More speed ... less haste appears to be the official line

Attitudes toward improving the public good can sometimes seem a little strange.
In the past, we have highlighted the case of locals who complained about crime and anti-social behaviour being told that although the incidents had been formally reported, they weren’t significant enough to warrant action.
Now, we have learned of a similar mindset involving road safety,  which came to light after a couple walking along the old A16 between Boston and Kirton narrowly escaped as a speeding motorist hit a nearby  parked car  - pushing it twenty yards along the footpath.
The incident resulted in a formal request to the Lincoln-based Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership to take action.
The e-mail to the Partnership said: “I have on a number of occasions borrowed a friend’s speed gun and found that very few cars, lorries and buses abide by the limit.
“We also now have a school - perhaps you could let me know how many schools in the county have unchecked 40 speed limits running past them.”
This appeal came against a backdrop of previous dealings in which the Partnership declared that the statistics did not allow it to take action because there had not been enough serious accidents.
However, the request did result in a six-day survey early last month.
The Partnership reported: “Over that period there were a total of 45,700 vehicles checked - with an average speed of vehicles travelling in both directions found to be 40 mph.
“This would indicate that the speed limit is being adhered to, and there is no need for the highways department to alter the speed limit.
“I realise the survey results may not support your impression of vehicles’ speed using this road.
“However, I deal with many complaints relating to speeding and I find ‘speeding’ is both a very emotive and perceptive subject.
“To one person, speeding may simply mean exceeding a given speed limit, when to another, speeding may mean travelling too fast for the conditions whilst staying within the speed limit.
“An indication of whether drivers are using a road too fast for conditions is its collision history.
“I have checked the database of all collisions recorded on London Road for the last three years, and out of eleven slight injury collisions, three could be attributed to speed.
“We put our resources into the areas that have high collision figures and a high recorded data in relation to drivers ignoring the speed limit for the road they are on, with the ultimate aim to make the roads safer in the whole county.
“The school you mention it is a preparatory school, which doesn't fall into the highways guidelines to be covered by a 30 mph limit.
“The Partnership's aim is not to have any deaths on any roads in the county. Lincolnshire Highways deal with any speed limit issues and Lincolnshire Police carry out any enforcement in relation to speeding issues and they have been sent a copy of the survey for them to carry out any enforcement when they have available staff.”
We are sure that hell will freeze over before that day dawns, but in the meantime, analysis of the speed statistics has shown that the claim the speed limit is being adhered to is somewhat fanciful.
The Partnership’s own figures show that vehicles exceeding 40mph totalled 17,803 –equivalent to 39% of the total.
Vehicles exceeding 50mph totalled vehicles totalled 1,489; over 55mph, 458; and more than 65mph totalled 43.
In a bizarre attempt to mitigate this, the Partnership adds: “Please bear in mind the recording apparatus does (sic - we think that there should be a not here) record vehicle details, only time, day, date and direction of travel. If the high speeds were due to emergency vehicles going to an incident they would be recorded like the rest of the traffic on the road.”
Ah – so it’s all down to them then, is it?
We appreciate that a line has to be drawn somewhere, but the argument that there have not been enough accidents smacks of saying “we’ll close the stable door after the horse has bolted.”
And the attitude towards schools is simply not good enough.

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