This Is Guernsey

A police crackdown on people who break temporary speed limits has seen eight more drivers fined and banned. All had been caught in Rue du Pont Vaillant last week.

None was breaking the regular 35mph limit that applies when the road is two-way.

But when it was made one-way to take traffic diverted from Landes du Marche, the limit was slashed to 15mph and the drivers prosecuted yesterday were doing between 12 and 17mph more than that.

‘We are carrying out checks wherever there are temporary speed limits,’ a police spokesman said later, adding that it was in response to complaints from road workers.

Two groups of motorists were fined and banned last month for breaking the temporary 15mph limit imposed in St Julian’s Avenue to protect men working in the road.

All eight Pont Vaillant speeders pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court.

Two live in the area and told assistant-Magistrate Cherry McMillen that they were used to the original speed limit.

Jules Hunniset, of 1, Pre de l’Aumone, Castel, had been recorded driving at 32mph at 5.30pm on 27 January, Sergeant Geoff Greening told the court.

Mr Hunniset, who was convicted in 2005 for driving without due care and attention and had two speeding offences from 2004 and 2005, said that he used to live on Pont Vaillant Estate and thought it was a 25mph zone.

‘You have a responsibility as a driver to take note of all traffic signs,’ Miss McMillen told him.

Due to his previous convictions and because his speed was more than double the temporary limit, he was fined £120 and banned for a month.

Also appearing was Christopher Aslett, of Woodville Cottage, Verte Rue, Vale, who was caught at 10.30pm on 26 January - the first day of the speed restriction - driving at 28mph.

Gemma Campbell, of 2, The Laurels, Pont Vaillant, was clocked at 30mph, and Carol Crowson, of Westwood, Les Mares Pellees, Vale, at 26mph. Victoria Morris, of Avalon, Pont Vaillant Lane, was stopped for driving at 28mph while Graham Mourant, of Pendale, Capelles, St Sampson’s, was recorded at an average speed of 27mph.

Also stopped after driving at the same speed was Anthony Gillespie, of Kaikoura, Rue des Heches, St Peter’s.

Suzette Nicholls, of Le Jonquille, Clos Raymond Leterrier, Pont Vaillant Lane, was recorded at 29mph.

All seven were fined £120 and banned for two weeks.