Six new speed indicator signs installed at community concern sites
December 10, 2020
Lisburn & Castlereagh Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) has just installed a further six Speed Indicator Devices (SIDs) across the council area in response to road safety concerns by local residents, validated by official PSNI statistics. These signs are primarily an education tool to advise motorists to slow down to prevent death and serious injury on our roads.
These SIDs can be found at Hillsborough Road, Carryduff; Ballyskeagh Road, Drumbeg; Soldierstown Road, Aghalee; Lisburn Road, Glenavy; Hillsborough Road, Dromara and Culcavy Road, Hillsborough. This brings the total across the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council area to 22, with devices already installed at Carryduff, Maghaberry, Anahilt, Ballygowan Road, Castlereagh, Belsize Road, Lisburn, Ballinderry Road, Lisburn, Drumbo, Lany Road, Maze, Hillsborough Road, Moneyreagh, Moira, Dundrod, Ravarnet, Hillsborough, Ballymaconaghy Road, Belfast and Glenavy.
SIDs are vehicle activated signs that detect and display real-time vehicle speeds in an attempt to change drivers’ speed behaviour. They also store data on all approaching vehicles, irrespective of speed including the number of vehicles detected, the average speeds of the vehicles, the number of speed violations and the speed reductions being achieved by the signs. They are used most effectively in areas where the speed limit is restricted as a reminder to drivers that they need to slow down.
Speaking about the initiative, Councillor Alex Swan, Chairman of the PCSP, said: “Road safety has been identified by the PCSP as one of its key priorities and the signs have been installed in response to this issue. Speeding is one of the main causation factors of death and serious injury on our roads and motorists need to be aware of the devastating consequences of road traffic collisions. This initiative has been developed over the last two years and I am delighted to see a further expansion of these devices.
“I am aware of the concerns of the community in the areas where these signs have been erected and I am pleased to report that, on average, there has been a reduction in speed of over 20% across all the sites with the highest reduction of over 37%. The general motoring public are clearly changing their behaviour and I want to record my thanks to those local communities who have campaigned tirelessly on road safety issues which have resulted in these devices being installed.”
Cllr Swan continued: “In the longer term, the data collected from the devices will hopefully be used to inform those responsible for road safety including the police and other government departments to ascertain the level of speed violations and the times of day when speeding is most likely to occur. What the camera does not do is record number plates and there is no repercussion of enforcement related to these devices.”
District Commander for Lisburn & Castlereagh, Superintendent Julie Mullan commented: “The Speed Indicator Devices are just one of the ways we can help make our roads safer and, as we move into the winter months, I would encourage all road users to take extra care. As part of our commitment to road safety, you can expect to see police on the road network in the lead up to Christmas to detect those motorists who continue to flaunt the law either by speeding, using a mobile phone while driving, or getting behind the wheel after taking drink or drugs.”