RoadPeace’s primary function is to provide support, information and advocacy to you, our members, in the aftermath of a bereavement or serious injury due to a road traffic collision. However, we understand that as time goes on, some of you may develop a strong urge to campaign for both improved victims’ rights and road danger reduction. We will always do our best to support and enable those of you who want to work for change.
One of the ways in which you could help to make our roads safer is by joining West Mercia Road Safety Team’s Community Speed Watch (CSW) scheme, which aims to reduce excessive or inappropriate speed. This briefing is to provide you with some basic information about what is involved, and if you wish to, how to go about volunteering.
While the CSW scheme is in place in many areas across the country, the way in which it runs may very from police force to police force – therefore, this briefing is for members in the West Mercia region.
What is Community Speed Watch?
CSW is coordinated by West Mercia Police’s Road Safety Team, but run and managed by volunteers from communities across the region. The scheme enables volunteers to take an active role in reducing road danger and helping to make their community safer. The aim of CSW is not to catch as many speeding drivers as possible – rather, it is to encourage motorists to drive at an appropriate speed, to reduce speed in areas of concern, and to educate drivers and the community about the risks of speeding.
Once trained, volunteers go out in groups of 3, at specified, safe locations where they monitor the speed of passing vehicles. Volunteers note the vehicle details of anyone found to be speeding (make, model, registration, speed recorded by the hand-held device) on a log sheet, these sheets are then emailed to West Mercia Police’s CSW team. The CSW team then send warning letters to the registered keepers with words of advice on safer driving. If the same vehicle is logged on multiple occasions, the police may take further action.
CSW can only be carried out during daylight hours, high visibility jackets must be worn, and volunteers must always have a mobile phone with them.
Who can become a CSW volunteer?
Those who volunteer for the scheme must attend training, which covers health and safety, use of equipment, legislation and reporting. Volunteers for the scheme must be aged 17 or over, and willing to undergo police vetting checks. It is asked that anyone signing up to volunteer be able to commit a regular amount of time, and be willing to adhere to all safety rules.
People volunteer to help with CSW for various reasons – they may be concerned about speeding in the area in which they live, they may be involved with the local council, or, like RoadPeace members, they may have a personal experience which compels them. For those directly affected by a road traffic collision, CSW could be triggering, as you may witness numerous people breaking the speed limit. Due to this, RoadPeace cautions that you should reach a point in your grief or recovery from injury, in which you feel resilient enough to face this.
West Mercia Police’s Road Safety Team greatly value their volunteers, organise a quarterly newsletter and are responsive to any queries or concerns.
Where do CSW groups currently exist in Herefordshire and Worcestershire?
There are currently 52 CSW groups in West Mercia, and another 25 groups in the process of being set-up. The groups are in areas including built-up new towns and rural villages.
Areas which do not have a current CSW scheme can be considered if speeding is identified as a community priority, active speed enforcement operations are not already underway by West Mercia Police, the speed limit in the area is either 30mph or 40mph, and there are at least 6 volunteers willing to form a group.
Does CSW really have an impact?
In 2024, over 1,800 letters were sent to the registered keepers of the vehicles recorded as being driven over the speed thresholds used for monitoring in West Mercia. These letters are an educational way of engaging with speeding motorists. Additionally, 10 visits were made by police officers to persistent offenders to give advice on the consequences of their actions.
Moreover, the visual impact of a CSW group that is out monitoring within a community also serves as a deterrent to motorists and helps to reduce speeds. There is evidence that CSW works as in areas where groups are active there is a reduction in vehicles recorded as breaking the speed threshold.
How can I find out more or sign up to volunteer?
For more information, or to register your interest in becoming a volunteer, please contact the Community Speed Watch team by email (csw@westmercia.police.uk).
How will RoadPeace help?
If you are unsure about becoming a volunteer you can talk this through with Kate Gynn (RoadPeace West Mercia Road Victim Care Coordinator) or Lucy Harrison (RoadPeace West Mercia Group Coordinator), or during our monthly support group meetings. We can email the CSW team on your behalf if you would like us to, and we can ensure the CSW team are made aware that you have been bereaved or injured if you feel this may help.
If you do become a CSW volunteer and anything should happen that is triggering you can talk this through with Kate or Lucy or contact the RoadPeace helpline (Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm, 0800 160 1069).
Updated on: 10 January 2025