Campaign outside Carmarthenshire School Clocks Speeders

Some 88 motorists were found to be exceeding the 20mph speed limit outside a Carmarthenshire school during a week-long road safety campaign.

The joint Road Safety Partnership campaign was held outside Llechyfedach School, Upper Tumble from January 11 to 15.

The campaign was run by Carmarthenshire Roads Policing Unit, Go Safe Safety Camera Partnership and Cross Hands Neighbourhood Policing Team, who spent the week outside the school at key times. Officers provided a visible presence outside the school and carried out preventative measures along with enforcement and education to motorists.

Carmarthenshire Roads Policing Sergeant Ian Price said: “This was a successful operation focussing on casualty reduction where road safety issues were dealt with positively providing the community and parents with confidence that school children of the area can walk to and from school safer in the knowledge that positive action has been taken to educate motorists. Similar campaigns are planned within Carmarthenshire over the next few weeks.”

The activity was carried out following community concerns at results of a recent survey from Carmarthenshire County Council, which showed motorists were ignoring the 20mph speed restriction. Some 85 per cent of motorists were found to be driving in excess of 30mph. These speeds were recorded during peak times when children were starting and finishing school.

On the Wednesday, police were joined by Go Safe Safety Camera Partnership, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Road Safety Team and Mid & West Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s Road Safety Team as well as children from Llechyfedach School to carry out a Speech Indication Display operation to raise awareness of 20mph zones outside schools.

Campaign Results: 

–  46 motorists were reported for speeding

–  Eight motorists were given a recorded warning for speeding

–  34 motorists were given the option to engage with the school children during the Speed

Indication Display Operation. This was the alternative to being reported for the offence.

–  Four motorists were found not to be wearing a seat belt.

–  Five motorists were advised around placing mobile data devices in windscreens of vehicles

that were affecting visibility.

–  Eight motorists were dealt with positively for not clearing their windscreens from Ice.