SPEEDWATCH Co-ordinator Cllr Mike Joyce has said drivers who abuse volunteers monitoring vehicle speeds in Newton Abbot could be getting a visit from the police.

Cllr Joyce and his unpaid colleagues can be seen regularly around town, armed with motion detectors and signs which display the speed of passing traffic.

Their aim is to reduce injury and death on the roads, in line with Devon and Cornwall Constabulary’s Vision Zero policy.

While the majority of vehicle occupants seem to either accept or welcome the initiative, sometimes giving a thumbs-up or other shows of support, a few are becoming abusive.

‘I have noticed an increase in both verbal assaults and rude gesticulating, coupled with generally unnecessary actions by drivers and passengers,’ said Cllr Joyce.

‘Despite what a minority of people may believe, those of us volunteering to carry out Speedwatch monitoring are supporting the police in their efforts to reduce deaths and injuries on the roads.

‘Many of us are retired so suggesting we “go get a useful job” is not relevant.

‘Advising us to do various physical actions is really not warranted and neither, in my opinion, are the various hand signals which, having looked in the Highway Code, are definitely not related to driving.

‘Many a time those doing this are not even speeding, so why, one has to inquire, are they acting in this way?

‘If speeding was not an issue, we and our police colleagues could, I am sure, find something else to occupy our time with.’

Cllr Joyce, a former mayor of Newton Abbot, warned those choosing to be rude that their actions were being noted.

‘Registration numbers are taken of the vehicles whose occupants are doing this and those details are forwarded to our colleagues at Speedwatch HQ,’ he said.

‘The registered owner will be identified and can expect a visit from a uniformed officer.

‘Repeated offences will be treated in accordance with the law.

‘The reregistered owner is responsible at all times for their vehicle, and the actions of those using it, whether they are present or not, so passing the buck is no excuse.’