Police are to launch a ‘bin day’ blitz on speeders in rural Tayside.
In partnership with Angus Council and Safety Camera Partnership, 200 letters from Police Scotland are being delivered to householders in Colliston, Kellas, Muirhead, Birkhill, Inchbare, Hillside and Woodville.
On refuse collection day, officers from local community policing teams, Tayside Safety Camera Partnership and Police Scotland Youth volunteers, will fix A4 speed warning stickers to residents’ wheelie bins.
Allana Lewek, Community Sergeant for Carnoustie and Monifieth, who has been leading on the project with local officers said it would assist in tackling speeding in rural communities.
“There is a mechanism in place to measure the success of the scheme, involving speed detection on bin days compared to non bin days,” she said.
“It is anticipated that over a three-year period there will be savings in road safety interventions, with a consistent road safety activity at least once a week in prevalant areas.
“Crucially it is hoped that this will assist in casualty reduction and modifying driver behaviour.”
Police said the initiative is to promote ‘positive driver behaviour’ which has been given a cautious welcome by residents.
Marilyn Mauran from Kellas already has signs on her wheelie bins telling drivers to cut their speed and she also put up her own 30mph signs at the bottom of her garden.
Following her speeding protests, the council also painted 30mph roundels on the road and there are still plans for vehicle-activated signs to be brought in, albeit on a temporary basis.
“It does seem strange they have decided to launch this during a three-month bin strike,” she said.
“I am happy that something is being done but why does it take for someone to constantly ‘shout’ about it?’.
“I don’t think stickers will totally solve the problem but it is a step in the right direction.
“Why should the council and the police have to spend what little resources they have on trying to deal with stupid, ignorant, reckless, disrespectful drivers who seem incapable of reading road signs which say 30mph and still fail to comply with the law?
“Why are they in such a hurry?
“Would it not be cheaper in the long run to install cameras permanently that will take photos of speedsters and automatically issue a fine and points on their licence?”
Chief Inspector David McIntosh, Local Area Commander, said: “I am in support of the scheme which will form part of our ongoing road safety initiative.
“Enforcement remains a priority and officers will continue to conduct regular patrols and be involved in specific operations to support the road safety campaign.
“Further road safety operations are planned involving cyclists and horse riders.”
He said work is ongoing in schools on the subject of road safety including the production of a video from Grange primary pupils in Monifieth that will be sent to families.
He said “education and prevention remain important strands” of the campaign.
Over the last week a 23-year-old man in Brechin and 41-year-old man in Forfar were arrested for drink driving and a 17-year-old man was arrested for careless driving in Arbroath.
In addition to this activity a variety of speed checks were conducted by local officers supported by Divisional Road Policing officers and one driver was dealt with for doing over 98mph on the A92.
