Council launch Northumberland speed campaign

Posted by The Journal on Oct 9, 09 09:34 AM in Councils

Road humps and speed cushions are to be done away with as part of a pilot scheme in Northumberland aimed at making traffic control less intrusive on local residents and the environment.

The experiment involves new 20mph speed limits being introduced at six locations
across the county - without any physical traffic calming measures to accompany them.

The six sites are likely to be in residential areas near schools, and on roads which have a record of traffic accidents involving injuries to pedestrians or cyclists.

Each of the county council's three area committees is being asked to choose two of the pilot 20mph limit sites, which will be controlled by speed warning signs only.

The move aims to overcome complaints and objections from many local residents faced with the prospect of physical traffic calming work near their homes.

They say road humps, speed cushions and priority chicanes are unsightly and hit property values, damage vehicles, reduce on-street parking space and increase noise, vibration and pollution.

In some cases, requests to introduce 20mph zones on road safety grounds have been rejected because not enough local residents support them.

The pilot scheme in Northumberland was approved by the county council executive
in July and area committee are now being asked to choose the six locations from a list of 20mph limit requests submitted by communities.

Since 1999 the council has invested significant sums on the introduction of 20mph speed zones, until now supported by associated traffic calming measures, to improve safety in residential areas for pedestrians and cyclists.

In addition to complaints from residents about road humps, speed cushions and chicanes, council officials say the measures can also be expensive to install and maintain, limiting the number of schemes that can be introduced for cost reasons.

A report to county councillors by team manager for traffic design, Alan Bawn , says the six pilot 20mph sites will be chosen on the basis of the number of injury accidents and the type of casualties, for example pedestrians and cyclists.

Mr Bawn says: "The pilot 20mph limit sites will be monitored for before and after traffic speeds and accident statistics, to assess their effectiveness."

National research suggests that pedestrians struck at 30mph have about a 1 in 5 chance of being killed.

At 20mph the chance of a pedestrian dying is reduced to 1 in 40.

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