THE latest speed camera technology has gone on a trial outside a Poole first school after shock figures revealed almost 100 motorists driving at 40mph in one hour.

In a six week study by Poole-based company Siemens, experts discovered up to 98 vehicles a day travelling at 40mph along Springdale Road, which is part of a popular rat-run in a 30mph limit.

This disturbing data was collected within the times when pupils were making their way to and from Springdale First School.

So Siemens engineers, the school and Borough of Poole officials decided to forge ahead with a six-month trial of a new SafeZone system, which started yesterday.

Headteacher Ruth Leach said: “We will support anything that can potentially improve the safety of our children, the staff and the local residents.”

Three state-of-the-art cameras will create the zone, recording average speeds in both directions along Springdale Road. But there will be no enforcement action for the trial.

However, if the scheme is made permanent by Borough of Poole later, drivers could find themselves coughing up for speeding fines and incurring penalty points.

Council cabinet member for transport Cllr Mike White said: “We fully support initiatives to improve road safety and we look forward to the results of this trial to see how effective it proves.

“Road safety is a priority in Poole and we would like the thank Siemens for funding the trial.”

Julia Townsend, of the road safety charity Brake, said children have the right to walk and cycle in their neighbourhoods without fearing speeding traffic.

She said: “Tackling speeding helps to make our communities safer for everyone, as drivers are more able to react and stop in time when they need to – such as if a child runs out in front of them.”

The camera system calculates the average speed of vehicles and has been designed specifically to be installed in urban environments.

It is accompanied by new road signs with a slow down message, designed by seven-year-old Springdale pupil Eryn Young.