Average speed zone trialled at Poole school (From Thisisdorset)
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Average speed zone trialled at Poole school
8:52am Thursday 9th September 2010 in Latest By Jim Durkin
Springdale first school pupils woth Gordon Wakeford of Siemens and Cllr Mike White
THE latest speed camera technology has gone on a trial outside a Poole first school after shock figures revealed almost 100 motorists driving at 40mph in one hour.
In a six week study by Poole-based company Siemens, experts discovered up to 98 vehicles a day travelling at 40mph along Springdale Road, which is part of a popular rat-run in a 30mph limit.
This disturbing data was collected within the times when pupils were making their way to and from Springdale First School.
So Siemens engineers, the school and Borough of Poole officials decided to forge ahead with a six-month trial of a new SafeZone system, which started yesterday.
Headteacher Ruth Leach said: “We will support anything that can potentially improve the safety of our children, the staff and the local residents.”
Three state-of-the-art cameras will create the zone, recording average speeds in both directions along Springdale Road. But there will be no enforcement action for the trial.
However, if the scheme is made permanent by Borough of Poole later, drivers could find themselves coughing up for speeding fines and incurring penalty points.
Council cabinet member for transport Cllr Mike White said: “We fully support initiatives to improve road safety and we look forward to the results of this trial to see how effective it proves.
“Road safety is a priority in Poole and we would like the thank Siemens for funding the trial.”
Julia Townsend, of the road safety charity Brake, said children have the right to walk and cycle in their neighbourhoods without fearing speeding traffic.
She said: “Tackling speeding helps to make our communities safer for everyone, as drivers are more able to react and stop in time when they need to – such as if a child runs out in front of them.”
The camera system calculates the average speed of vehicles and has been designed specifically to be installed in urban environments.
It is accompanied by new road signs with a slow down message, designed by seven-year-old Springdale pupil Eryn Young.
Comments(23)
TinyLegacy
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9:31am Thu 9 Sep 10
OutragedOfPoole
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9:41am Thu 9 Sep 10
Pete99
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9:45am Thu 9 Sep 10
West Howe Sean
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9:53am Thu 9 Sep 10
Then as soon as the cameras finish the driver will speed up.
We must change attitudes to speed. If someone is late for work or to an appointment they should not be penalised by their employer.
rayc
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10:16am Thu 9 Sep 10
rayc
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10:20am Thu 9 Sep 10
i wonder how many of the drivers exceeding the limit were actually doing so when children were going too and from school. any chance of the Echo getting the fulll report of the trial and publishing it? I doubt it the authorities will hide behind the data protection act if past performance is anything to go by.
cynicaleng
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10:23am Thu 9 Sep 10
Average cameras are great, if you get behind a slow coach for half the length you can blast past at 60 and still be within the average over the road length :-)
uvox44
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10:35am Thu 9 Sep 10
rayc
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10:53am Thu 9 Sep 10
uvox44 wrote:I didn't say that Mother's taking their children to school are the main speeders or are less competent than male drivers. I have no idea when the speed limit is exceeded as the council will not release the full report of when the speed limit was exceeded . I never mentioned women drivers at all and in fact I think they are as competent as men and in some respects more so.
as much as i hate to agree with rayc he is making a good point that it is often mothers taking their children to school that are guilty of speeding- gone are the days when women rightly were seen as the safer drivers, sadly.
I would guess that the majority of people parking on the hill outside the school are connected with the school as they are only there during the day and only in school time. They are not parents dropping off or picking up their children that's for sure. Ithink there is a job for you in the SCP propoganda office if you can distort what I wrote so ably.
uvox44
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12:04pm Thu 9 Sep 10
As for your point about thr SCP can i ask what problem you have with cameras, whether or not you think they are for safety or revenue, as you will not be fined if you don't speed?
The Liberal
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12:42pm Thu 9 Sep 10
cynicaleng wrote:If my calculations are right, you'd have to be doing 20mph or less along the first half of the road length to get away with that (in a 30mph zone).
Where is the statistical context - how many speeds were measured in total, how many were under 30, 30-40 etc.
Average cameras are great, if you get behind a slow coach for half the length you can blast past at 60 and still be within the average over the road length :-)
rayc
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2:13pm Thu 9 Sep 10
uvox44 wrote:I believe that prior to speed cameras accident rates and fatalities on the road were falling. Cameras have been a major diversion in targeting the real cause of accidents. SCP's were feathering their nests and empire building prior to the Government getting the fine revenues, which was due to public outrage. It is true you will not be fined if you do not exceed the limit at a camera site but what has that got to do with road safety? In that respect the fixed cameras are working, people slow down for them and revenue has fallen. If you want proof that it about revenue then you only have to look at how support for them is dwindling within the establishment as the income falls. All this talk from the SCP that the best camera is the one without any income is just that talk. What happened to the "If it saves one life then the cost is worth it" If that was the case the council's would continue to fund them.
rayc - quite right you didn't say it was mothers with their children, my apologies. As for your point about thr SCP can i ask what problem you have with cameras, whether or not you think they are for safety or revenue, as you will not be fined if you don't speed?
the problem is that if you are seen to be a doubter regarding the camera enforcement you are seen to be anti road safety. That is a load of rubbish and left many drivers who are passionate aboyyt road safety feeling like they have no voice and are not listened to in any event.
JRyle
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3:18pm Thu 9 Sep 10
For the record, speed limit signs must, by law, have a red outer band rather than a black one.
Perhaps a modicum of basic knowledge might be advisable for self-publicists and those with a vested commercial interest.
no vested interest
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4:19pm Thu 9 Sep 10
rayc
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4:39pm Thu 9 Sep 10
I would suggest there are many more dangers to children than drivers exceeding the speed limit on Springdale Road, especially as I am willing to bet that in the recent checks that very few drivers exceeded the limit whilst children were going to and from school. I am happy for the Echo to provide the figures that prove me wrong on that point.
captsanders
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6:17pm Thu 9 Sep 10
captsanders
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6:44pm Thu 9 Sep 10
captsanders wrote:I would also add that I hoped that these cameras would be switched off when the school is shut, I.E weekends bank holidays and half and full term holidays otherwise these too would be labeled as cash cows.
I am against speed cameras full stop but fully support them outside schools, if drivers are doing 40mph past a school then they deserve everything they get.
dorsetspeed
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9:16pm Thu 9 Sep 10
no vested interest wrote:Indeed. So let's have some proper policing. Even at school times, Springdale is a long road, it needs a limit of 20 when all the kids are running around but only near to the school, the top section is perfectly good for 40. I drive this road regularly and “go with the flow” which is not usually less than 40. So you could drive this road entirely safely paying the greatest attention to all potential and real hazards (particularly out of school times) and still get a fine. That’s what this is about. Siemens are so desperate to continue to sell cameras, they’ll do anything to try to carry this on. Thank goodness even the councils are now starting to understand what a failure these cameras are. There's plenty of cut throughs through real residential roads, everyone will just race down those instead. Pointless.
Lets keep this really simple,whats more important Children or Cars?
OutragedOfPoole
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8:55am Fri 10 Sep 10
JRyle wrote:Perhaps you should have gained a modicum of basic knowledge before making your fatuous comment.
I am sure Mr Wakeford and Cllr White are feeling very pleased with the publicity provided by your photograph. Unfortunately it only serves to demonstrate their ignorance of the subject since the sign with which they pose has no legal validity whatsoever. For the record, speed limit signs must, by law, have a red outer band rather than a black one. Perhaps a modicum of basic knowledge might be advisable for self-publicists and those with a vested commercial interest.
Red rings are indeed required by law for speed signs. However it is not permissible by law to have "repeater" 30 signs with a red ring - you must only have red ring 30 signs at the start and end of a 30 zone.
What you can do, however, is have black ring "remember it's 30" signs, which appears to be what has been applied here.
outlawselfinterest
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9:58am Fri 10 Sep 10
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Trying to say he is 'going with the flow' really does show him to be the arrogant fool that he is! And if 'dorsetspeed' is a woman then apologies but the comments stand!
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Yes, parking by anti-social parents is also a safety issue, espcially at schools. But wake up Poole ~ your neighbours in Bournemouth have solved that with the camera car! Buy one yourselves and deal with bus stop parking issues at the same time.
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Saying that there should be human police is all very well, but haven't you forgotten that money is very tight. If this can be done more cheaply and effectively then go for it.
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In 2010 it really is high time that these petrol-heads were dealt with firmly. No ifs; no buts, just do it.
dorsetspeed
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5:03pm Fri 10 Sep 10
I wouldn't do 40 anywhere near the school, on a hill and a bend. It's just common sense really.
Proper policing would bring massive savings (reduced hospital / rehab costs etc). It's very short sighted to say can't afford it so don't even think about it.
twobigdogs
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7:31pm Sat 11 Sep 10
uvox44 wrote:You muppett.....this is where Scameras should be!....outside schools,hospitals etc........if all the scameras were placed in sensible positions there would not be such an anti camera lobby!..........
wow a chance to get on here before the Jeremy Clarkson brigade moaning about "scameras"! one word on average speed cameras-GOOD! If you can't stick to a reasonable speed past a school then I have no sympathy whatsoever, it's about time drivers stopped seeing themselves as above the law and took some responsibility.over to you Top Gear fans...
uvox44 says...
9:26am Thu 9 Sep 10