The appearance of the figures is unusual enough to make some motorists look twice (Representational photo)
A group of villagers in England has spent four months making something they hope will persuade speeding motorists to slow down: life-sized knitted traffic officers and fake speed cameras.
The unusual road safety campaign began after numerous accidents were recorded at a junction in Fillongley, Warwickshire, over four years. Since the handmade figures were installed last week, residents say they have noticed some drivers braking after mistaking them for real traffic enforcement equipment.According to BBC, members of the village's Knit and Natter group wanted to draw attention to a road safety problem that had troubled the community for years.
That's when they decided to create figures that would be difficult for approaching motorists to ignore.Their work has appeared at several locations around Fillongley. Alongside the imitation traffic officers and speed cameras are knitted children carrying road safety messages and zebras placed above crossing signs. One figure, dressed in a Royal Air Force (RAF) uniform and a high-visibility vest, was also positioned beside the road holding a knitted speed gun.
The campaign is particularly relevant to Nuneaton Road, where a busy crossroads has been a source of concern. Warwickshire County Council has recorded 11 traffic collisions at the junction over the past four years. A primary school is also located nearby. Residents say some drivers fail to pay attention to the speed limit signs, creating risks for people using the road.
Why villagers decided to make their own traffic officers
For residents, the knitted figures are more than an attempt to amuse passing motorists.
They are a response to continuing concerns about road safety and the time being taken to introduce permanent improvements.Heather Badham, 58, a parish clerk and member of the knitting group, believes drivers approaching the junction from Nuneaton Road are responsible for many of the accidents.Speaking to Good News Network, she said, "90% of the accidents are caused by people coming down the Nuneaton road, not seeing the signs and then hitting someone."The village already has a flashing 30mph speed limit sign. However, Badham said some motorists continue to travel too fast despite the warning.By making figures resembling officers monitoring traffic, they hoped to make approaching drivers more conscious of their speed.Their efforts appear to have produced the reaction they wanted, at least among some motorists. Badham said residents had watched vehicles slow down as drivers noticed the roadside displays."Since putting these up, we have been chuckling as people saw the man and thought he was real. You could see the brake lights coming on," she said.These observations suggest the figures have caught drivers' attention, although there is no evidence yet that the campaign has reduced the number of accidents.
A four-month project attracts attention
The figures have become a talking point among people living in the village. Their appearance is unusual enough to make some motorists look twice, while the messages carried by other knitted characters explain why the displays have been placed there.Local resident Tom Docker, 42, was among those surprised by the work. "I certainly did a double take when I saw the one with the camera. I couldn’t believe it," he told Good News Network. He praised the effort behind the creations and said they were encouraging people to discuss the problem of speeding.But the attention has not been entirely positive. One of the group's most distinctive figures, the knitted RAF officer, has disappeared.According to the BBC, the character was made in memory of the father of one of the knitters, who had served in the RAF during the Second World War. It had been dressed in a knitted high-visibility vest and given a handmade speed gun.Badham said the figure had apparently been stolen during a short period in the morning. Its disappearance upset the group, particularly because of the work involved in making it. "This is a piece of village heritage, and it's just been taken by somebody," she told the BBC.
The group is considering making a replacement and reporting the matter to police.
Village's road safety plans
The knitted campaign comes at a time when the future of the crossroads is already under discussion. Warwickshire County Council approved plans for traffic lights at the junction earlier this year. However, the proposal has not satisfied everyone. Some residents believe other measures, including average-speed cameras, should be considered.The council has said it is examining possible road safety improvements and waiting for confirmation from HS2 regarding funding for an alternative scheme.Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe has also recognised the seriousness of the problem, identifying Fillongley as one of the county's collision hotspots.