A life-size cardboard cut-out policeman will be used on a busy Belper road in a novel bid to slow down speeding drivers.
It will be the first time in Derbyshire the full colour cut-out, based on a photograph of county PC Bob Malloy, has been deployed against speeders.
Cut-out cops are currently used in stores and petrol stations to deter thieves.
Now a similar m
ethod will be used in an attempt to stop drivers from exceeding the 40mph speed limit on Far Laund in Belper.
The idea came after a community consultation meeting led by police, at which concerns were raised about speeding traffic on the road.
Residents said cars often sped down the road and they feared an accident would happen.
Far Laund resident Nigel Vardy said cars regularly drive down there at 60mph and it was only a matter of time before someone was killed.
He said: "I am absolutely convinced that speeding is a big problem on this road. The other night I had just got to a T-junction and started to pull out, and a car came and overtook another car at least 65mph. It all nearly ended in disaster.
"It's not an occasional occurence, I sit in my garden and regularly hear cars going by doing silly speeds."
PCSO Donna Shaw, from Belper Police, said she would put the cardboard cop on the side of the road where passing motorists would be able to see it and is convinced the cut-out will fool drivers into thinking it is a real police officer.
Mr Vardy said: "I don't like speed cameras but something needs to be done. I don't know if a cardboard cut-out police officer is the answer as once people have seen it a couple of times they will start speeding again."
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