A GROUP of volunteers will be taking to the streets in the coming weeks in an effort to get drivers to slow down around a Cornish town.

Volunteers from Launceston Community Speed Watch team will be out and about in the community over to encourage as many drivers as possible to be more aware of their speed when driving through Launceston.

The team will be operating from authorised monitoring sites. These are chosen so the team are clearly visible to approaching motorists, well within a speed limit area so when motorists see the team, they should already be aware of the speed limit and driving safely within in.

Community Speedwatch (CSW) is a national initiative where, in partnership with the police, members of communities use detection devices to monitor local vehicle speeds.

The volunteers report drivers exceeding the speed limit to the police with the aim of educating drivers to slow down.

If the data proves a driver is ignoring repeated warnings police can prosecute them. The aim of the initiative is to: reduce death and injury on the roads; improve the quality of life for local communities; reduce the speed of vehicles to the speed limit; and increase public awareness of inappropriate speed.

The Launceston volunteers will be monitoring the speeds of passing vehicles but will only be recording the registration numbers of those travelling above the speed limit.

The registered keepers of those vehicles will receive an advisory letter from the police which explains the dangers of travelling at excess speed and reminds drivers to reduce their speed and drive more safely.

Community Speed Watch volunteers do not fine or prosecute drivers. By being present at the roadside in their local community, their aim is to remind drivers to check their speed and drive within the speed limit. Ultimately, this helps to prevent collisions, injuries and fatalities on the roads.

A spokesperson from Devon and Cornwall Police said: “Community Speedwatch does not result in prosecution itself. However, if a persistent speeding driver is identified through the scheme, police can use this evidence to take action against them if required.

“If there is a persistent general speeding issue where highway improvements are required (for example, speed bumps), the relevant agency will be contacted.”

The spokesperson continued: “It's a sad fact that each year an average of 28,000 people are killed or seriously injured on the roads in the UK - and research has shown that speed is a major contributory factor. Driving even a small amount above the speed limit, or driving too fast in poor weather conditions, increases the risk of causing a crash. It also increases the likelihood of those involved sustaining serious or fatal injuries.

“In Devon and Cornwall, local community groups - including CSW teams - are working alongside statutory organisations to form the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership. The partnership has set an ambitious target of reducing all fatal and serious collisions on Devon & Cornwall's roads by 50 per cent by 2030.”