Speedy Gonzales

The number of speeding drivers through Burghwallis has always been an issue. Police speeding checks have been inconclusive. Yet we are not alone. Many residents group across the UK have submitted data gathered using a speed gun to local police and highways authorities.

This is an opportunity for local residents to review the training programme locally with the potential to become a volunteer. You may aware of the number of vehilces that use Grange Lane in Burghwallis as a rat run to avoid road works on the A1 and A19. More vehicles are expected when the housing estate in Skellow is completed.

The next training event is being held on 11th August 2026 at Fenwick Village Hall starting at 6pm and last about 1:30 hours.

Typically, the feedback from residents' groups in the UK revealed that after embarking on a concentrated study and gathering over six hours of data, they found that 40 per cent of the recorded cars were travelling above 30mph and 12 per cent were travelling above 40mph. They even picked up a top speed of 75mph.

The resident groups are trained and monitored by the police and follow strict guidelines. The aim is to gather data and forward this to the police.

• Police-Approved Locations: Volunteers can’t just pop up anywhere. They set up at sites approved by the police and, after a risk assessment, usually in areas with known speeding issues. Locations are typically residential roads or village through-routes where drivers often exceed the limit. CSW teams only work in daylight hours and must remain in plain view, wearing high-vis jackets and signage so drivers see them. (This isn’t a sneaky speed trap; the goal is to be visible and get drivers to hit the brakes!)
• Speed Monitoring: Equipped with handheld speed detection devices (often radar or laser “speed guns”), the volunteers measure the speed of passing vehicles. These devices display the car’s speed but do not take photos (they’re not like police speed cameras). Volunteers typically only record vehicles going notably above the limit, often around 10% or more over the posted speed limit. This small tolerance is to focus on truly excessive speeders, not someone briefly creeping 1 mph over the limit.
• Recording Details: When a car is detected exceeding the threshold, the team writes down the vehicle’s details: typically the registration (license plate number), make and model, colour, and the time and location of the speed reading. Multiple volunteers usually work together (most CSW teams have 2–4 people on site for safety and accuracy), one operates the speed device, and others record the info.
• Data Submission: After the session, the volunteers submit the recorded data to the police, often via an online system or spreadsheets sent to the local force. The information goes into a police database (and may be shared nationally) of vehicles caught by CSW. From here, it’s over to the police to decide on any further action.