Fears for road safety after a duck is killed by rogue driver

The death of a duck which was run over by an impatient driver has led to renewed calls for road safety in the North Downs area. For the last few years, Speed Watch volunteers have been regularly monitoring traffic in Lyminge, Etchinghill and Rhodes Minnis in Kent.

The team members wear high visibility jackets and use speed indicating devices to record the details of speeding vehicles, which are then reported to the police. But recently, motorists who had slowed to a stop to allow a duck to cross the road were shocked when a rogue driver overtook them, killing the helpless bird in the process.



Lyminge Parish Council vice-chairman and Speed Watch coordinator Colin Manvell said: "There is certainly a problem with some people who drive far too fast through the villages. Since we instigated Speed Watch nearly three years ago we've seen it all.

"Through places like Etchinghill, the roads are so narrow in places that if a car was going too fast and came across a bus it just wouldn't stand a chance. We've got a lot of animals who live nearby and horse riders often come down this way too. A poor duck was killed recently when an impatient driver pulled out." The group is currently looking for more volunteers to join Speed Watch and help marshal the roads.