Hairdryers have become unlikely weapons in a Moray village’s desperate battle against speeding drivers.
Residents in Hopeman are so worried a child will be killed that they have resorted to unusual methods to try to slow passing cars.
Locals have donned fluorescent jackets and pointed the nozzles of the blowers at the road from their gardens to mimic police with speed guns.
Ladders have also been propped up against walls to allow children safe passage between back gardens instead of braving the main B9040 road through the village.
Last night parents estimated cars were reaching speeds up to 60mph leaving the village on the long one-mile straight towards Burghead.
Forsyth Street mum-of-three Carmen Gillies said: “I’ve heard of people standing with hairdriers in the street to get people to slow down.
“The main worry is crossing the road. It’s the main busy road through Hopeman and people just don’t slow down when they enter the village.
“It might all sound like a joke but these are the sorts of lengths we have to go to to make sure our children are safe .
“We want to do anything we can to stop an accident before it happens. We want to take action now if its preventable.”
Mrs Gillies’ children Apsen, 6, Blae, 7, and Gianna, 10, have previously drawn laminated 30mph signs to attach to lampposts outside their home to remind drivers to obey the law.
With no pavement on the family’s side of the street their driveway has become an impromptu bus stop for school children in the evenings.
Mrs Gillies’ neighbour Cath Lyall said: “Our children have started signalling to drivers to slow down and some of them have given the finger back – they think they own the road because they have a car.
“They go really fast, don’t slow down for children, and then give them a look as if they shouldn’t be there. There are more houses planned for here so the traffic will only get worse.”
Plans are now being made to form an action group in the village to come up with more initiatives to make the message hit home for drivers.
Last night residents heaped praise on the efforts made by police but bemoaned the fact motorists were still putting lives at risk.
Heldon and Laich councillor Dennis Slater, who lives in Hopeman, said: “I’m really pleading with drivers to slow down. It’s especially dangerous when kids are making their way to school with all the works vehicles.
“The residents are having to resort to all kinds of measures to get them to slow down. An action group would help take them forward before there is a fatal accident.”
While posing for a photograph at the side of the road yesterday evening Constable Roy Cook was alarmed enough by the speed of one driver to gesture to them to slow down.
The officer from the Lossiemouth policing team explained regular spot checks were done in the area.
He said: “We have had a number of complaints regarding speeding in Hopeman, which we will continue to address.
“This aligns with one of our priorities and supports Operation Cedar, which concentrates on reducing the number of serious and fatal traffic incidents in the north-east.
“Offenders will be dealt with by either warnings, the offer of a fixed penalty or a report to the Procurator Fiscal.”
A community leader in Hopeman says she has frequently been overtaken entering the Moray village by motorists intent on ignoring the speed limit.
Last night April Charlesworth, vice-chairwoman of the Hopeman Community Association, slammed the attitude of motorists prepared to put lives in danger on the street.
She said: “I’ve had people overtaking me when I’ve been slowing down for the 30mph signs. It’s almost like it’s a bit of fun for them.
“When you’re leaving the village towards Burghead it looks as though you’re entering a clear stretch – they just try and get as fast as possible as quickly as possible without realising there’s still a speed limit.
“I think the attitude is appalling. It’s just a bit of fun for them, they don’t realise the implications for children or the elderly trying to cross the road.”
Mrs Charlesworth raised fears that pensioners crossing the street to the village’s bowling club were also vulnerable.
Desmond Symon-James-Gillies drives a school bus back to the village from Lossiemouth High School.
He said: “It’s so dangerous in the evening. There’s no pavement and no hard shoulder so the children are just standing on the side of the road.
“Some of them take a chance and try and cross the road but it’s so alarming the speed that some of these drivers are going.”
