Speeding motorists to face interrogation from school children

Motorists will face an uncomfortable interrogation from school children on their driving behaviours as part of Cheshire Road Safety Group’s clamp-down on speeding across the county.

Cheshire Police, Warrington Council, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service along with other partners of the CRSG are working together throughout the month of April, targeting speeding motorists in a bid to make the county’s roads safer.

On Thursday 11 April, police will be stopping motorists caught exceeding the 20mph speed limit outside a school in Warrington.  Drivers will then be asked to enter the school where they will face a ‘children’s court’ who will interrogate the motorists on their driving behaviours.

The intervention takes place during a nationwide month-of-action co-ordinated by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).

The month-of-action will also be supported by police enforcement with the use of camera vans stationed in hot-spot areas across the county.

David Boyer, Chair of the Cheshire Road Safety Group and Director of Environment and Transport at Warrington Borough Council, said:

“Throughout the course of the month-of action we aim to educate drivers on how to stay safe whilst on the road with police enforcing the law against those who actively choose to drive recklessly.

“It is important that everyone realises that speed limits are in place for a reason and that speeding can have devastating consequences.

“We hope that by having children speak directly to the drivers they will take away why it is so important they slow down and drive safely. Not just outside of schools during school hours, but on all journeys, on all roads, all of the time.”

Inspector for Cheshire Police’s Roads and Crime Unit, Anton Sullivan, said: “We are always extremely proactive in our crackdown of speeding drivers, and we have dealt with a significant number of motorists in the past 12 months. We do not do this for the sake of it, we do it to save people’s lives.

“It is absolutely crucial we engage with and educate motorists on how to use the roads safely - and enforce the law when they are not. If you speed in Cheshire, or commit any of the other Fatal 5 offences, we will take action.”

The Fatal Five offences are:

• Careless driving
• Drink and drug driving
• Not wearing a seatbelt
• Using a mobile phone
• Speeding

Road users who commit one of the Fatal Five offences are far more likely to be involved in a fatal collision than those who do not.