Bristol man stands by side of road to warn drivers about ‘hiding’ speed camera van

A man has been holding a self-made sign by the side of a dual carriageway to warn drivers about a ‘hiding’ speed camera van.          

Over the last week Nick Haskins has held the sign up to drivers along the Hengrove Way in south Bristol, where the speed limit ranges from 30 to 40 mph.    

Calling himself the “speed camera warrior”, the 62-year-old says he is “angry” about the lack of speed camera signage on the road.         

“I just don’t like the fact the speed cameras are on the side of the road and hiding themselves with no sign saying they’re there,” he said.

“I believe that they are supposed to put a sign up to show they’re there to give people warning but they are hiding behind the trees.      

“I am quite angry with them, the way they conduct themselves and the bullying that goes on when you get a letter; the amount of money they charge for just being five miles over the speed limit.”   

The Bedminster Down resident says he has not had one bad response since starting his efforts, with drivers giving him the thumbs-up, beeping and shouting “legend”.  

“There’s a right and wrong way, and the way they’re doing it is wrong, people need to be told there’s a camera,” he added. 

“All I'm looking at is if I’m standing on the side of the road and slowing traffic down, they’re not speeding.        

"My campaign is to get as many people to contact me as possible so I can let others know where the speed camera vans are hiding."   

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Haskins, who is set to run as an independent candidate in the Filwood ward in the upcoming local elections, says he plans on going out to other areas to warn drivers about unmarked speed cameras.     

In response to Haskins’ actions, an Avon & Somerset Police spokesperson said: “Speeding is one of the top factors in fatal and serious injury collisions. It only takes one person to drive dangerously to cause an otherwise avoidable collision. 

“Mobile speed enforcement units can be placed for several different reasons, including based on community concern, where members of the public have expressed worries about speeding in their area, on routes identified from data as high risk, and areas where collisions are a factor. 

“We also publicise in advance the locations of mobile speed units on our website”.