Speed trap with children netted seven offenders
Monday, 10th March 2014.
The police operation to deal with speeding motorists by getting schoolchildrten to confront them with questions has proved a great success.
It took place in Wratting Road on Friday afternoon, led by PCSO Mark Isaacs who said it was very effective.
He said: "In about an hour a total of seven motorists were stopped for speeding on Wratting Road, all of which were given the option to speak with the children, be issued three points or be sent on a speed awareness course.
"Unsurprisingly they all chose to speak with the children - however, a few of them, I think, were left to regret it as the children began to ask them things like: “What would you have done if you hit me?” and “Why are you speeding and putting our lives at risk?”.
"Their posture quickly became slumped and they were hanging their heads in shame. One woman, after being asked “how would you feel if your children were hit by a speeding motorist?” began to have tears in her eyes.
"When I spoke with her afterwards about her experience, the tears began to trickle down her face. This proved how hard-hitting the message being delivered was.
"With the children supporting us I think it really drove home the road safety message that this road is a 30mph for many reasons. We were highlighting one of the most influential factors, in that there are four schools very close by.
"One of the offenders who I spoke with really summed up why being questioned by children had a much greater effect on them. She said: “This is really effective, especially as none of us like to let children down. Today I really felt like I have”.
"I would also like to point out that the children also were able to collate their own statistics and surveys of the road and things they were seeing.
"This meant that they got some education from it also and are then able to use their data in relevant lessons back at school.
"I would like to thank the students and teachers of Coupals Primary School. Without their great support and help, this operation wouldn’t have been such a success."
It took place in Wratting Road on Friday afternoon, led by PCSO Mark Isaacs who said it was very effective.
He said: "In about an hour a total of seven motorists were stopped for speeding on Wratting Road, all of which were given the option to speak with the children, be issued three points or be sent on a speed awareness course.
"Unsurprisingly they all chose to speak with the children - however, a few of them, I think, were left to regret it as the children began to ask them things like: “What would you have done if you hit me?” and “Why are you speeding and putting our lives at risk?”.
"Their posture quickly became slumped and they were hanging their heads in shame. One woman, after being asked “how would you feel if your children were hit by a speeding motorist?” began to have tears in her eyes.
"When I spoke with her afterwards about her experience, the tears began to trickle down her face. This proved how hard-hitting the message being delivered was.
"With the children supporting us I think it really drove home the road safety message that this road is a 30mph for many reasons. We were highlighting one of the most influential factors, in that there are four schools very close by.
"One of the offenders who I spoke with really summed up why being questioned by children had a much greater effect on them. She said: “This is really effective, especially as none of us like to let children down. Today I really felt like I have”.
"I would also like to point out that the children also were able to collate their own statistics and surveys of the road and things they were seeing.
"This meant that they got some education from it also and are then able to use their data in relevant lessons back at school.
"I would like to thank the students and teachers of Coupals Primary School. Without their great support and help, this operation wouldn’t have been such a success."
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