SUPPORT is being sought for a campaign to tackle speeding on Dartmoor by producing leaflets, posters and stickers in a bid to reduce the number of animals killed on the roads each year and prevent driver fatalities.
Dartmoor resident Gregg Manning has spearheaded a campaign to raise funds in order to produce literature to be used across the moor and to work with groups and schools to put pressure on drivers to stick to the 40mph speed limits on the majority of Dartmoor’s roads.
Gregg is a member of Dartmoor Forest Parish Council, currently co-chair, and as a councillor has been tirelessly working for several years to tackle the long-standing issue of speeding on the moor. However, he has now taken it upon himself as an individual to set up a Just Giving fundraising website to get his new initiative off the ground.
Gregg said: ‘As a parish councillor, my remit was to tackle the problem of speeding across the moors and last July I set up Dartmoor Speedwatch. We currently go out twice a week to various locations and hold a session.
‘Taking details of speeding cars and submitting the details to the police for them to write to the driver is all part of an educational process to try to reduce speeding. Having now held 44 sessions, I feel that we are making a small difference but there is much more to be done. I have been trying to think of what else can be done which would be acceptable to the national park authority. Additional signage is not an option.
‘My idea is simple. I want to encourage the families of these speeders to put pressure on them to reduce their speed. Children can be very influential in such matters, as well as a husband, wife or partner. I want to produce car stickers that considerate drivers might display on the rear window warning that the speed on the moors is an obligatory 40mph, for following drivers to see. I want to produce leaflets and posters which could be given to schools, perhaps to be used in a project about the moors and the animals. I simply want to raise the awareness of the issues and the terrible aftermath of driving too fast. I want to emphasise that a road traffic collision involving a large animal, at speed, could also be fatal to the driver. We are simply losing too many animals to selfish, inconsiderate drivers and it needs to stop.’
Gregg said as a resident of Dartmoor he felt very strongly about protecting it. Last year 166 animals were killed — almost double the number of the year before.
‘We do not understand the increase but clearly that sort of figure is unsustainable,’ said Gregg. ‘In partnership with the Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society and Dartmoor National Park, the parish council was able to help fund three vehicle activated signs which have been sited across the moor. The first batch of data is in and shows a speed as high as 117mph at Bennetts Cross and 105mph at Sharpitor. Clearly these speeds are not just excessive, they are totally crazy and should a collision have taken place it would almost certainly have proven fatal for all concerned.
‘I feel we are at the point that if we do not do something now to stop this, there will be loss of life.’
Anyone who would like to help Gregg in his mission can visit http://www.justgiving.com/"; TARGET="_blank">www.justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/Gregg-Manning-Kill-your-speed-on-Dartmoor to find out more or to make a contribution.