Give Ickleford a fair and proper consultation on Road Humps Ickleford is not an Island! Parish Council decisions impact the wider community so we want to hear protests from anyone affected not just Ickleford residents

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Ickleford Speeding Analysis

All traffic volume and speed information summarised on this page is based on these documents, Bedford Road (Near Number 35), Turnpike Lane (Outside Number 27), Arlesey Road (At location of new zebra crossing), and Arlesey Road (Outside Number 119 where last set of cushions are planned), kindly supplied by Justin Murphy of Hertfordshire Highways. This report was sent to IPC and Hertfordshire Highways for validation on 20 March 2010 and is therefore a DRAFT report.

We recognise that some motorists speed on all roads throughout Ickleford and we want safe roads and support effective solutions that work for all - in particular solutions that do not punish the majority of safe, sensible, motorists. Although solutions need to be found for Turnpike Lane and Arlesey Road, we believe this data shows that the only proposals given for these roads are highly disproportionate for the problem. Furthermore, the speeding problem on Bedford Road is significantly greater and we are disappointed that this limited budget for safety improvements is not achieving more there.

Better solutions DO exist but may require special authorisation from the Department for Transport and more assistance from the Police. Ickleford deserves better.

Summary

Analysis of traffic volumes and speeds were done during a full 7-day period from Wednesday 5 December 2007 and Tuesday 12 December 2007 inclusive, a busier and more hectic period than usual on the run up to Christmas. Note that for the purposes of this report “speeding” is defined as any vehicle travelling at or above 36mph, allowing for the accepted tolerance of 10%+2mph for a 30mph zone by the Department for Transport.

• On the Bedford Road travelling away from Hitchin 50.7% of vehicles (22,039 per week) were speeding. No “traffic calming” is being done in this direction.
• On the Bedford Road travelling towards Hitchin 21.7% of vehicles (9,481 per week) were speeding. The only “traffic calming” in this direction is a Vehicle Activated Speed Limit Sign which we are told in a IPC letter “only reduce average speeds by 2-3mph and only have that impact in the immediate vicinity of their location”. The single biggest cluster of injury accidents in the last 30 years have been at and around the Bedford Road roundabout where no direct safety improvement works are planned.
• A total of 31,520 vehicles were recorded as speeding on the Bedford Road in just one week. How many of these speeding vehicles feed into Turnpike Lane? If the Police were able to catch and convict the motorists at this location then they would surely be catching a significant amount of the same offenders elsewhere in the village.
• Speed analysis on Turnpike Lane was only done midway along the road i.e. the point where vehicles generally would reach their maximum speed due to the roundabouts at each end.
• Midway down Turnpike Lane travelling into Ickleford, 88% were within the speed limit, 9% were at 36-40mph, and 3% were over 40mph. Between 7am and 7pm when the majority of pedestrians are around, 90% were within the speed limit, 8% were at 36-40mph, and 2% were over 40mph.
• Midway down Turnpike Lane travelling out of Ickleford, 78.5% were within the speed limit, 16.2% were at 36-40mph, and 5.3% were over 40mph. Between 7am and 7pm, 82% were within the speed limit, 14% were at 36-40mph, and 4% were over 40mph.
• Originally 6 and now 4 road humps are planned for Turnpike Lane. In the last 3 years there was only one accident on Turnpike Lane which caused only slight injuries. This accident occurred during road works and the road surface was wet.
• A Vehicle Activated “SLOW DOWN” Roundabout ahead sign could be installed for each traffic direction on this road and does not require special authorisation. This would be effective at reducing the speed of those travelling at 36-40mph to around legal limits and leave only 3% speeding towards the village, and 5.3% speeding away from the village. See the Department for Transport Traffic Advisory Leaflet 1/03 on Vehicle Activated Signs for more details.
• There are only 2 side roads on Turnpike Lane and chicanes could also be an option. Highways say traffic volumes are too high on this road for chicanes, and yet during the first week of March, when the centre of Hitchin was closed due to road works, I was working on Turnpike Lane. My van was parked most days throughout the week from 7am to 6pm and yet during this whole period there were no noticeable traffic queues whatsoever.
• Where the humped zebra crossing has recently been installed, travelling towards the school, 95.4% were within the speed limit, 3.3% were at 36-40mph, and 1.3% were over 40mph, travelling away from the school, 96% were within the speed limit, 3% were at 36-40mph, and 1% were over 40mph.
• At the zebra crossing location between 7am and 7pm travelling towards the school, 97% were within the speed limit, 2% were at 36-40mph, and 1% were over 40mph, travelling away from the school, 97% were within the speed limit, 2% were at 36-40mph, and 1% were over 40mph.
• There have been no injury accidents at or near the location of the new zebra crossing in the last 30 years.
• At the Public IPC Meeting on 8 October 2008, residents were clearly told that in order to have the zebra crossing at the school it was necesary to have the 6 road humps on Turnpike Lane, and a further 9 road humps on Arlesey Road in order to bring traffic speeds down to safe speeds at the crossing. We believe this is why so many “voted” in favour on the Traffic Proposals 2008 survey to ensure the crossing was installed.
• Outside number 119 Arlesey Road, where the last road cushion is planned to be installed, travelling towards the village centre, 92.4% were within the speed limit, 5.5% were at 36-40mph, and 2.1% were over 40mph. Travelling away from the village centre, 84.6% were within the speed limit, 11.8% were at 36-40mph, and 3.6% were over 40mph.
• Outside number 119 Arlesey Road between 7am and 7pm, travelling towards the village centre, 94.2% were within the speed limit, 4.3% were at 36-40mph, and 1.5% were over 40mph. Travelling away from the village centre, 87% were within the speed limit, 10% were at 36-40mph, and 3% were over 40mph.
• In the last 3 years on the stretch of Arlesey Road between Cadwell Bridge and the school where 7 road humps are planned there have only been 2 accidents both causing slight injuries.
• Vehicle Activated “SLOW DOWN” Side Roads ahead or Bend Ahead signs could be installed on this road and does not require special authorisation. This would be effective at reducing the speed of those travelling at 36-40mph to around legal limits and leave only 2.1% speeding towards the village, and 3.6% speeding away from the village. See the Department for Transport Traffic Advisory Leaflet 1/03 on Vehicle Activated Signs for more details.
• Highways say Chicanes are not an option on Arlesey Road due to vehicle volumes and yet numerous parked cars created “natural” chicanes and have no noticeable affect on traffic flows.
• Traffic volumes and speeds were not measured on the stretch of Arlesey Road leading towards Bowmans Bridge at this time. How many vehicles speed down Old Hale Way and then feed into Arlesey Road? Perhaps it would be easier for the Police to catch and convict motorists on this road before they reach Ickleford.
• It is the responsibility of all motorists to drive within the legal speed limit, and to recognise and adapt when road conditions necessitate slower speeds.
• For the very small minority of selfish and dangerous motorists who are unwilling to obey the law, the Police (if given the resources required) can catch and convict these motorists. A driver determined to speed will not be deterred by any form of “traffic calming” unless it repeatedly results in fines and points such that they are eventually disqualified.