Speed islands vs cameras

[blademan]

Hi guys 'n' gals.
I was driving back home from middlesex, via the M40 and Southam (Warks ) when I went through a very small village called "Deppers Bridge". I have driven through this village many times and have always felt it was a prime candidate for some kind of speed limitation. Basically, it is one of those wide open ( but single carriageway ) roads, with fields on one side, and houses on the other. There is a huge potential for kids running out onto he road, into the path of vehicles doing typically 40-50mph. Anyway, there has now been a series of staggered islands installed along the length of the village, and I have to say they are VERY EFFECTIVE. Unless you deliberately try to clip the apexes ( very dangerous and stupid ) they DO tend to bring your speed down. This to me is a very PRACTICAL way to improve road safety, which I believe is working. My point being that that is a good example of a logical approach to road safety in this particular village, which has been well thought out and applied. Putting up speed (oops sorry......safety) cameras MAY have acheived the same end, but of course with lots of profit. Comments?

[ukbob]

I agree, but find the abundance of islands and suchlike in the middle of the road dangerous. Could be because im not an experienced driver, but there have been times when (with sh**ty lights) corners and the usual twisting changing UK roads, you dont see them at night till the last minute. If the bubls go on the illumination lamps, some of them could be dangerous in poor visibility conditions (even if you are going slower due to the visibility)

Rather long winded, but I prefer clear roads.

Im sure no one will agree

[swilly]

blademan said:

There is a huge potential for kids running out onto he road, into the path of vehicles doing typically 40-50mph.

Why ignore this fact.
If cars regularly mounted pavements killing peds then something would be done about it.
Peds running onto roads and getting killed seems to be ignored and the focus put on the vehicles.

Why not install a zebra crossing?
Why not put up fences between road and footpath?

blademan said:

......they DO tend to bring your speed down.

Sorry but isnt it the DRIVER that brings the speed down by applying the brakes.

blademan said:

This to me is a very PRACTICAL way to improve road safety, which I believe is working.

If the kids, that would have potentially run into the road and gotten killed, remain uneducated then how can this solution be practical.
This may just mean they run into the road and get hit by cars doing say 25-30mph.
Now they may not get killed, BUT surely there is more to it than this.
Surely not running into the road must be a top priority for road safety.

blademan said:

My point being that that is a good example of a logical approach to road safety in this particular village, which has been well thought out and applied.

I would suggest this solution is more akin to putting a bowl under the leak in your roof, rather than fixing the leak itself.

[blademan]

swilly.
I TOTALLY agree that parents should educate kids re not running into roads. My point was that I reckon this particular village has a potential for KSI. To reduce the potentail of an unfortunate outcome something needed to be done; islands are more practical in THIS EXAMPLE than scameras. I am not saying slowing cars down is the be all and end all.....not by a long way. The islands are a way of CONTRIBUTING to road safety. Your other suggestions of zebra crossings etc are equally viable.

[swilly]

Do these staggered islands mean you have to cross the white line and drive on the other side of the road.

Not very safe driving on the other side of the road.

[blademan]

swilly said:

Do these staggered islands mean you have to cross the white line and drive on the other side of the road. Not very safe driving on the other side of the road.

Yep.
There are three such islands with their associated "priority in one direction or the other signs" .
Have to say though, that I haven't been through there in the dark. That could prove interesting if there was misunderstanding between drivers

[puggit]

Are these the islands with the confusing signs?

One large black arrow and one little red arrow. Now to me, red means priority...

[Pigeon]

ISTR the last time I went through there the plastic bollardy things on at least one of the chicanes had been thoroughly demolished... presumably so had somebody's wheels/tyres/suspension. They are dead dodgy in bad viz.

[bluementhol]

They'll be out within 5 years. The locals will soon get fed up with constant head ons, veichles leaving the road and crashing into their garden walls and people going straight over them.

If cyclists can't get round them on the left then theres a good chance they'll be a death as well. They suddenly move out into the path of a car that was overtaking. The driver doesn't usually see the sign on the island because of the height of the cyclist.


Thankfully all the ones near me have been removed