Majority of motorists complied with Barford temporary speed limit
Speeding prosecutions recorded at the safety camera installed to encourage speed limit compliance through the Barford bypass roadworks show the vast majority of motorists were complying with the temporary 30mph speed limit.
Over 99% of traffic travelling north through the roads works did so without triggering the camera.
The temporary 30mph speed limit was installed for the safety of the travelling public and the workforce. The camera was added after a survey revealed 85% of traffic was exceeding the temporary 30mph speed limit and a quarter of drivers were travelling in excess of 45mph. This presented a significant and unacceptable risk to road users at the site of the roadworks.
The camera was operational between 15 August and 31 October and a total of 3,153 motorists face prosecution for exceeding the 30mph speed limit during this time. 1,050 motorists detected exceeding the limit by a small amount have been offered the opportunity to attend a half day Speed Awareness Workshop instead of accepting a Fixed Penalty Notice or having their case heard at court. Between them these motorists represent less than 1% of the total northbound traffic during the enforcement.
Estyn Williams, Warwickshire County Council Road Safety Manager and Chair of Warwickshire Casualty Reduction Partnership said:
“Roadworks are inherently dangerous places so it is particularly important that motorists observe any restrictions or instructions that have been put in place. Unfortunately at Barford a high proportion of motorists were compromising the safety of themselves, other road users and the site workforce by disregarding the temporary speed limit. It is disappointing that it took the deterrent of a camera to make motorists observe the speed limit. We shouldn’t need speed cameras, the speed limit signs should be enough.”
Superintendent Gary Hollis, Head of Roads Policing, Warwickshire Police added:
“The start of the temporary 30mph limit at Barford is clearly signed. Drivers have plenty of time to adjust their speed gradually so that they are travelling within the limit by the time they reach the signs, as required by the Highway Code. The vast majority of motorists observed and responded appropriately to the change of limit speed limit and safety camera. Motorists need to understand that it is completely unacceptable to exceed speed limits and that if they choose to do so, and it is a choice, they risk detection and prosecution.”
The speed camera was installed to encourage motorists to obey the 30mph limit as they approached a left hand bend with limited visibility. Traffic light controls further up the road meant queuing traffic was expected on or immediately after the bend. GallifordTry and Warwickshire Casualty Reduction Partnership were concerned motorists exceeding the 30mph speed limit may have been unable to stop before reaching the stationary traffic. The camera was also designed to protect construction workers operating in close proximity to the road and traffic. There were no injury collisions recorded in the vicinity of the safety camera while it was operational.
· The temporary 30mph speed limit remains in place and motorists are reminded to continue to observe the limit. The speed camera may be re-instated during later phases of the roadworks if required.
· A speed survey taken after the camera was installed showed the number of motorists exceeding 45mph had fallen from 25% to 0.3%.