Ruishton Parish Council concerned over speeding on A358

6:30am Friday 8th June 2012 in Taunton Photograph of the Author By Daniel Milligan

Doug Lowe next to the traffic lights. PHOTO: Jeff Searle Doug Lowe next to the traffic lights. PHOTO: Jeff Searle

SPEEDING and traffic lights on a “grey area for motorists” on the A358 around the park-and-ride towards Henlade are causing concern for Ruishton and Thornfalcon Parish Council.

And this week Doug Lowe, chairman of the parish council, said he aired his worries at a meeting with Somerset County Council back in January.

His concerns included drivers going through red stop lights at the traffic light junction with Ruishton Lane and the speed of motorists approaching from the motorway junction.

He told the County Gazette: “People don’t realise it’s a 30mph speed limit and the whole of it is a grey area for motorists.

“I fear for the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. I’d like the county to come up with a safe solution and get to the bottom of it all.”

A Freedom of Information Act request to Avon and Somerset Police from the parish council revealed that a mobile camera has been deployed on the eastbound route of the A358 53 times and westbound 61 times in the past year.

The results saw 4,257 speeding notices issued to eastbound traffic and 891 to westbound traffic heading towards the motorway junction.

In separate requests, the force said 867 offences were detected on the same stretch of the A358 in February and 1,130 in March.

A county council spokesman said: “With regard to the traffic lights we continue to monitor driver behaviour at this location and road safety is of paramount importance to us, so we need to keep this under constant review.

“While there have been no recorded accidents at the junction with Ruishton Lane to date, we’re aware that there’s a perceived risk and are investigating any possible options to mitigate this. The 30mph speed limit through Henlade is by virtue of the system of street lights and the Department for Transport does not allow additional 30mph repeater signs.

“The speed limit is due to be reviewed and all interested parties will be consulted should changes be proposed.”

What are your thoughts on this stretch of road? Let us know.

Comments(25)

Dr Dave says...
8:57am Fri 8 Jun 12

I think the 30mph stretch from the M5 J25 junction up into Henlade is very badly advised to motorists, many of whom are not from the area, hence the huge amount of speeding tickets issued in that direction. I often witness impatient drivers whizzing up the hill after coming off the M5, unaware of the low speed limit, given the size of the road. Surely some large "30" symbols surrounded by red on the road surface as you approach/leave the Ruishton road junction would be reasonably cheap to apply and would go a long way to alleviating the problem? Hold on! That's too simple!! Perhaps the real reason is that it is obviously a great money-making opportunity for the speed camera people?

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Somerset_BTGOG says...
9:20am Fri 8 Jun 12

Lets be honest speeding is a problem all over Taunton, I've never know a small town with so many junctions and traffic lights is it any wonder when people see a piece of open road that they speed up.

I live in Bindon road which at times seems to be an open speed limit for Boy-racers and motorbikes its only a matter of time before another local flouriest is over run with yet more orders for flowers, yet the local councillors do nothing despite myself raising this matter on several occasions, with the building of yet more houses in the Norton area this problem is only going to increase.

There is really only one solution, put speed humps all over the town.

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Mark1970 says...
11:14am Fri 8 Jun 12

Certain roads are fine to have the speed limit increased. Bindon road is one of them, that should be at least a 40 MPH zone. The only problem with Bindon road is the shopping areas. As for driving towards Henlade there are not enough signs to say the speed limit, and because the road is long and not many houses actually sit on the road, then the limit should be increased there also.

As for speed humps or bumps, no thank you. They have there uses, but personally I am sick of them and the pot holes in Taunton. I am more than tempted to start sueing TDC for tracking and suspension problems in the future as until the roads are fixed then there is going to be issues of drivers swerving to avoid pot holes and creating more traffic accidents.

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Mi_Coc says...
12:06pm Fri 8 Jun 12

Speed is a factor in around 10% of accidents according to DFT stats but as soon as theres accidents its blamed on speed.

The road layouts and junctions are so poorly managed these days and whenever there is new layout put in (Silk mills case and point as is this hendlade) the seem to be very badly thought out. That stretch at henlade when busy is dangerous because of the multi lanes particularly going away from taunton, as you get slow sometimes stationary traffic in the left lane and people racing up the oustide in attempt to get ahead. Also despite the chevons some people do not maintain sensible following distances. Speed is not the complete problem bad driving and impaitents are also a factor and speed enforcement doesnt solve that.

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somerset_kiddd says...
12:10pm Fri 8 Jun 12

If nobody realises road lamps, set out at regular intervals with no speed signs means its a 30mph limit, then perhaps they should check up on there highway code.
The problem with the section from the M5, upto Ruishton Court starts with where the stupid merge in junction off the M5. People are concentrating more on merging/fighting to stop people merging in that they ignore the 30 sign. The two lane bit on a 30 zone is outright stupid as it encourages racing, expecially if two motorists were fighting it out at the merger a short while back!
Stupidly designed layout, stupid sighting of the 30 sign, stupid speed limit.

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swjoduk says...
12:30pm Fri 8 Jun 12

I think the road should be returned to 40mph speed limit (pretty sure that was the case before the park and ride).

The 30mph can kick in after the entrance to the old nursing home where the road returns to a single carriageway.

They seemed to have deemed 30mph necessary due to the new park and ride light controlled junction. This seems unecessary to me with many lights (Creech Castle and Thornfalcon) on stretch of road with higher speed limits.

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Mark1970 says...
12:43pm Fri 8 Jun 12

@ somerset_kidd all traffic lights are set up at a certain point on any road. Even down a 50 mph route you will find that they have been measured along the route. So really that is no indication of speed. The rule of thumb is that you follow the last speed sign that you came across, especially if it is in a residential zone. Road signs are mainly useless to be honest, having speed limits painted on the road are far more effective.

In bad weather conditions, you concentrate on driving, so you look at the road rather than road signs, it is more dangerous to glance at a sign on the road. taking your eyes from in front of you, than what it is reading something in front of you.

Most drivers will drive accordingly if a long stretch of road then they will drive faster if they do not see a speed sign, 30 MPH zone on the tarmac is far better.

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gormo8 says...
1:21pm Fri 8 Jun 12

I've never seen a single pedestrian or cyclist going down this road. I've also never seen any speed limit sign along that road either.

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Mi_Coc says...
2:36pm Fri 8 Jun 12

Mark1970 wrote:
@ somerset_kidd all traffic lights are set up at a certain point on any road. Even down a 50 mph route you will find that they have been measured along the route. So really that is no indication of speed. The rule of thumb is that you follow the last speed sign that you came across, especially if it is in a residential zone. Road signs are mainly useless to be honest, having speed limits painted on the road are far more effective. In bad weather conditions, you concentrate on driving, so you look at the road rather than road signs, it is more dangerous to glance at a sign on the road. taking your eyes from in front of you, than what it is reading something in front of you. Most drivers will drive accordingly if a long stretch of road then they will drive faster if they do not see a speed sign, 30 MPH zone on the tarmac is far better.
Even 17 year old leaners are expected to be able to read road signs and drive to the conditions. If its something a driver can't do they shouldnt be on the road imo.

I don't see why the reading of speed limits signs should to the detriment of a person drive even in poor weather. Sometime limits arent always clear but the area in question seems pretty clear to me.

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Mark1970 says...
4:27pm Fri 8 Jun 12

Can you honestly say that once you past your driving test you drove as you did in lessons? A learner driver would not be driving on motorways or country roads late at night in gale force winds or zero visibility. I was glad to be off the roads last night 60 mph winds and driving rain not the easiest of driving conditions. Even going down the Toneway was a bit of a white knuckle ride. At 30 MPH then you do have time to read signs but that one or two seconds having eyes off the road can cause an accident in some circumstances.

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somerset_kiddd says...
5:23pm Fri 8 Jun 12

Mark1970 wrote:
@ somerset_kidd all traffic lights are set up at a certain point on any road. Even down a 50 mph route you will find that they have been measured along the route. So really that is no indication of speed. The rule of thumb is that you follow the last speed sign that you came across, especially if it is in a residential zone. Road signs are mainly useless to be honest, having speed limits painted on the road are far more effective.

In bad weather conditions, you concentrate on driving, so you look at the road rather than road signs, it is more dangerous to glance at a sign on the road. taking your eyes from in front of you, than what it is reading something in front of you.

Most drivers will drive accordingly if a long stretch of road then they will drive faster if they do not see a speed sign, 30 MPH zone on the tarmac is far better.
In a 40, 50 or 20mph zone, and there is street lamps set out at regular intervals, there is a speed limit sign to remind motorists of the speed. by law there dosnt need to be any for a 30 zone, but there must be for any other speed limits. When new drivers are being taught, they learn to observe everything around them, not just the car infront. If you are observing everything around you, other motorists, pedesrians, road signage, not just the rear bumper of the car infront. If a car a few cars up deciedes to slams on the brakes, everything else will. If you are being observant of everything around you, you will notice this, and slow down way in advance avoiding accidents. If you are just glued to the back bumper of the car infront your more likely to go straight up the back of them.
Yes its a bit long winded, but my point is theres lots of things you should observe, and know, to drive on the roads safely

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Somerset_BTGOG says...
7:43pm Fri 8 Jun 12

Mark1970, why stop at 40mph for Bindon road, make it a 60mph zone that way some of the numpties that already drive above that will be nearer the limit!

Bindon road needs to be a 20mph zone to stop it becoming a short cut for the impatient drivers on Tauntons roads.

As for henlade its just a mess, no doubt it was designed by someone straight out of college with no experience of designing simple road layouts.

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Robbomeister says...
7:46pm Fri 8 Jun 12

There are a number of problems here. As mentioned, there are no speed signs - but if you know your highway code, evenly spaced lampposts indicate 30mph limit unless indicated otherwise. I work in road safety and can assure you that the vast majority of drivers have very little concept of road signs, older drivers are much better as when they took their tests, they were also tested at the end of their test on the highway code-not the 'multiple guess' system that is in place now. I know the stretch of road and the issues there. It is true that there are very few accidents there, but it is only a matter of time-not because of speed in my opinion, but more the problem of drivers on mobile phones either texting or updating their Facebook status. It really is at epidemic proportions in the County now, and sadly right at the time Avon and Somerset Police are reducing the size of their road policing unit. If there is no deterrent, nobody will stop as the chance of getting nicked is minimal. Forget all the crap about cameras making money - the plain fact of the matter is if drivers didn't speed, you wouldn't need them in the first place. Argue all you want, but that is a plain truth. We used to laugh about European drivers, now we have some of the worst in the world. Sad, but very true....

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Mi_Coc says...
9:30pm Fri 8 Jun 12

Robbomeister wrote:
There are a number of problems here. As mentioned, there are no speed signs - but if you know your highway code, evenly spaced lampposts indicate 30mph limit unless indicated otherwise. I work in road safety and can assure you that the vast majority of drivers have very little concept of road signs, older drivers are much better as when they took their tests, they were also tested at the end of their test on the highway code-not the 'multiple guess' system that is in place now. I know the stretch of road and the issues there. It is true that there are very few accidents there, but it is only a matter of time-not because of speed in my opinion, but more the problem of drivers on mobile phones either texting or updating their Facebook status. It really is at epidemic proportions in the County now, and sadly right at the time Avon and Somerset Police are reducing the size of their road policing unit. If there is no deterrent, nobody will stop as the chance of getting nicked is minimal. Forget all the crap about cameras making money - the plain fact of the matter is if drivers didn't speed, you wouldn't need them in the first place. Argue all you want, but that is a plain truth. We used to laugh about European drivers, now we have some of the worst in the world. Sad, but very true....
Some good points there however: Older drivers knowing the highway code better is debateble. I find there are problems with all age groups and although older drivers dont tend to follow to close and are much more cautious. They also tend to be bad at using their mirrors and being aware of what other road users are doing to their sides and rear. They also tend to not to signal their intentions or if they do its a token blink whilst already under way with their commited into their change of course.

Mobile phones is an issue for sure I am not sure how you can tell everyone you see is updating their facebook status.


The point on speed is wrong. Speed does not kill and cause accidents. Thats why emergency services have certain exceptions to exceed speed limits. I agree roads policing officers being scaled back is a major problem and why standards don't seem to get better. Speed camera catches a speeding motorist of the car is regsitered correctly. It doesnt stop drunk/drug drivers or stop non licence holders. It wont stop unlicenced drivers or cars that are unroadworthy, non mot'd cars. Thats the problem with speed cameras mostly law abiding people slightly over the posted limit they have no judgement.

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dafearnley2 says...
11:32pm Fri 8 Jun 12

I must admit as soon as i have passed the speed camera i put my foot back down 30mph on the road is a load of crap! no doubt henlade have the old gimmer brigade like ilminster suprised the zimmer club aint got speed camera trained yet so they can huddle at the side of the road 2gether to catch people out thinking there doing there duty for the community we really need to set up some activites for the old folk finger painting or somthing. anyway getting back to henlade that road should be at least 40mph
as stated no recorded accidents i rest may case! come on dougie chill out mate go and fight some other cause like who should make the tea at your next committee meeting i have heard the met office are looking for people to count rain drops why dont you apply

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Robbomeister says...
3:43pm Sat 9 Jun 12

I take on board your views Mi_Coc, and just point out that I have loads of footage of drivers using smartphones in two hands across the steering wheel and its very clear that a social media site is on the screen. I can't agree about speed though - 31 years of cutting people out of cars proves me right. Excessive speed and poor driving accounts for 97% of all collisions. My point is: learn to drive, don't think that passing a test makes a driver. Its a skill that has to be worked at continually and sadly, most people don't consider it as such. Education can only go so far, personal responsibility is missing in our society in a big way. Drive safe all this weekend!!

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Jimsainsbury says...
9:50am Sun 10 Jun 12

5000 caught in one year at say an average £100 fine gives an income of £500,000. That's a good business for about one days work a week. I don't think anything is likely to change. As one recently caught at 36mph I opted for the 4 hours imprisonment at the Holiday Inn Express to learn how to read road signs. Cost £80, another nice little earner.

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Dr Dave says...
4:47pm Sun 10 Jun 12

Well said Jim, as you say things aren't going to change what with that sort of return on investment. And this is only one such SCAMera site!

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boliston says...
8:37pm Sun 10 Jun 12

Would like to see 30mph repeater signs made legal rather than relying on motorists to measure lamppost distances. Henlade A358 and Silk Mills road are roads that LOOK like faster roads but have 30 limits.

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madcow says...
9:55pm Sun 10 Jun 12

gormo8 wrote:
I've never seen a single pedestrian or cyclist going down this road. I've also never seen any speed limit sign along that road either.
I often walk down that road, and try to cross the road, its like british bulldogs, there is one sign on that road, that is situated at the end of the dual carriage way by tarmac, so if you are coming out the crossroads, the only give away is the street lights, there is a lot of farm vehicles in and out the farm all day. it used to be a 40 from ruishton court nursing home to roundabout before park and ride, but what was the point in speeding up, only to have to slow down at the roundabout.

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Mi_Coc says...
2:32pm Mon 11 Jun 12

Robbomeister wrote:
I take on board your views Mi_Coc, and just point out that I have loads of footage of drivers using smartphones in two hands across the steering wheel and its very clear that a social media site is on the screen. I can't agree about speed though - 31 years of cutting people out of cars proves me right. Excessive speed and poor driving accounts for 97% of all collisions. My point is: learn to drive, don't think that passing a test makes a driver. Its a skill that has to be worked at continually and sadly, most people don't consider it as such. Education can only go so far, personal responsibility is missing in our society in a big way. Drive safe all this weekend!!
Yes but people need to stop blaming just speed and saying more cameras are the answers.

In the case of amy the driver was disqualified, drunk, unlicenced and insured. He was racing and driving dangerously even if he had been going slower it could of still ended in accident. It was not just speed that was a factor it was combination of things and all the chest puffing about speed and getting ordinary people to shave 6 mph off their speed will not stop the netty jones of this world breaking the law and taking a young girls life!

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elsto99 says...
9:06pm Mon 11 Jun 12

You are all right and wrong but at the end of it all
It is a camera van cashpoint

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swjoduk says...
1:24pm Tue 12 Jun 12

I would agree that there are other roads in Taunton which would probably merit a higher speed limit as they are what could be classed distributor roads.

These being Silk Mills Road from just past Heron Drive to the roundabout near Cross Keys. This road used to be National Speed Limit but should be, I would say, 40mph.

I also think Blackbrook Way could be 40mph. I know there was the tragedy of poor Amy but as was stated before this was not an accident where someone was just over the current speed limit but other factors which no speed limit will rectify. The driver should not have been behind the wheel. Sadly these drivers are all too common place and have no respect or thought for others.

In terms of Liseaux Way I think 30mph is about right but Chesnut Drive could also be 40mph with all other roads off either 30mph or some small estate roads even 20mph.

Someone mentioned Bindon Road earlier, this is more built up with lots of side roads in close proximity and crossings, parked cars etc so 30 is about right too.

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Gem64 says...
1:50pm Tue 12 Jun 12

Your all nuts, have you not jobs or better things to do with your time rant on here about of load of rubbish... Get lives grrrrrrrrrrr

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creecher says...
5:12pm Tue 12 Jun 12

Gem64 wrote:
Your all nuts, have you not jobs or better things to do with your time rant on here about of load of rubbish... Get lives grrrrrrrrrrr
Could say the same to you as you've sat and read the comments and then left your own(hypocrite).

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