Yeovil Speed Limit Ignored By 80% Of Motorists

[RobBrady]

More than four fifths of drivers travelling down a road in Yeovil, Somerset are regularly disregarding the speed limit - many driving at over 50mph.

Drivers were recorded by a speed indicator device, given to the parish council by Somerset County Council, on Lyde Road during an eight-day period in November.

After it was discovered that more than 80% of motorists using the road ignored the speed limit, councillors in the area are now pushing for action from the police.

Tony Lock, the county councillor responsible for the area, said: "The whole of Lyde Road has been included in a 30mph speed limit. The top end was 40 mph until just recently so perhaps some drivers think they are travelling in a 40mph zone rather than 30 mph."

He added "The only thing that can be done is that councillors can ask the police to monitor the speed and carry out speed checks".

Avon and Somerset Police have responded by offering to situate mobile speed camera vans in problem hot-spots.

Mr Lock continued: "There is one alternative and that's that residents in the local area can form a local speedwatch, which we know is very prevalent in Somerset. But at the moment residents don't seem to be keen to come forward."

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Robert Brady

[GerryC]

Looking at the road on streetview, "the top end" looks like it should be 40, not 30.

How many of the 80% are going between 30 and 35mph and how many live in the area (they don't want to be part of the speedwatch)? What speed does the councillor do when he goes there?

These answers are never given in the reports.

Gerry

[Guivre46]

This article gives a few more numbers. Googling also gives the impression that Lyde road is undergoing residential development and old habits may take some altering.
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Mike R [aka Wyvern46]
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[Andy_P]

If over 80% of drivers are breaking the speed limit, then it sort of implies the speed limit is wrong, doesn't it?

Are all these speeders causing lots of accidents? No, I thought not...

I would say that most drivers drive at a speed they consider safe for the road conditions. Obviously some have an inflated idea of what is safe, but a huge number don't and drive perfectly safely for years, at slightly more than the published limit.

I'm all for speed limits if there is a good reason for them, but I'm dead against reduced limits for political reasons and people who say there is NO OTHER WAY than to increase monitoring and enforcement. Lets try doing some research first.
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"Settling in nicely" ;-)

[twerki78]

The design of the road is inappropriate for a 30mph limit for a good proportion of the road. Wide industrial out of town style road, where there are houses they are set well back from the road. A 40MPH limit would be more appropriate for a proportion of the road. Simple way of reducing the speed of traffic along the road would be to remove the double yellow lines on one side of the road and allow residents to park outside their houses on the road.

80% of vehicles travelling at over the speed limit indicates the speed limit is inappropriately set too low or poor road design.

As someone who travels this road quite often I would say the speed limit is too low for a section of the road.

[spook51]

Cross roads, pedestrian crossings, bus stops, pub, post box, no cycle or foot path - quite a few hazards in the northern section, many more as you get closer to the town centre. Enough to justify a 30mph speed limit throughout? SCC traffic engineers think so, especially as further residential development is likely. Are local residents keen for it to be enforced? Not really it seems. To quote a local councillor,
"There is one alternative and that's that residents in the local area can form a local speedwatch, which we know is very prevalent in Somerset. But at the moment residents don't seem to be keen to come forward."

The first community speedwatch was set up in a village not far from Yeovil. Who did it catch? Lots of local residents.

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