A NEW weapon has been launched in the war against speeding drivers.

It is an unmarked silver car with state-of-the-art equipment which reads the speed of passing vehicles.

A sign on the roof shows how quickly they are travelling and automatically takes photographs of the registration number of any vehicle exceeding the limit.

Information on drivers travelling at excessive speed is passed to the police with motorists risking a fine.

But the information gathered by the specially equipped car could also spark other actions, such as measures to cut traffic speed or an eduction programme in the area.

The Go Safe Glasgow vehicle is the only one of its kind in the country and is presently on trial.

Go Safe Glasgow – which is a partnership with Glasgow City Council, police and fire services, the NHS, Glasgow Community and Safety Service, Strathclyde Safety Camera Partnership and Glasgow Comm-unity Planning Partnership – is aimed at cutting casualties on city roads.

George Cairns, the city council's road safety development officer, said the vehicle can record the speed of around 100 vehicles an hour and it can establish if there is a problem with speeding in any particular area.

He said: "If there is a problem we can address it either through education or engineering.

"It is more about addressing a problem and reassuring the public that we are trying to educate drivers."

Jim Coleman, the city council's executive spokesman for land and environment, said: "Problems with speeding in inner city and residential areas continues to be a priority for our local communities.

"The measures we are taking are needed to effect change.

"We want to be clear that drivers who ignore and exceed the speed limits are responsible.

"In order to make Glasgow's roads safer for all road users, pedestrians included, we must make every effort to make them consider the consequences if they don't slow down.

"This new vehicle means we can quickly target different areas around the city depending on where complaints are coming from."

Since January, police have carried out regular monthly enforcement days at known speeding hotspots and have handed out speeding tickets.

The crackdown against speeding motorists will continue for the rest of the year.

Road policing area commander, chief inspector Sharon Shaw, said: "The aim of the road policing depart-ment is to make the roads in Strathclyde safer and this vehicle will greatly enhance that."

vivienne.nicoll@ eveningtimes.co.uk