.

"It's getting personal, it's getting very, very insulting and we found that difficult to take."

He explained the group was "having a break" for a month.

"We're then going to come back and see if the abuse actually continues and we will review it as and when," he added.

The group was set up after villagers raised concerns about speeding in 2021 and has operated with guidance from Avon and Somerset Police.

South Somerset Neighbourhood Insp Rose Green encouraged volunteers to report incidents of abuse to police.

"It is hugely disappointing to learn that anyone who selflessly has chosen to give up their spare time to support a vital road safety scheme has been on the receiving end of such abuse," she added.

"We're glad to say such incidents are rare because most drivers understand and appreciate the work of Community Speedwatch volunteers is designed to help keep them safe.

"There has been a rise in the number of fatal collisions across Avon and Somerset over the past few years. Speeding is widely acknowledged as one of the fatal five causes of serious collisions and therefore these volunteers should be applauded for what they do to promote road safety, not abused."

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