Community Speed Watch - a powerful reminder of partnership

Community Speed Watch is a powerful example of communities across Dorset working in partnership with the police to make our roads safer. Speeding remains a key concern raised by residents, and I understand these concerns - excessive speed puts lives at risk.

What makes Community Speed Watch so valuable is its focus on prevention and education. Volunteers give their time to raise awareness, encourage responsible driving, and remind motorists that speed limits are there to protect everyone. Their work not only supports enforcement by Dorset Police but also helps to influence long-term behaviour change.

I was pleased to visit some of these teams as part of a Community Speed Watch week of action recently (read more here) and remain continually impressed by the dedication of our volunteers and the positive impact they have in their communities. Today, I’d like to hand over the newsletter to one of our longest-serving volunteers, Sally Little, to tell us more about the work they do – and why it’s important.

I started Community Speed Watch in Osmington back in 2013, when the initiative was still in its infancy here in Dorset. Our village sits on a very busy A road, with bends running all the way through it, and when vehicles travel too fast it quickly becomes dangerous. There’s only a narrow pavement on one side, so both drivers and pedestrians are at risk if drivers are speeding.

For many of us, the concern is personal. My own driveway comes straight onto the road at a corner, and when pulling out, you have to open the window and listen carefully for oncoming traffic. We all know that stopping distances increase with speed, and that’s why what we do matters. It’s about educating drivers and influencing behaviour, encouraging people to slow down and stick to the speed limit. This isn’t just about protecting other road users; it’s also about protecting the drivers themselves and keeping the roads safe for everyone.

We have built a great team in Osmington. We have four groups of volunteers and a regular routine in place. Everyone who joins is vetted and trained, and our Speed Watch locations are chosen by Dorset Police based on data and community reports. Each session requires at least three volunteers, so there are enough people to safely operate the equipment and accurately record any vehicles exceeding the limit.

We often get people stopping to ask what we’re doing, and we always have leaflets on hand to explain how Community Speed Watch works. While we do occasionally receive negative comments, the overwhelming response from the community is supportive - after all, we’re all working towards the same goal of keeping people safe.

At the end of each session, we submit our findings to our co-ordinator and from there, appropriate action is taken. A first offence results in a warning letter, a second brings a reminder, and a third can lead to a visit from the police. I always say our role is to educate, and to support the police in enforcing the law where necessary.

What we do really does make a difference. When drivers see us in the village, it stays with them. It raises awareness of the speed limit and reinforces that there are consequences for ignoring it. We also benefit from strong support from Dorset Police, who visit our sessions and their visible police presence is incredibly important.

For me, it all comes down to safety. We are residents looking out for our own community - our neighbours, our families, and the people walking through our village every day. Osmington is a close-knit place, and we take pride in looking out for one another. Community Speed Watch is one of the ways we do that - by working together to keep our village safe.

Thank you very much to Sally, the team in Osmington and all the Community Speed Watch volunteers in Dorset. The work you do is truly valued and I thank you for being a vital part of keeping Dorset’s roads safe. By working together, we are sending a clear message that road safety is a shared responsibility, and through collective action we can help keep Dorset’s roads safe for all.

David Sidwick

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner

• For more information about Community Speed Watch, see here Community Speedwatch | Dorset Police