Vehicle monitored doing 68 mph in Alness Drive 20 mph zone

In response to a Freedom of Information request, the York Council has published updated figures indicating the effect that the revised 20 mph speed limits have had on average vehicle speeds and accident levels.

The figures reveal that the new limits have had little or no effect on average vehicle speeds while some accident levels have actually risen.

The data updates that published in March 2015 which showed similar results.

The data covers the 20 mph wide area limit in western York implemented in 2013/14. The project cost £600,000 to implement and was widely criticised for failing to recognise that such limits were unenforceable and, in any event, would have a negligible effect on accident levels.

Opponents wanted the money spent directly on safety improvements at accident black spots.

On some 20 mph roads such as Alness Drive the maximum speed recorded this year has been as much as 68mph – well above levels seen before the speed limit change

Overall there has been a reduction of only 1.3 mph in mean speeds.
Accident levels in the area have increased from 62 recorded in 2012 to 78 in 2015

On a related issue, North Yorkshire police are to be asked to justify their decision to increase the number of mobile speed enforcement cameras vans to six.

The Police responded to an FOI inquiry indicting that they only held information relating to the total number of offences which had been recorded when a van visited a particular location. This information had been published on their web site for couple of years now.

The police also publish how they they are dealing with specific speeding complaints raised by members of the public (although there is a backlog). click here

However, it doesn’t provide a measure of how effective the vans have been in controlling vehicle speeds or in reducing the number of accidents on the roads being monitored.

The number of drivers exceeding the prevailing speed limit is only a crude reflection of the “success” of the cameras.  Changes in offender numbers may simply reflected changes in traffic volumes.

Against a background of increasing numbers of road casualty’s, residents need to be convinced that roads are now safer as a result of police investment.

A further request for the information is now being drafted.

Comparative vehciels speeds in west York pre and post 20 mph limits

Comparative vehicle speeds in west York pre and post 20 mph limit change

Road accident trends in west York

Road accident trends in west York

Where next with flashing speed signs

The Council says it is reviewing the use of Vehicle Activated Signs.

These signs, which typically flash the prevailing speed limit to approaching vehicles, were introduced in York about 10 years ago.

Flashing speed signs  indicating those that are afulty

Flashing speed sign locations indicating those that are faulty

York locations where speed is a concern  Click to enlarge

York locations where speed is a concern Click to enlarge

They are now seen across the country with many now using a system which alerts drivers to their actual speed.

Sadly the Council has not maintained the signs in York and several have not been working for months.

Those that are faulty include the sign on Wetherby Road on the outbound carriageway. This was a problem location with the blind bend making it potentially hazardous for drivers reversing into their driveways.

A report to a meeting next week identifies £50,000 which will be used to repair the faulty signs. The signs have had some success as anyone, who watches vehicles approaching an illuminated sign, will see brake lights being applied by speeding drivers.

List of street where layout changes are proposed. Click to enlarge

List of street where layout changes are proposed. Click to enlarge

We think that a trial, where the actual speed of the vehicle is displayed, should be implemented  in the City.

There is also now a “smart” sign available which records the actual speed of passing vehicles (but not the identity) which would give traffic engineers valuable information about behaviours but without the need to set up special equipment.

Another  concern is the suggestion that the signs may only be installed “where an accident has been reported in the previous three years.”  

Whereas accident locations should get priority for signs and camera enforcement, we believe that sites where a proportion of vehicles exceed the 30 mph limit, would also justify maintenance of the signs.

The report proposes action to reduce speeding at 16 sites.  Most involve low cost lane marking changes. A complete list of detailed proposals for all locations can be viewed by clicking here

A list of sites to be reassessed – which includes Green Lane and Askham Lane – can be viewed by clicking here

There are three roads – including Moor Lane in Woodthorpe and two roads in Copmanthorpe – which have acknowledged speeding issues which have still to be addressed

Speed camera on Tadcaster Road

North Yorkshire Police deployed a speed camera on Tadcaster Road on Saturday. The camera is connected to a speed monitoring system installed on a motorcycle – see picture below.

Technology used in the fight against speeding

Technology used in the fight against speeding

Also on Saturday there was a collision between a car travelling north along Tadcaster Road and a Royal Mail van that was turning onto Tadcaster Road from The Horseshoe. There were no indications that speed was a factor. Many residents have told us how concerned they are about getting onto Tadcaster Road at times when the traffic volumes are particularly heavy.

One junction has been improved following calls from local Lib Dem councillor Ashley Mason for action – the markings at the junction of Pulleyn Drive and Tadcaster Road have been re-painted.

Ashley's intervention has led to road markings being repainted

Ashley’s intervention has led to road markings being repainted

Dringhouses selected for community speed watch trial

Community Speed Watch

The Community Speed Watch pilot programme will run at up to 50 sites across York, Harrogate, Selby and Harrogate “where local people have already registered a concern about speeding vehicles”.

The Police say that the sites are “mainly” residential areas with 30 and 40 mph speed limits.

In York the chosen sites are in Holgate, Strensall, Clifton Moor, Dringhouses and Rawcliffe

No consultation with local Councillors appears to have taken place.

In a media release the Police say, “Over the next six months, police volunteers, together with members of the community, will visit the sites with a hand-held radar gun and/or an LED speed sign.  They will record vehicle speeds and anyone caught speeding will receive a letter from North Yorkshire Police informing them of their offence and the need to address driving behaviour.

The main purpose of Community Speed Watch is to draw drivers’ attention to speed limits in areas where communities say it is affecting their quality of life, and to educate them about the effects that anti-social road use can have on local people.  However, North Yorkshire Police will also be keeping a close watch on the recorded data, and may take enforcement measures if a persistent or extreme offender is identified”.

Details of the community speed watch leaflet can be found by clicking here

Speed checks taking place on Tadcaster Road in York

Mobile speed camera sites confirmedSpeed-Van01

The police have confirmed the lest of sites a which its mobile camera vans will be operating for the next week Click They include:

  • Tadcaster Road, Dringhouses, York – Community concern
  • B1228 Dunnington Lodge, Elvington – Community concern
  • Millfield Lane, Poppleton, York – Community concern
  • Strensall Road, Huntington, York – Community concern  
  • A64 Westbound Malton by-pass – Community concern
  • A64 Westbound Tadcaster by-pass – Killed or seriously injured
  • A64 west-bound, Heslington York – Killed or seriously injured
  • A64 west-bound, Street Houses, Bilborough – Killed or seriously injured
  • A64 west-bound, Wharfe Bridge, Tadcaster – Killed or seriously injured
  • A64 west-bound, Whitwell Hill – Community concern

20’s plenty campaign – private correspondence revealed by Council

Copies of Emails between Councillors and officials in York – exchanged in the run up to the launch of the wide area 20 mph speed limits in west York – have been published by the Council.20 mph sign

The exchange of Emails  can be viewed by clicking here

The project cost £600,000 to implement

The correspondence includes a request from Cllr Anna Semlyen for the use of a police radar speed gun (!)

This was the same Labour Councillor who argued that 20 mph speed limits should be introduced without consultation with residents.

Subsequently, as we now know, the new limits have had no effect on traffic speeds.

Mobile speed camera locations for York area

Tadcaster Road included in checks

Below are the enforcement locations for North Yorkshire Police’s mobile safety cameras for week commencing 13 August 2014.

North Yorks speed camera vanThe safety cameras are now more visible then ever before with each of the three vehicles bearing the same hi-vis livery as North Yorkshire Police’s marked vehicle fleet. Photos attached.

All safety camera locations are published on the force website along with an explanation of the various route types.

Members of the public can now view the results of the safety camera enforcement activity on the force website. Up to date data for the previous week is uploaded every Tuesday which can be interrogated by route and date ranges. http://www.northyorkshire.police.uk/10951

The mobile safety cameras will be in operation at the following sites at various times over the coming week. Cameras will not be in use all day, every day. The locations were accurate when this news release was produced.

Due to operating constraints, our mobile safety camera locations may change without prior warning.

  • The cameras operate at three difference types of site, these are:
    •Exceptional sites which are identified through the speed management protocol as being of community concern.
    •Motorcycle routes – route used by motorcycles that have a high incidence of collisions and anti social behaviour.
    •Killed or seriously injured – sites where people have been killed or seriously injured and where excess or inappropriate speed has been deemed to be a factor.

The list below now includes the site types.

  • A1237 Monks Cross, York – Motorcycle
  • A64 east-bound, Heslington York – Killed or seriously injured
  • A64 west-bound, Heslington York – Killed or seriously injured
  • A64 west-bound, Street Houses, Bilborough – Killed or seriously injured
  • Millfield Lane, Poppleton, York – Community concern
  • Strensall Road, Huntington, York – Community concern
  • Tadcaster Road, Dringhouses, York – Community concern
  • Church Lane, Wheldrake – Community concern
  • Greenshaw Drive, Haxby – Community concern

(more…)

York police opinion survey and speed camera locations

Chief Constable Dave Jones and Julia Mulligan, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire are currently seeking the public’s views on safety cameras and speeding. Members of the public are invited to complete the on online survey which can be found by clicking here

The survey does have a question on 20 mph speed limits

Enforcement locations for North Yorkshire Police’s mobile safety cameras for week commencing Wednesday 21 May 2014.

Safety camera van The mobile safety cameras will be in operation at the following sites at various times over the coming week. Cameras will not be in use all day, every day. The locations were accurate when this news release was produced.

You can now view the results of the safety camera enforcement activity on our website. Up to date data for the previous week is uploaded every Tuesday which can be interrogated by route and date ranges.
Deployment and results

Due to operating constraints, our mobile safety camera locations may change without prior warning.

  • A1237 Monks Cross, York
  • A64 eastbound Tadcaster  by-pass
  • A64 westbound Tadcaster by-pass
  • Skipwith Road, Escrick
  • Brayton Lane, Brayton, Selby
  • Millfield Road, Chapel Haddlesey
  • A63 Cliffe
  • A19 Burn
  • A162 Sherburn by-pass
  • A64 eastbound, Islington, Tadcaster
  • A64 westbound Street Houses, Bilborough
  • A64 westbound Wharfe Bridge, Tadcaster
  • B1228 Dunnington Lodge, Elvington
  • Tadcaster Road, Dringhouses, York
  • Strensall Road, Huntington, York
  • Church Lane, Wheldrake
  • Millfield lane, Poppleton, York
  • Greenshaw Drive, Haxby
  • A64 eastbound, Heslington, York
  • A64 westbound, Heslington, York
  • (more…)

    York crime update

    Mobile safety camera routes week commencing 30 April 2014

    Below are the enforcement locations for North Yorkshire Police’s mobile safety cameras for week commencing Wednesday 30 April 2014.

    The safety cameras are now more visible then ever before with each of the three vehicles bearing the same hi-vis livery as North Yorkshire Police’s marked vehicle fleet.

    More

    Disabled busker racially abused in York city centre

    York police are appealing for witnesses after a disabled man was racially abused in the city centre.

    The victim, an eastern European man aged in his mid to late 20’s who has no legs, was sitting on his skateboard busking on Coney Street when he was approached by a man at around 12pm on Saturday 26 April 2014.

    More

    Poster campaign alerts drivers to cycle safety

    A poster and billboard campaign has begun across North Yorkshire urging motorists to drive with the safety of pedal and motor cyclists in mind.

    The county council, along with North Yorkshire Police, have launched a new ‘Think! Bike campaign with posters and hoardings displayed in urban areas and along popular cycling and motorbike routes. The first billboard went up in Harrogate this week.

    With more cyclists expected to take to the county’s roads in the run-up to the Tour de France, the county council’s road safety team in partnership with the police are running a cyclist and biker awareness campaign aimed at motorists in an attempt to reduce the number of casualties. The purpose is to get motorists to drive with consideration for other road users, especially before turning or changing direction.

    More

    Tadcaster Road has third highest number of speeders in York

     

    Results from the mobile camera speed camera van, for the first 3 months of 2014, have revealed the roads on which the highest numbers of Penalty Charge Notices have been issued.

    North Yorks speed camera van

    A total of 747 tickets have been issued to drivers exceeding the 70 mph speed limit on the A64 southern by pass near Heslington and traveling in an eastbound direction.

    527 PCNs were issued to drivers on the same section of road while traveling in a westerly direction.

    The next highest numbers were on Tadcaster Road (85), Strensall Road, Huntington (52) and Dunnington Lodge (23)

    A copy of the results, for the whole county, can be downloaded from here

    Mobile safety camera routes week commencing 23 April 2014

    Below are the enforcement locations for North Yorkshire Police’s mobile safety cameras for week commencing Wednesday 24 April 2014.

    More