Pupils Help to Tackle Christmas Speeding Offences

Local police and councils across the country have begun their Christmas campaigns targeting motorists who let down their guard towards the end of the year. However JMW Solicitors in Manchester have found one local authority that has decided to use an alternative method to encourage drivers to slow down during the holiday season.

Bury Council and police have had the help of a year 6 class to enforce speed limits and encourage motorists to drive home safely during the festive season.

The students used speed cameras over three mornings outside local primary schools where a total of sixty one drivers were stopped for driving too fast.

The project was to educate the children on road safety, rather than to prosecute and so the drivers accountable were given an unusual choice by the police – take a fixed penalty and points on their licence for a speeding offence, or endure three tough questions from the class. Not surprisingly, all sixty one chose the second option.

Peter Grogan, head of the Road Traffic team at JMW Solicitors said, “Our motoring offences department has had years of experience dealing with motorists who have been harshly penalised over a minor speeding offence so it’s refreshing to see an effective alternative to encourage drivers to slow down.”

“The council’s decision to offer motorists a choice and let children ask questions rather than simply enforcing a fine for a minor speeding offence is not only an excellent way of educating the children but will also probably have more of an effect on the driver and hopefully cause them to have more respect towards the community areas they drive through.”

The youngsters wanted to ask if the motorists realised how fast they were driving and how they would feel if a loved one was harmed due to the negligence of a speeding motorist. They were also handed a leaflet reminding them to think carefully about their driving, especially during the winter season where conditions on the road inevitably lead to more accidents.

Many drivers said the children had a profound effect on encouraging them to change their driving habits as it made them stop and think about what they were doing.

JMW is a full service law team based in Manchester. Their dedicated motoring solicitors understand how serious a speeding offence can be, especially if it results in a ban which could lead to a job loss or an accident resulting in injury or death. Speak to a motoring solicitor today for a free enquiry by calling 0800 054 6570 or visiting their website at http://www.jmw.co.uk.

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Samantha Meakin

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JMW Solicitors LLP

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