Pupils and police join forces in bid to curb speeding motorists

CHILDREN will quiz speeding motorists as part of a new scheme designed to make people think twice about driving too fast around schools. Junior Speed Watch sees youngsters use a laser speed gun to monitor traffic outside their school. It has been operating in the county for a number of months but now, if anyone is found to be breaking the speed limit, they are pulled over by a police officer. The children then speak to the drivers and ask them why they are speeding, and how they would feel if they hit a child.

The scheme is the brainchild of PC Andy Bircumshaw, who saw it being used in Devon and Cornwall. He organised the first one in Derbyshire, which took place outside Ashbrook Junior School in Victoria Avenue, Borrowash, on Friday. It is now hoped it can be extended across the county. PC Bircumshaw, a Safer Neighbourhood youth officer, said: "Victoria Avenue is the road outside Ashbrook Junior School and it has a 30mph limit, or 20mph at school run times.

"There is also an infant school and nursery in the same area, so it is incredibly important that drivers are careful and observe the speed limit."

"What the children have been doing has had a three-fold effect: it means that young people are getting involved in their community, it provides a new way for the children to learn about road safety and it offers a completely different lesson for speeding drivers. "The information the children have gathered will also be used in their maths lessons to learn more about statistics and averages."

During the session, three drivers were caught speeding. One woman driver said that speaking to the child- ren had really made her think. "I work with children at my local school and I would hate it if one of them was hurt because of a careless road user," she said. "I think this is a brilliant idea to make drivers think about their speed, especially near schools, and it has had a big effect on me. "I definitely won't be speeding again and I am embarrassed to have been pulled over on this occasion." Youngsters from the school said they enjoyed monitoring the traffic.

Matthew Uftan, 11, said: "The speed gun is easy to use and a lot of fun. Cars drive too fast around our school but they have been slowing down when they've seen the speed gun." Remi Marley, also 11, said: "I hope that what we have done will change the way people drive, and that the questions we asked will make them think about road safety."