A cheeky barber is giving passing motorists' speed a trim - tricking drivers into slowing down by standing outside his salon in a hi-vis jacket and pointing his hairdryer at traffic. Paul Johnson decided to take matters into his own hands in a bid to get drivers to use their brakes after becoming concerned about the number of people speeding on the one way system outside his shop.
Photos show the dad-of-three, 51, standing outside his salon wearing a hi-vis jacket and pretending to read the driver's speeds with a hairdryer as they whizz down the one-way street past his business. Paul said he performed the quick five-minute prank between clients as a bit of fun but was shocked when every car that 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 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 in case you break down.
"I decided to try one of them on 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 just 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.
Kyle, 31, said: "As I was driving down the road, I saw a guy holding what I thought was a speeding gun with a hi-vis on.
"I slowed down to 20 mph. I have six points on my license on my motorbike so I have to be careful these days.
"[When I drove past] Paul had the speed gun [hairdryer] pointed at me, and I thought 'oh my god I'm doing 20 I'm not speeding'.
"I kept looking down at my dash to check and I was only doing 20 mph and I didn't know what was wrong.
"And then he turned the hairdryer to the side so I could see what it was and I just burst out laughing - I knew I'd been pranked.
"He could hear me laughing through my helmet on the motorbike."
Kyle said his colleagues at work found it hilarious that he had fallen for Paul's prank.
Kyle, the owner of a car body repair and paintwork business, said: "When I got back to my workshop and told my staff what had happened and they all found it very funny.
"I think it was a very good idea as it makes people aware of what they are doing without any consequences.
"If you get points on your licence and a fine your insurance rockets up so it's a good way to control speeding without this.
"I think it's a good thing to do and it's a bit of fun as well."
To make up for his cheeky prank, Paul found Kyle on Facebook and has offered him a free hair cut so they can have a laugh about the clever trick he pulled.
Paul added: "Kyle was the best ones that drove past.
"He passed and he slammed his brakes on.
"He was only going slow and when he realised it was a hairdryer he was laughing so much.
"I've offered him a free haircut next time he comes in.
"I also had a customer ring the salon and ask if it was me standing outside.
"It's probably something I'd do again.
"It's just good and a bit of advertising for the business in a way.
"Some people were asking me to go and stand around other parts of town and do fake speed recording there."
On Facebook, Paul posted a photo of himself posed up with the 'speed gun' hairdryer and social media users were quick to praise Paul for his speed awareness prank.
One user commented: "I love this - you don't have be trained to fine drivers, just slow them down through Northwich area."
Another wrote: "Join your local community speed watch group and you can do it for real."
A third user said: "Priceless Johnno."
Another commented: "Well done Paul. Why don't others think of that?"
