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New Road Speed Law

The County of Somerset is now peppered with hundreds of new road signs and speed limits - thanks to a speed management policy introduced by the County Council. If it worked and prevented accidents everyone would be delighted. But official figures show that the policy has had no positive effect and may have contributed to rising accident figures. Since the policy was implemented I have receieved scores of complaints from constituents. They say that the new speed limits are often unrealistic, usually unenforceable, and (in most cases) unrequested. Some of the signs bear the symbol of a fixed speed camera, warning motorists that they may be photographed and subjected to automatic prosecution. There are no fixed speed cameras !  The roads are too narrow and winding to accommodate them. So motorists are being duped, and a duped motorist is a potentially dangerous motorist. The police, who have sole responsibility for enforcing speed limits, did not ask for the new rash of signs and restrictions. The residents did not ask either. Indeed in some villages the reverse is the case - there are places in Somerset where residents have been appealing for speed controls from the County Council for years. These are the places which the County Council has simply ignored! Last summer the County Council announced a review of its policy and issued a public survey to test reaction to what they had already done. The results of the survey prove my poin - people demanded changes and now those changes will be implemented. But I maintain that this is democratic consultation the wrong way round. The Council should have consulted people widely BEFORE they acted.

This issue of such importance that I have introduced a new Bill to ensure that people are properly, openly and fairly consulted about all such plans. The new Road Traffic Regulations (Consultation) Bill  already has all party support - including the backing of John Thurso MP, the Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesman. The Bill has already received wide publicity and support from organisations like the National Association of Local Councils, CPRE and the Institute for Advanced Motorists.

And now that the County Couuncil is (at last) doing a u-turn and preparing to rip up so many of the signs I have decided to report them to the Local Government Ombudsman for maladministration.

 If you have any concerns about road signs in your area of Somerset West and Sedgemoor please use the CONTACT IAN page to let me know.