I’m so sick of drivers speeding down my street I’ve taken matters into my own hands…anyone could do it
A MAN is so sick of drivers speeding down his street that he has taken matters into his own hands.
A cheeky barber is giving passing motorists a speed trim – tricking drivers into slowing down by standing outside his salon in a hi-vis jacket and pointing his hairdryer at traffic.
After becoming concerned about the number of people speeding on the one-way system outside his shop, Paul Johnson decided to take matters into his own hands to get drivers to use their brakes.
Photos show the dad-of-three, 51, standing outside his salon wearing a hi-vis jacket to read the driver’s speed with a hairdryer as they whizz down to the one-way street past his business.
Paul said he performed the quick five-minute prank between the clients as a bit of fun, but he was shocked when every car passed slowed down.
The hairdresser of 37 years says the stunt was such as success he will continue to do it, while others are asking him to bring his hairdryer to trick drivers on other dangerous roads in the area.
Paul, who owns Johnson Gentlemen’s Hair Salon in Northwich, said: “My shop is located on the one-way system through Northwich, and we do get quite a few people speeding around here.
“The idea came about from one of our stylists called Lee. He’s going on holiday to France soon, and you need to have a hi-vis jacket in your car in France if you break down.
“I decided to try one of them, and I just stood outside messing around, pointing the hairdryer at cars, and everyone was slowing down and looking at me.
“When they realised it was a hairdryer, they all started laughing and beeping their horns.
“I’ve just had loads of banter off my mates and customers about it.”
Paul said the speed limit on Chester Way in Northwich, where his salon is located, is 30mph, but many drivers exceed this.
One motorist who had a “brush with the law” thanks to Paul’s prank was Kyle Dunne, who had driven past the salon on his motorbike on Friday, May 26, on his return to work.
Kyle believed the salon owner was holding a real radar speed gun and immediately slowed down fear of getting more points on his licence.
She said: “As I was driving down the road, I saw a guy holding what I thought was a speeding gun with a his-vis on.
“I slowed down to 20mph. I have six points on my licence on my motorbike, so I have to be careful these days.
“And then he turned the hairdryer to the side so I could see what it was. I just burst out laughing – I knew I’d been pranked.”