Brief
Fillongley villagers knit fake speed cameras to curb reckless driving
The handmade displays, including a knitted RAF airman with a mock speed gun, are reported to be slowing motorists along Nuneaton Road.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Residents of Fillongley, Warwickshire, have installed knitted traffic officers and mock speed‑camera rigs along Nuneaton Road in an effort to deter fast drivers, Daily Mail reported.
What happened
The Fillongley Knit and Natter group, formed for the Queen’s last jubilee, began producing life‑size RAF mannequins, knitted hi‑vis jackets and fake speed‑camera units after a series of crashes at the village’s main junction. The figures are tied to lampposts and a phone box, with one RAF airman positioned beneath a 30 mph sign holding a mock speed gun. Villagers say drivers have been slowing down, some even braking when they mistake the knitted figures for real officers. A few of the displays have been stolen by irritated motorists.
What the reports add
The article notes that the group has also created knitted tortoises on speed‑limit signs and children on benches holding anti‑speed messages. It describes the group’s past projects, such as a giant poppy cascade for the church and reusable decorations for various scenarios. No official traffic‑enforcement data is provided to confirm the impact.
What was said
Heather Badham, a parish councillor and member of the Knit and Natter group, told Daily Mail: “I helped with one of the children sitting on the bench, but I have to say I am the world’s worst knitter. We started the group for the Queen’s last jubilee and the ladies didn’t want to stop. We’ve done lots of stuff in the past, including a giant poppy cascade coming down the church. We reuse what we’ve made in different scenarios, so we recycle what we’ve got. We’ve knitted hi‑vis jackets, and speed cameras and put the zebras on the crossing. We’ve got some tortoises to say slow and children on benches with signs to say kill your speed. It has had a massive impact.” She added that most crashes are caused by drivers not seeing the signs and that the knitted displays have prompted drivers to brake as they pass.
How it came about
The initiative grew out of the community’s frustration with repeated accidents on Nuneaton Road, prompting the Knit and Natter group to use their crafting skills to create visible reminders of speed limits. The group’s ongoing projects illustrate a broader trend of grassroots safety measures in small villages.
Key facts
- Fillongley residents have installed knitted traffic officers and mock speed cameras along Nuneaton Road. (dailymail.co.uk)
- The displays include a knitted RAF airman with a mock speed gun beneath a 30 mph sign. (dailymail.co.uk)
- Parish councillor Heather Badham said the knitted figures have caused drivers to brake and slow down. (dailymail.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] dailymail.co.uk — originally reported as “Villagers knit fake speed cameras to stop fast drivers”
