A HIGHBRIDGE man claims he feels unsafe on the roads because of speeding motorists who blight the town.

The 85-year-old, who did not want to give his name, is now urging police to crackdown on dangerous motorists who have disregard for the law.

He claims the issue has escalated in the last eight years and says he has witnessed a number of near misses on the A38.

He said: “I have lived in Highbridge for more than eight years now and as a resident and a motorist I see this is a big problem.”

He said motorists speed over a number of roundabouts in the town – including those for Asda in Caxton Road and Isleport Business Park in Bennett Road – with “no care for other drivers or pedestrians.”

“I have seen a number of near-miss crashes outside my home and have spoken to the police on a number of occasions but not much has been done,” he said.

He said he has reported a number of incidents of speeding to police but said he has only had one letter in return.

He is now calling on the police to do “a better job” of patrolling the roads to catch speeding motorists in the act.

He added: “After all of the incidents I have seen over the last eight years, I feel unsafe around my home and on the roads. I’ve nearly been hit by speeding drivers a few times and it just makes me want to make the police more aware this is happening.

“Police officers coming out and using the speed guns is not enough – too many people get away with speeding. It poses such a danger to other people.

“The police need to come up with a different strategy to combat this problem as their current one is not working.”

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said dealing with speeding is a “local priority” for the force and schemes to tackle the issue will be rolled out in the New Year.

The spokesman said: “We are currently looking to publicise Community Speedwatch and are seeking to get more volunteers to support potential new schemes.

"We will be launching a push during the New Year across the Sedgemoor area, looking to attract volunteers so new schemes can be introduced in Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea, Cheddar, Highbridge and the surrounding areas.”