It may be one of the best kept secrets in town.
Any Sudbury resident concerned about speeding on their street can borrow equipment from the city to measure and track the speed of traffic on their street. If their findings show there's a speeding problem on the street, police can then begin enforcement in their neighbourhood and issue speeding tickets to offenders.
The city launched the Speed Watch program in 2007, and every year it receives inquiries in the “double digits” to participate, said David Shelsted, Greater Sudbury's director of roads and transportation.
But fewer people actually borrow the equipment – which includes a mounted radar gun and an LED sign that shows drivers' speeds in real-time.
“We have gotten a lot of positive feedback from the people that have participated within the program,” Shelsted said.
But when NorthernLife.ca made initial inquiries about the program, and called 311 to try out the equipment, two city staffers said they were not familiar with the Speed Watch program.
People interested in the program can learn more on the city's website and can borrow the equipment by calling 311, and asking for the traffic department.
To borrow the equipment residents must complete an application form and get the signatures of at least five of their neighbours, who are over the age of 18.
Shelsted said one person needs to operate the equipment, and a second person should be tasked with recording vehicle speeds and licence plate numbers on a supplied form.
Program participants do not have the authority to confront speeding drivers, but if they note their information, Sudbury police can follow-up with their findings.
Naturally, NorthernLife.ca wanted to borrow one — it's such a cool program. Not only did we borrow it, we took it out to play with it. Stay tuned for a video showing exactly how the equipment works.
