I live on a road that the local idiots (all ages with cars, vans, bikes etc) use as a 'drag strip' once the railway crossing barrier 300 yards away has risen.

Now, I happen to own 3 rather valuable champion show dogs and my neighbour has 3 rather nice kids that we would both like to keep in A1 condition. Is there a procedure I can go through to attract the attention of the police without becoming the 'known' spoiler of fun in my village.

The upside for the police is that on any average Friday or Saturday night lately they would have enough revenue to buy another patrol car, and enough licenses to burn if the weather became inclement.

I am not a spoil sport but after being hit from behind by an idiot who could not stop in time a while ago the current spate of morons has become close to intolerable.

Ideas please, particularly from those of you who are in the police, or have knowledge of how they work.

Yex

 

Speak to the Wax Wizard, I sure he has something yu can coat them in to keep them in A1 condition

As far as getting a speed camera, I wouldnt count on it. They are SUPPOSED to be put where accidents etc happen, but if the camera is getting blocked by accidents, everyone wil have to slow down, so no revenue. They will site it on an empty country road where they have lowered the limit to 30mph instead.

How about stealing one, and putting it up yourself?

Hey, what an amazing idea! We steal all the cameras off the dual's, and put them up outside schools etc!?

robski

 

My significant half worked for the local council for a while and had some involvement with the roads and stuff - i only used to ask her how her day was if i wanted to get to sleep - but i do know that the local coucil and the Police keep a dialogue as to where the things are needed.

Try your local council highways deparment and the local Police Traffic Unit.

Hope this helps.

They will/do lend out hteir mobile cameras to the publics so you can take some 'readings' yourself - this may be usefull ammunition and help to get them interested in doing it officially.

hope this helps.

 

Park your P1 next to the road, if you ever get it mate , maybe they'll slow down to look!
Saw a guy with a bird box in his front garden shaped like a gatso, that worked with strangers, but I guess all your traffic is locals.
Chuck

 

Following the bird-bath theme, I'm sure I saw a news article on the TV about a village that had a plywood "patrol car" complete with reflective strips!

But as Chuck said, if it's locals it's not going to do any good

I live in Milton Keynes and the estate I live on has been "designed" with traffic-calming measures everywhere but the road I live on.... I wouldn't mind, but it's a cul-de-sac!

Thanks

Gavin

 

The problem with trying to get some form of traffic calming measures implemented - whether they be pedestrian crossings, gatsos or speedbumps - is that the council will only consider areas where there have been x number of accidents within x number of years. I was briefly involved with a campaign that was told that there needed to have been six accidents within the last two years at this point before they would look at it.....

I did have the idea of buying a couple of bangers from the scrap heap for £50 each and then smacking them into each other over the course of a week to bump the statistics up. ;-)

[This message has been edited by Oz (edited 03-07-2000).]

 

Yex,
We're going through the same thing at the moment on the road I live on; it's a *very* fast, sweeping B road which bikers love to cane around, and the local XR3 brigade mount nightly sortees on it.
Ironically enough, my neighbours are organising a petition for the local police and highways department. Although we've got a "30mph Zone" sign, apparently that's voluntary and the cops can't enforce it, so legally people can blat round the S bends we live on at 60. Go figure.
As far as the bird box idea goes, I thought exactly the same thing: build a sodding big grey birdbox, mount it on a big grey plastic pipe and then wait for the squeal of brakes outside the house.
Over the weekend there was a four car smash as someone tried to get into their driveway and a biker was smacked off his machine and we had the air ambulance in to pick him up. Not the sort of road you'd want to play football on… And I certainly don't drive down it at ludicrous speeds. Well. Not near the houses, anyway.

[This message has been edited by Rider (edited 03-07-2000).]

 

Buy a gun.
And shoot the idiots. We all drive a bit quick. Granted but this sort of behaviour gives us younger performance car owners (I'm 20) a bad name. Its a sad state of affairs when we have to ask for speed traps because of behaviour.
You could camcorder them and anonimously pop it through the local constabularys front door highlighting the dangers. Although that might get used as evidence.
Your best bet is to spek to the local traffic Police sergeant and advise him of the dangers that exist.


Ron

 

Write to the Chief Constable outlining your concerns. List the number of cars during a given period that exceed the speed limit IN YOUR OPINION and at what speed you estimate they were traveling at. List the number of accidents that you are aware of (not all acidents are reported to the Police).

The Chief Constable's Office will send it to the Traffic Centre that deals with your area demanding a report. They may then put in a few appearences with a gun to sample the speeders.

Also write to the council with the same information, requesting the feasability of a GATSO being installed. Send the same letter to the Police Authority as well.

Make a note on the letter to the Chief Constable that you are sending the information to the other 2 bodies as well. They won't want to be caught out. If you can get your neighbours to send the same letter or sign your letters, all the better.

 

i am 21 and i agree with Ron H, it does give us youngsters a bad name. As for the gun thing, well i don't think thats such a good idea. It could cause and accident.Besides if someone shot my pride and joy with a gun i would stop the car and ram that gun... well i guess you get the point.Yex, have you tried stopping and talking to these idiots if you can? I think it would work. Honestly. Other ideas may include: Hiring a blond bimbo in a short skirt to walk up and down the street. Hey that would slow me down, or dressing up as a copper and pointing a hair dryer down the road. I think that would scare anyone.ummmmmmm im thinking hard here.
Perhaps you could follow them if possible, you know like a type of neigbourhood watch chase. Follow them, take their number plates (not actually take them, write the numbers down) and either leave a nice message on their windows or give the numbers to the police and see if they can do anything about it. Anyway im all out of ideas.

Ohhh sod it just shoot the buggers. (joke)

 

I just thought of another idea. Put a badger in the road. That'll slow em down. LOL..