FOLLOWING The Citizen's front page stories and many readers' letters on the subject of Lancashire Constabulary's current speed campaign, reporter MARION AINGE road-tested a new device aimed at helping drivers slow down to beat the speed camera. Here is her report:

TEN minutes after driving along with the new Speed Guard device wired up to my car, I wanted to rip the thing from the dashboard and throw it out of the window.

The shrill tones of the irritating musical tone bleeped insistently when the speedometer needle nudged 30mph. It's surprising how easy it is to slip above the restricted limit without realising.

Two days later, Speed Guard and I reached a compromise and became firm friends.

I realised that if I didn't upset Speed Guard, it didn't annoy me. And that it's doing a good job in making sure I don't exceed the limit in a restricted zone. It's effective and I'll keep using it.

Patented by Blackpool vehicle safety and security specialist Benfell's, of Durham Road, the miniscule Speed Guard has been devised by them to help motorists keep their speed in check.

It takes about half an hour to fit and costs £59.95. And it's so simple to use that no printed instructions are necessary.

When a vehicle attains the legal speed limit in a speed-restricted area, the driver presses a button to record it and the LED shines green. If the driver exceeds the pre-set limit, the LED goes red. A short musical tone reminds the motorist to take their foot off the accelerator to escape the possibility of being caught by a static camera, hand-held laser gun or mobile speed camera.

Managing director of Benfell's, Michael Leigh, says the device, which is being piloted in the Blackpool area, will promote safer driving and also help motorists avoid fines and penalty points.

"It's easy to exceed the speed limit inadvertently," says Michael.

"But drivers using radar and laser detectors are missing the point of zero tolerance. These detectors are by no means a preventative measure to curb speeding and reduce casualties.

"Motorists need to focus on their speed, especially in residential areas, rather than finding means of dodging the cameras and detectors through quick braking.

"Unlike radar and laser detectors, the Speed Guard doesn't encourage drivers to speed. It prompts them to slow down, stick to the limits and avoid being caught speeding by the police.

"They're proving very popular. We can't get them made quickly enough to meet the demand."

David Newrick, who drives for Tower Taxis, still has a clean licence after 45 years on the road and has enlisted the support of Speed Guard to keep it that way.

He says that local taxi drivers fear for their livelihood. They estimate that lost time through enforced speed restrictions could cost between £4,000 and £5,000 a year. And customers aren't happy because journeys takes longer. "I've had a Speed Guard fitted and it's a tremendous help in monitoring my speed," says David, who drives a Toyota Corolla and lives in Westfield Road, South Shore.

"I admit that I can often edge absentmindedly just over the 30mph limit."

However, the Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety are less than enthusiastic about the new product.

"We don't endorse the use of any equipment in a vehicle that may distract the driver's concentration," says Linda Sanderson, communications manager.

Michael Leigh is quick to point out that motorists are already distracted by giving more attention to their speedometers than the road ahead.

The AA endorse the use of the Speed Guard for what they describe as "the average motorist trying to avoid paying the price of breaking the law".

"A device like this can be quite useful, particularly to the many people who are genuinely worried about speeding unintentionally," says Claire Price, AA press officer.