PAPER A3

Committee: REGULATORY APPEALS COMMITTEE

Date: 25 APRIL 2002

Title: OBJECTIONS TO ADVERTISED TRAFFIC ORDERS

REPORT OF THE STRATEGIC DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE AND ENVIRONMENT SERVICES

1. THE ISLE OF WIGHT COUNCIL (A3020 NEWPORT ROAD AND B3325 NODES ROAD, NORTHWOOD ,IW) ( SPEED LIMITS) ORDER No 1 2002

SUMMARY

An order to introduce a 40 mph speed limit on the A3020 Newport Road, Northwood and an extension to the existing 30 mph limit in both Newport Road, and Nodes Road Northwood was advertised in February 2002 and the following representations have been received.

REPRESENTATIONS

One letter of objection has been received to the 40mph element of the Order. Cllr John Effemey had also put in a holding objection to the Order pending further details on the accident figures. This information has subsequently been passed onto him and I can, therefore, confirm the he is satisfied that the introduction of the Order is appropriate.

The grounds for the objection is that the proposal will create frustrations for motorists

wishing to make a degree of progress on their journey and that slowing down traffic on the road will create its own dangers and increase the likelihood of accidents.

EVALUATION

Newport Road forms part of the principal road network and carries approximately 21,000 vehicles per day. As a result 85%tile speeds are, in the main, restricted to 44mph by the sheer volume of traffic. This combined with its meandering nature and limited forward visibility precludes it from being a route where overtaking opportunities abundant.

Section 8 of the Road Traffic Act 1974 places a statutory duty on local authorities to prepare and carry out a programme designed to promote road safety, and more specifically carry out studies into accidents arising out of the use of vehicles on roads within their areas and in light of these studies take such measures as appear to the Authority to be appropriate to prevent such accidents.

As part of this process a study was undertaken into the accidents that have occurred on Newport Road, Northwood between 01/01/1995 to 31/12/ 2000. The results of this study found that there have been 22 personal injury accidents on the A3020, between the southern boundary of the County Show ground and the junction of Nodes Road. Of these, 5 accidents occurred at the junction of Chawton Lane when vehicles waiting to turn right were struck in the rear by northbound traffic on the main road. A further 4 accidents of a similar nature have occurred at various location along the route.

Police records show that the main contributory factor in all of the above accidents is driving at a speed to great for the prevailing conditions, and stopping suddenly or following to close.

As a consequence, and after consultation with the Police, it is recommended to introduce 40 mph speed limit from southern boundary of the County Show ground, where the current 40mph limit terminates, to the commencement of the 30mph at Northwood.

POLICE COMMENTS

Hampshire Constabulary has not provided any written comment on the matter.

RECOMMENDATION

That the Order is implemented as advertised

BACKGROUND PAPERS

One letter of objection, copy of which is attached.

Contact Point : Peter Taylor, Principal Engineer (Traffic & Transportation)

M J A FISHER

Strategic Director

Corporate and Environment Services