HUNDREDS of York residents are to become roving traffic patrols in a bid to tackle speeding in their neighbourhoods.

Householders in Tang Hall and Holgate signed petitions to the city’s transport bosses calling for action to slow down drivers.

But instead of installing bollards and chicanes, council officials plan to give the residents hi-tech gadgets that can record vehicle speeds, so they can monitor the problem themselves.

City of York Council’s roads boss, Coun Steve Galloway, will be asked to approve the move next Tuesday.

It follows the submission of two petitions: one from 80 residents in Etty Avenue in Tang Hall, and one from 129 residents in Holgate, who say speeding motorists are making it dangerous for children to cross from the junction of New Lane and Hill Street to West Bank Park.

There have been no recorded casualties at the site in the past three years, but the campaigners said: “The speed of traffic travelling at the entrance of West Bank Park prevents children crossing safely.”

At Etty Avenue, there have been no serious accidents, but there was one slight injury when a child cycled out from behind an ice cream van, into the path of a moped.

Council road safety assistant Kathryn MacKay said council studies of the road had found average speeds were within the 30mph limit.

She said: “The issue appears to be one of perception, rather than actual speeding.”

She recommended a Community Speed Indicator Device (CSID), which works by flashing up a motorist’s speed as they approach.

She said: “The CSID is particularly beneficial when tackling the casual speeder who may not have realised that they are driving too fast or breaking the limit.”

Ms MacKay proposed the same measure in Holgate, a move that has been backed by local councillors. Residents will be given training in how to use the devices.