SPEEDING in accident hotspots in Darlington has been halved thanks to devices that flash up motorists' speeds as they approach.

The success of the speed visors could lead to more being installed in and around the town if Darlington Borough Council decides to expand the scheme as part of a review next year.

Durham County Council said it had also started using speed visors, with one due to be installed in a bad speeding area in Aycliffe Village soon.

Police tell the councils which are the worst areas for speeding and the portable device is installed there for several weeks. Once motorists slow down in that area, the speed visor is moved to another speeding hotspot.

In Darlington, the devices are in place for two weeks at a time at each site, once every six months.

Research has shown that the units are effective and the numbers of vehicles travelling within the speed limit in the target areas in Darlington have increased from 30 per cent to 62 per cent, a council spokesman said.

The device can also be used to monitor traffic speeds and patterns. The information is passed to the relevant council departments to help with safety improvements and traffic planning.

Nick Wallis, Darlington council's cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "The response from residents has been very positive.

"The device has proved it can help to improve road safety in a given area and can provide us with the information we need to plan improvements to our roads.

"Road safety is a priority for the council and this device has proved itself to be effective in helping to cut speeds and, in turn, making roads safer for pedestrians and other users."

The units are currently in place in Brinkburn Road, Darlington, and Station Road, Middleton St George.