Slow down for drivers on A338 (From Bournemouth Echo)
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Slow down for drivers on A338
8:27am Saturday 28th November 2009 in
A NEW 40mph speed limit is to be tried along a section of the Wessex Way in a bid to cut the number of road accidents.
Police and council chiefs have agreed to slash the speed limit on the A338 between County Gates and the approach to St Paul’s roundabout.
The change will come into effect early in the New Year and the existing speed cameras on that stretch will be recalibrated to reflect the lower limit.
The stretch in question, and in particular the area around the Richmond Hill eastbound slip road, has been regularly blighted by “clusters” of road accidents.
See link below for Echo comment
Highways chiefs had previously attempted to deal with the accident rate by dropping the limit to 50mph in the 1990s and introducing speed cameras.
But a total of 198 people have been injured in collisions on this section of road between 2004 and 2008.
An alternative option of closing the eastbound nearside lane of the Wessex Way between the Bournemouth West roundabout and St Paul’s Roundabout was considered but rejected.
The lower speed limit is to be trialled for six months, during which time public consultation will be carried out to see whether there is support for making it permanent.
John Satchwell, Bournemouth’s road safety manager, said: “This project is about improving road safety not causing disruption, but is an experimental scheme during which public opinion will be tested.
“Major disruptions to traffic arise from road accidents, especially on the A338, and these proposals are aimed at reducing the severity and large number of crashes on this stretch. It is expected that overall safe journey times will be improved by this trial.
“The works to replace the signage are deliberately being carried out at night time to avoid causing disruption to those coming into the town to visit, shop and work.”
As well as changing the speed limit signs, the council we will be installing two interactive signs at Richmond Hill junction – one on the slip road to warn of queuing vehicles and one on the Wessex Way to warn of merging traffic.
The signs will not be installed until after Christmas.
Comments(60)
Jim_Springbourne
says...
9:14am Sat 28 Nov 09
blogit2
says...
9:29am Sat 28 Nov 09
ferret38
says...
9:36am Sat 28 Nov 09
Lord Spring
says...
9:41am Sat 28 Nov 09
I have noticed that most drivers in my experience on the M25 road works observe them and adhere to the imposed limit.
I much prefer to do the imposed limit and advance than become static, because some plonker has created an incident being in ruddy blush.
doubletop
says...
10:08am Sat 28 Nov 09
blogit2 wrote:Its about time you bought a decent car then
well i have never been able to go above 40mph any way so it will make no difference to me .
doubletop
says...
10:22am Sat 28 Nov 09
Just latley every time there is an accident its always speed that gets blamed when in most cases its down to bad driving and being to impatient to wait for a few seconds.
Seems to me the best way is to seperate the two lanes by a massive brick wall which allows vehicles from the slip roads to join the carriage way without slamming into other cars, i would also suggest that because of the camera situated between richmond hill and st pauls lane is a distraction to other drivers as they will be checking their speedos rather than watching where they are going, in the end its all down to bad design of the roads in this country that causes accidents not speed.
The autobans in germany and other countries dont suffer the amount of accident that we do and just look at the speed that they travel at.
Bad design of roads is most of the problem.
baldyn
says...
10:24am Sat 28 Nov 09
Bournemouthstorm
says...
10:31am Sat 28 Nov 09
Maureen Arthur
says...
10:31am Sat 28 Nov 09
doubletop wrote:she rides a shire horse.. called Plodder!
blogit2 wrote: well i have never been able to go above 40mph any way so it will make no difference to me .Its about time you bought a decent car then
poole_god
says...
10:32am Sat 28 Nov 09
poole_god
says...
10:32am Sat 28 Nov 09
Maureen Arthur
says...
10:33am Sat 28 Nov 09
baldyn wrote:I have a lizard called Jeremy.
well it won't bother me I can only just reach the pedals, so i cannot depress them more than a centimetre.
Rich_Enduro
says...
10:56am Sat 28 Nov 09
r50mini
says...
11:10am Sat 28 Nov 09
r50mini
says...
11:12am Sat 28 Nov 09
PokesdownMark
says...
11:14am Sat 28 Nov 09
With it being then much harder to get out into the traffic flow. So you may get a queue extending back and blocking Richmond Hill roundabout?
I hope they are prepared to call and early halt if its all goes pear shaped on us!
rumplestiltskin
says...
11:20am Sat 28 Nov 09
precisely
charley farley west parley
says...
11:24am Sat 28 Nov 09
RichmondWood
says...
11:29am Sat 28 Nov 09
Why was this alternative rejected? I would think reducing the traffic to one lane through the junction, in both directions, so that the slip roads joining could have a dedicated lane would improve safety as the main problem is the current short length of these slip roads, Reducing the speed to 40mph will help but not cut out the problem.
John T
says...
11:55am Sat 28 Nov 09
Congratulations on this change of policy by Bournemouth Council! I hope it continues.
amadrumma
says...
12:41pm Sat 28 Nov 09
Per causa non violenter
says...
12:42pm Sat 28 Nov 09
The council needs to do some professional investigation in to resolving the real problems. So far the list of charges against Bournemouth Council includes the IMAX centre, the hopefully abandoned plan to remove the seafront overpass to finish cutting the town in half, that stupid camera car, over inflated car park charges; they couldn’t do a better job of trying to wreck the town if they tried.
Reducing speed is cheap, avoids real resolutions and of course is great for raising revenue.
When the national speed limit for a single carriageway can be 60mph and can include junctions, pedestrians walking alongside, gardens backing onto the road, etc; how can they justify a ridiculous 40mph on a dual carriageway with all the safety barriers, no pedestrians and no junctions without slip roads? Even the 50mph speed limit is too low beyond the St Pauls roundabout heading out of town. Get the road right you idiots. Speed is not the problem.
poolebabe
says...
1:36pm Sat 28 Nov 09
ferret38 wrote:I agree the design of the road is poor and that is part of the problem. So reducing speed is obviously going to help people react quicker, and a slower speed means less chance of injury. In theory anyway.
Its not the speed thats the problem it that short stupid slipway that connects to the wessex way , you either have to come to a stop , or put your foot down and hit 50 as fast as you can to get on .. AS for he speed limts PHA most people just slow down for the cams and put there foot down and get up to a decent speed that suites the road like 60 , i do it all the time
.
However, the Wessex way is a complete joke in design. It is a duel carriageway, and several speed limits, fixed and mobile camera's. Locals who are familiar with the road, should be able to adhere to the various speed limits and hazzards as they know the road, but what concerns me is visitors to the area. The Wessex way is the main route in and out of Bournemouth to and from the north, and it's different speed limits, confusing and dangerous layouts, make it a problem. The council are not addressing the issues of design, but prefering to fine people for not sticking to silly limits imposed on a duel carriageway!
.
We are not talking about roads by schools, or narrow lanes in the New Forest but a duel carriageway! I think the limits are questionable, especially when people will be fined. It's no wonder people get cynical, when the council prefer to fine people rather than pay to fix the problem. If I was a Bournemouth resident, I would want to see evidence this new limit, in fact all the limits have reduced the number of accidents in order to justify the amount of revenue in fines. Bournemouth council are raking it in at the moment!
paul2
says...
2:05pm Sat 28 Nov 09
poolebabe wrote:This road is now so busy, it makes no difference to the speed limit there will still be the drivers weaving in and out and too close to the car in front. A lower speed limit definitely would reduce the number of serious casulties to a person inside their vehicle if an impact or collision occurs at 30-40mph as opposed to 50-60mph. Point 2: If you are still going to speed over the new 40mph limit then maybe 50mph will be safer than speeding at 60mph with the current 50mph limit. Point 3: Anyone who has moved down to this area (from London or anywhere) in the last thirty years does not really have the right to complain about all the congestion and traffic!
ferret38 wrote: Its not the speed thats the problem it that short stupid slipway that connects to the wessex way , you either have to come to a stop , or put your foot down and hit 50 as fast as you can to get on .. AS for he speed limts PHA most people just slow down for the cams and put there foot down and get up to a decent speed that suites the road like 60 , i do it all the timeI agree the design of the road is poor and that is part of the problem. So reducing speed is obviously going to help people react quicker, and a slower speed means less chance of injury. In theory anyway. . However, the Wessex way is a complete joke in design. It is a duel carriageway, and several speed limits, fixed and mobile camera's. Locals who are familiar with the road, should be able to adhere to the various speed limits and hazzards as they know the road, but what concerns me is visitors to the area. The Wessex way is the main route in and out of Bournemouth to and from the north, and it's different speed limits, confusing and dangerous layouts, make it a problem. The council are not addressing the issues of design, but prefering to fine people for not sticking to silly limits imposed on a duel carriageway! . We are not talking about roads by schools, or narrow lanes in the New Forest but a duel carriageway! I think the limits are questionable, especially when people will be fined. It's no wonder people get cynical, when the council prefer to fine people rather than pay to fix the problem. If I was a Bournemouth resident, I would want to see evidence this new limit, in fact all the limits have reduced the number of accidents in order to justify the amount of revenue in fines. Bournemouth council are raking it in at the moment!
terry1965
says...
2:11pm Sat 28 Nov 09
Mark my words, the whole of the Wessex Way will be a 30mph limit within the next two years, with more fixed cameras all along it and the morons in their mobile vans lurking round each bend trying to catch us out.
Don't bother addressing REAL safety concerns. Just fine the motorist for doing 5mph over an absurdly low limit on a road as good as any motorway instead.
M0Z
says...
2:31pm Sat 28 Nov 09
It is a lethal junction, and I have avoided it ever since. The sliproad is far too short, and I have no objection to it being closed on safety grounds. It’s hardly a new problem though.
But what really angers me is the relentless and idiotic assault on speed limits. It’s supposed to be a major dual carriageway, part of the most important road in the area!!
The morons at the council take the dumbed-down approach yet again, no doubt expecting extra camera revenue as a bi-product.
If they properly researched the accidents, I wonder how many would be due to inexperience, old age, bad eyesight, talking on the phone, distraction by passengers (esp kids) or impairment by drugs (including legal ones that cause drowsiness or affect reactions, such as anti-depressants and allergy treatments). Perhaps that analysis would be too controversial for them – easier to blame it on speed. So the cretins come up with another ‘initiative’ for the sake of their careers, and the rest of us suffer the consequences for ever more.
Of course speed is a factor - if we were all stationary there would be no traffic accidents. But the economy would collapse - no money, no food – we’d all die anyway . . . . Morons. I wonder how many deaths have/will occur as a consequence of the recent traffic chaos at Bournemouth hospital?
flyingkipper
says...
3:04pm Sat 28 Nov 09
grimreaper
says...
4:04pm Sat 28 Nov 09
.
It's so much easier than catching CR*P drivers
Maggie69
says...
4:09pm Sat 28 Nov 09
grimreaper
says...
5:31pm Sat 28 Nov 09
I can't remember, you tell me !
paul2
says...
6:12pm Sat 28 Nov 09
djd
says...
6:45pm Sat 28 Nov 09
jeremy gobsite
says...
8:06pm Sat 28 Nov 09
T.BH1
says...
9:00pm Sat 28 Nov 09
rotcoddam
says...
10:38pm Sat 28 Nov 09
This road was designed in the late sixties and built early seventies. At the time the speed limit on this type of road was 70mph.
The highway authourity are apprently now admitting that this work was so unbelievably incompetently carried out that despite unimaginable improvements in vehicle design, better braking, steering, handling etc on even the roughest old banger now on the roads than on formula one cars of the design era, this road is now unsafe at half the design speed.
lovellracing
says...
10:39pm Sat 28 Nov 09
and 40mph...............
.........ridiculous
rotcoddam
says...
10:59pm Sat 28 Nov 09
Just think the revenue from this camera will make the Kings park fiasco look like pin money. How many motorists, even locals, will expect a dual carraigeway like this to have a 40mph limit. The road toll camera will be flashing so often it will look like a permanent light.
M0Z
says...
11:33pm Sat 28 Nov 09
If there is a section of dual carriageway too unsafe to be driven at the national speed limit, the transport folk should acknowledge their failing and upgrade it. Reducing the speed limit is the wrong response and doesn’t address the true problem. No doubt it’s the easiest and most lucrative choice for our inept councillors though.
Congratulations to Swindon council for banning the use of speed cameras on safety grounds. **** good move. Motorists should be paying attention to the traffic in front, alongside and behind them - not worrying about speed cameras and reading unnecessary signs.
My observation is that today’s speed limits are generally about 15mph lower than they should be, and I would welcome the sensible increases to motorway limits proposed by the police. I do, however, strongly support 20mph zones outside primary schools (my first RTA was at age five, when I ran across the road outside school . . . bang, ouch, still have the scars!!).
M0Z
says...
11:41pm Sat 28 Nov 09
EGHH
says...
6:48am Sun 29 Nov 09
poolebabe
says...
7:29am Sun 29 Nov 09
EGHH wrote:They could use convicted Paedophiles to do the job. It may not cut down on accidents, but it would make driving at 40 mph on a duel carriageway more interesting.
Why not go the whole hog and introduce a man with a red flag walking in front of the vehicles. That'll slow the traffic down nicely and cut the town's unemployment.
jobsworthwatch
says...
8:15am Sun 29 Nov 09
They could have used the millions made from ripping off the motorist by way of speed cameras, parking penalties etc.
At 40 mph this junction will still be dangerous, the slip road needs to match of the east bound side of the junction.
Pineview
says...
8:22am Sun 29 Nov 09
Add the fact that the nervous drivers are already worryiing about getting into the outside lane to turn right into the town,makes this junc so dangerous.
Just close the east bound slip road.
How busy is it anyway ?
We all seem so strongly opinionated here,just wondering how many of you vote in local council elections .
After all ,the people voted in at those elections seem to be making all the decisions we dislike.
Lord Spring
says...
9:06am Sun 29 Nov 09
What always baffles me is what do the speed merchants do when they get to their destinations have a cup of tea and brag it only took me X amount of time. After zooming from the outside lane across all lanes to a slip road at 70 mph is that safe practice or vice versa emerge from a slip road and immediately want access to the outside lane
ferret38
says...
10:34am Sun 29 Nov 09
poolebabe wrote:hahahhaa very good indeed :)
EGHH wrote:They could use convicted Paedophiles to do the job. It may not cut down on accidents, but it would make driving at 40 mph on a duel carriageway more interesting.
Why not go the whole hog and introduce a man with a red flag walking in front of the vehicles. That'll slow the traffic down nicely and cut the town's unemployment.
upontown
says...
11:52am Sun 29 Nov 09
M0Z
says...
2:46pm Sun 29 Nov 09
[Chris]
says...
4:36pm Sun 29 Nov 09
Maggie69 wrote:Well said Maggie69; could not agree more. Less than 10 secs lost over that short stretch. Is this really going to effect the time it takes to get from A to B drivers. Of course not, but it might save a few accidents, or worse. Which could be some of you in time.
I've said it before & I'll say it again till it sinks in. The people to blame for reduced speed limits and speed cameras are the very people who blatantly ignore them & drive like idiots, weaving in & out of traffic & harrassing drivers who choose to adhere to the speed limits. Clearly a number of you post on here. Average speed cameras are what's needed, & more mobile speed cameras. Fixed ones are pointless when arrogant idiots know exactly where they are & speed between them.
poolebabe
says...
5:12pm Sun 29 Nov 09
wrote:Where ever you go there are idiots on the road. The other day I was cut up on the Dorset Way by a lorry driver, then he switched lanes, weaving in and out of traffic, and cut several people up at Fleets Bridge. I had to swerve to stop him hitting me, and others had to as well. He was driving far too fast but not "speeding" in a long, high topped lorry and I'm surprised he actually kept control of his lorry, idiot. The problem is, the speed camera's only address the issue of speed, not moronic, dangerous drivers.
Maggie69 wrote: I've said it before & I'll say it again till it sinks in. The people to blame for reduced speed limits and speed cameras are the very people who blatantly ignore them & drive like idiots, weaving in & out of traffic & harrassing drivers who choose to adhere to the speed limits. Clearly a number of you post on here. Average speed cameras are what's needed, & more mobile speed cameras. Fixed ones are pointless when arrogant idiots know exactly where they are & speed between them.Well said Maggie69; could not agree more. Less than 10 secs lost over that short stretch. Is this really going to effect the time it takes to get from A to B drivers. Of course not, but it might save a few accidents, or worse. Which could be some of you in time.
The Seasider
says...
5:43pm Sun 29 Nov 09
Jim_Springbourne wrote:Absolutely spot on.
I am no fan of stupidly low speed limits and speed cameras, but this really is a nasty bit of road with short slip roads at the Richmond Hill junction. I think this is a fair enough idea. I have felt for a long time that something similar should be done at Blackwater junction southbound. Joining there from the B3073 is tricky at the best of times due to the short slip roads.
.
I said the same in a similar news article about 6 months ago- the Richmond Hill junction and Blackwater junction (along with the Texaco onslip at Ringwood) are all very dangerous bits of road. Drivers doing 50 - 60 mph swerving out of way of slow moving vehicles which had just joined the carriageway. Lower speed limits at these spots makes sense, lets do the necessary before lives are lost.
.
For once, it seems, common sense will prevail.
Bournemouthstorm
says...
6:03pm Sun 29 Nov 09
lovellracing wrote:power steering, abs, traction control.............
power steering, abs, traction control, and 40mph............... .........ridiculous
. You might have, I might have but lots of clapped out old bangers havent.
weevie
says...
6:23pm Sun 29 Nov 09
There is no way on God's earth that this is 40mph stretch of road.
If some idiot cannot manage the slipways - then they shouldn't be driving.
Are we REALLY going to put up with this? democracy?
dorsetspeed
says...
9:45pm Sun 29 Nov 09
Driving standards have reached an all time low, mostly because of the dependence on low speeds limits and only speed enforcement to achieve road safety. As long as this continues, accidents and congestion will increase and limits will decrease. It really is incredible that those who set road policy are so incompetent.
rotcoddam
says...
10:29pm Sun 29 Nov 09
The point under discussion was that this is a dual carraigeway with a hard shoulder, two lanes a central reservation with crash barriers,no pedestrians or cyclists. It is listed as a major road. The origanol design was plainly incompetent, like most of Bournemouth councils efforts. It is totally unacceptable that a slip road should be constructed so as to act like a "T" junction on to a high speed road.
Instead of seeing it as an oportunity to generate revenue from a road toll camera they should be sorting out the problem.
If I had equipment in my factory which was dangerous in NORMAL operation due to inept design and construction and people kept injuring themselves on it. I would,and quite rightly, be in deep sh*t with the council. I very much doubt that they would accept my simply instructing stuff to be a bit more careful using it.
.
Perihelion
says...
11:40am Mon 30 Nov 09
mrllcoolj
says...
11:40am Thu 3 Dec 09
on to traffic to re-configure the sliproad in question is the stumbling block, then surely improving the technology of speed cameras would be a cheaper and more cost effective answer in the short term? Imposing limits on sections of dangerous road like this is NOT about generating cash (if you were driving properly and in accordance with the road conditions and regulations you wouldn't secure a penalty), instead it is about preventing disastrous accidents occurring - anyone remember the latest one that held Bournemouth in gridlock around Richmond Hill? And in summary, what is the case AGAINST having average speed cameras in these particular situations, eg the whole stretch of the Wessex Way between Cambridge Road roundabout and St Pauls Road roundabout?
mark.s
says...
5:12pm Thu 3 Dec 09
Improving the road will COST money to the Council, where as altering the speed limit will MAKE money for them.
Easy to see why they choose this option.
Rally
says...
9:10pm Thu 3 Dec 09
weevie wrote:Weevie,
This really has gone far enough. There is no way on God's earth that this is 40mph stretch of road. If some idiot cannot manage the slipways - then they shouldn't be driving. Are we REALLY going to put up with this? democracy?
You are, of course, quite correct: only people with your implied high standard driving skills should be allowed on our roads.
I can see your arrogance taking a blow if you were to try and pass a driving test without first taking a driving refresher course.
Rally
says...
9:18pm Thu 3 Dec 09
amadrumma wrote:"Plodders" cause accidents because they make other drivers act impatiently!!!!
I think this is ridiculous and once again drives home the Fear Factor and Big Brother ethos that's gradually taking over this country. We are constantly sold the line that speed is the cause of all horror on the roads, rather than the truth of the matter which is poor road infrastructure. I would also contend that plodders cause more accidents through making everybody else get impatient, and take unnecessary chances.
What complete and utter nonsense.
It's yet another example of how in our society today nobody is responsible for their own actions - it's always somebody else's fault.
If I were driving at, say, 25mph in a 30mph zone and another driver overtook me and piled into a car coming the other way, would it be my fault for being a 'plodder', or would it be the other driver's fault for being impatient?
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SLOW MOTION: Sections of the Wessex Way will trial a temporary new speed of 40mph rather than the normal 50mph in the New Year
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grumps999 says...
8:54am Sat 28 Nov 09