Road safety campaign group urges motorists to stop flashing lights to warn of Operation Mountie speed cameras

FOREST drivers are being urged to stop flashing their lights to warn other motorists of speed cameras.

Road safety campaigner Gilly Jones said since the introduction of Operation Mountie two years ago hundreds of local drivers and visitors had been educated about the dangers of exceeding speed limits.

But she urged drivers to continue to support the scheme when she spoke at a recent meeting of the Verderers’ Court, explaining: “If you see us on the side of the Forest road, or the Verderers’ funded speed camera van is out, please do not flash people to tell them we are there.

“That person you flash may be a drug driver, who is putting you, others, and the livestock at risk.”

She revealed recent speed monitoring at Hawk Hill on the B3055 saw a number of drivers stopped for speeding and other offences.

She said: “Within a couple of minutes we caught one driver – the owner of a local business – doing 60mph in a 40, with no seatbelt on and with one of his children in the car.”

Over the course of a two-hour session, the court heard 14 drivers had been pulled over, including a speeding van pulling a trailer with the wrong plates on.

“You’d think this was bad enough, but no, he only had a provisional licence and no insurance,” said Ms Jones, continuing: “The van was a company van; he was arrested and the vehicle was seized.”

Operation Mountie has been “worth its weight in gold”, said Ms Jones, adding that hundreds of local drivers and visitors had been educated about the dangers of speeding.

She said she was hopeful that by continuing to work with other local organisations such as Forestry England and the national park authority, livestock deaths on the roads could be reduced.

“We identify other issues on our roads, be that a simple out of date MOT, to drug and drink driving,” said Ms Jones, adding: “I wonder now what more we can do – I would like extra support from parish councils and businesses.

“I am aware that the Official Verderer is pushing the request for speed cameras forward, but as I have previously said we would like to have the B3054 included.”