ITEM CMDT2
CABINET MEMBER DECISIONS – 22 NOVEMBER 2007
VARIOUS SPEED LIMIT PROPOSALS
Report by Head of Transport
Introduction
1. On the 20 July 2004 the Executive approved criteria and consultation procedures for the evaluation of proposals for 50mph limits. The report suggested that up to four new 50mph limits could be implemented annually as casualty reduction measures. The criteria were proposed by the Speed Management Reference Group comprising County Councillors who consider the potential for accident reduction based on the past accident record and the road environment. Where existing 50mph limits have not shown a significant reduction in casualties or a lower speed limit is considered more appropriate, 40mph speed limits have been considered as a three year trial. If at the end of three years they do not show a significant reduction in speed and/or casualty reduction consideration will be given to reinstating the original speed limit.
2. This report details the results of the formal consultation carried out for a programme of three new 50 limits and two new 40 limits. The report seeks approval for officers to proceed with detailed design and implementation of the schemes.
3. The aims of the schemes are to reduce vehicle speeds and minimise accident risks and severity of injuries to casualties on lengths of road that currently have a poor accident rate. This is in support of the need to meet the Government’s challenging casualty reduction targets by 2010.
Background
4. Simple casualty reduction solutions are increasingly rare as the most intense accident problems have been addressed and we must now adopt broader solutions to deal with an increasingly diverse spread of accidents. These 50mph and 40mph limit proposals arose from accident analysis, which has suggested they have good casualty reduction potential, and a developing speed limit hierarchy that seeks to ensure a consistent approach to setting limits.
5. There is a general concern that the introduction of limits, which adhere to Government guidelines, do not reduce speeds but just increase frustration and accidents. Our experience in Oxfordshire suggests otherwise. Lower limits can give significant and sustained accident reductions on roads with a poor casualty record and it is important to remain objective and to be guided by our data rather than hypotheses and conjecture when seeking to reduce accidents.
6. Oxfordshire County Council’s research has shown a reduction in accidents over other routes with 50mph limits of up to 30%. This figure is similar to national research, which examined the relationship between speed and accidents on rural single-carriageway roads and concluded that a 10% decrease in mean speed reduced accident numbers by 26% and also reduced their severity.
7. Accidents are largely random in nature so we cannot be absolutely sure the proposals will result in casualty reduction. However, our monitoring along with national research gives us sufficient confidence to promote them. Indeed initiatives such as this will be essential if we are to meet the Government’s challenging casualty reduction targets by 2010.
8. The proposed locations for the introduction of the 50mph and 40mph limits are:
9. Copies of location plans are
listed at Annexes 1 – 5 respectively and Annex 6 sets out details of accident
statistics based on figures for the last 5 years toApril 2007.
10. Copies of the draft Orders and the Statement of Reasons are available for inspection in Document A to this report which is available in the Members’ Resource Centre and as background document.
Consultation
11. Formal public consultation on the proposed speed limits was carried out between 26 September 2007 and 19 October 2007
12. Approximately 45 letters were sent to Councillors, Emergency Services, Town/Parish Councils and Bus Companies. Public notices appeared in editions of the local press appropriate for the area and were posted on street furniture along affected roads.
13. Thames Valley Police have confirmed their support for all sites except the A417 East and West Hendreds trial 40mph speed limit. The reasons for their objection are:
· During the course of the Speed Management Reference Group meeting it was agreed that a rural bends initiative was considered more appropriate; · No speed data has been received to enable the suitability of lower limit to be assessed; · The notice does not provide a definition of what would be considered effective.
14. In addition to the response from Thames valley Police a total of 25 responses were received as follows:
A417 East and West Hendreds 40mph speed limit pilot - 15 in support and 2 stating no objection but with additional comments. B4035 Banbury to Broughton 50mph speed limit - 1 in support and 2 against. B480 Stadhampton to Chiselhampton 40mph speed limit - 2 in support. Minster Lovell to Brize Norton and B4017 Abingdon to Drayton proposals - only response received from Thames Valley Police.
15. Stadhampton and East Hendred Parish Councils confirmed their support. County Councillor George Reynolds objected to the proposed 50mph speed limit on the B4035 from Banbury to Broughton. Milton Parish Council support the proposal to reduce the speed limit on the A417 East and West Hendreds but would like to see it extended beyond Featherbed Lane and to the start of the 30mph speed limit in Rowstock.
16. Residents in support of the A417 Hendreds 40mph speed limit would like to see it extended beyond its junction with Featherbed Lane, three would like to see it extended to the 30mph speed limit in Rowstock. One resident requested reduction to a 30mph limit.
17. Those objecting to the B4035 Banbury to Broughton 50mph speed limit do not believe that it will have a significant effect on vehicle speeds. The resident supporting the proposal would like to see it reduced further.
18. A summary of all the responses along with an officer response is set out at Annex 7. Copies of correspondence are available in the Members’ Resource Centre.
Financial Implications (including Revenue)
19. An allocation of £208,000 has been made in the 2007/08 Casualty Reduction Programme for 40mph and 50mph speed limits as well as providing additional measures to support existing 50mph speed limits where appropriate. This will cover formal consultation, detailed design and implementation. Design work and construction will be carried out by Oxfordshire Highways.
RECOMMENDATION
20. The Cabinet Member for Transport is RECOMMENDED to authorise:
(a) the introduction of the Oxfordshire County Council Speed Limit Orders 2007, as detailed in Document A referred to in this report subject to minor variations arising from (b) and (c) below or minor clerical amendments;
(b) officers to proceed with the A417 East & West Hendreds 40 & 50mph speed limits as shown in Annex 1 to this report with a view to it being removed if found to have a detrimental effect on road safety;
(c) officers to carry out detailed design and implementation of the proposed speed limit schemes at the locations shown in Annexes 2 - 5 to this report;
(d) subject to in the case of (b) and (c) above to the Head of Transport being authorised in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport to resolve any concerns or comments which might result from the detailed design or the Road Safety Audit process.
STEVE HOWELL Head of Transport Environment & Economy
Background papers: Draft Orders and Statement of Reasons in Document A.
Contact Officer: Geoff Barrell Tel: (01865) 810460
November 2007
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