Guardian angel slows traffic

A Swiss scheme to use a guardian angel to urge motorists to slow down is proving such a success that it may be extended.

Police in the state of Fribourg employed a winged man dressed in white to stand at the roadside to remind drivers to go slow.

The professional actor waves and flaps his wings at motorists travelling too fast as part of the safe-driving campaign.

He is the real-life version of an angel that features in the initiative's TV commercials who is hit by a young motorist as he hurriedly drives out of his garage.

"The idea is to provide a sort of concrete protection, to have a real angel telling drivers to be responsible," said police spokesman Benoit Dumas.

"To have a physical presence like that makes the message more visible, and it's out of the ordinary."

The actor is employed 20 hours per week to 'appear' in different parts of the 670-square-mile region of western Switzerland.

"The initiative will go on until at least end of October, but it could be prolonged. After all, you know, angels are eternal," Dumas said.

Drivers who spot the angel are encouraged to e-mail the police - they will then be entered into a lottery for a driving lesson.