Equipping Aberdeen communities with their own speed guns to tackle dangerous driving in city streets is to be considered by councillors next week.
Liberal Democrat group leader Ian Yuill has submitted a motion to Monday’s full council meeting, calling for discussions with police on how a ‘community speedwatch’ scheme could be introduced in Aberdeen.
Under the scheme, which is active across the UK, members of the community are trained in how to use the equipment and kitted out in high-visibility clothing to deter speeders.
While they have no powers to prosecute, it is thought the programme acts as a deterrent in its own right and people consistently flouting the rules can be reported to the police.
Mr Yuill hopes that, by introducing the initiative, police resources could be diverted into tackling other crimes.
Last year, a north-east community hit the headlines when residents turned to hairdryers to deter speeding motorists.
In March, 2017, parents in Hopeman, Moray took the law into their own hands by donning fluorescent jackets and pointing the electric items towards the road from their gardens, mimicking police with speed guns.
Mr Yuill, a councillor for Airyhall, Broomhill and Garthdee, said he thought there were several communities in his ward who would make “full use” of the technology should it be allowed.
He said: “Community speedwatch is not a new idea, it happens in communities right across England and is now in Scotland too.
“There are regular complaints from communities across the city, and in my ward, about people speeding in some streets.
“The very fact that this scheme is in operation should act as some form of deterrent to persistent speeders who will know their speed is being watched.
“It will also mean that police perhaps won’t need to deploy an officer with a speed gun on certain routes, meaning that officers can use their time on something else.
“I think it is a sensible approach and there is evidence that it works.”
If Mr Yuill’s motion is successful, the chief officer of operations at the council will begin discussions with Police Scotland about how best to implement the scheme.
The police declined to comment ahead of the meeting.
