Forty-five communities in Dorset are seeing slower vehicle speeds and safer roads thanks to Dorset Council’s community Speed Indicator Device (SID) programme.
SIDs display the speed of oncoming vehicles – raising drivers’ awareness of local speed limits – and are proven to reduce traffic speeds when used at appropriate locations.
A SID recently deployed on A352 Wareham Road in Wool saw most drivers reducing their speed:
- before the SID on average 569 vehicles were travelling over 35mph between 7am and 7pm, during the SID placement this dropped to 142
- before the SID on average 160 vehicles were travelling over 40mph between 7am and 7pm, during the SID placement this dropped to 31
Dorset Highways oversees the setting up of new sites, providing risk assessments and training, with Parish and town councils funding their local programme, owning the devices and responsible for deploying them.
Cllr Ray Bryan, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said: “By working together with parish and town councils, this community-based initiative has expanded and become more responsive to local needs.
“These displays have a measurable impact on reducing traffic speeds, something many communities are concerned about, and they contribute towards changing driver behaviour through our towns and villages.
“My thanks to all the communities who have worked hard on schemes in their area – you’ve made a real difference and helped make our roads safer.”
There are currently 45 communities deploying SIDs at 127 locations in the Dorset Council area.
Testimonials
“We purchased a SID in an attempt to discourage speeding at four hotspots in the Parish. It was so successful that we bought a second SID very soon after. Once the SID is activated, you can see the effect on the traffic in a matter of seconds. When used in a suitable location, SIDs are a very effective way to deter drivers from speeding.”
~ Wool Parish Council
“We are pleased with the deterrent effect the SID is having on drivers speeding into the village. Residents have reported a noticeable effect when the SID is located at their end of the village. Regular rotation between sites helps to keep the message fresh in drivers’ minds.”
~ Broadmayne Parish Council
“SID’s are very useful in encouraging drivers to keep to the speed limit and show due respect to the residents of our town.”
~ Gillingham Town Council
“The Osmington SID rotates deployment between the two approved positions on an approximate four-week cycle. The evidence provided from our Community Speed Watch confirms the assertion that the SID reduces the speed of traffic through the village from the direction approaching it.”
~ Osmington Parish Council
Following the success and expansion of the community programme, a small number of SID locations where Dorset Council currently deploy the devices will be withdrawn in March 2021, with the community-based scheme offered in replacement.
Any community interested in the scheme can contact Dorset Council Community SID Team via sids@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
..It’s about time something like this was done in West Moors – the speeds that some vehicles travel at through the village – and ther’s a lot of vehicles – definitely needs to be looked at. Councillors take note!
This needed to be said. I have been approaching our local councillors for over two years concerning the potentially dangerous junction of Pinehurst Road and Station Road which drivers cross without slowing down without being able to see vehicles emerging from Pinehurst Road. Fine words in self praise concerning the community road safety scheme, but no positive action in this case. What is the point of approaching councillors with pertinent comments and suggestions if they are seemingly ignored?
This is very good Ray, most drivers are not aware of the speed they are doing when they enter a “reduced speed” zone for many reasons – from listening to the radio to being totally unaware that they have entered a ” reduced speed” zone. In France, they have had reminder ” flashing” signs at the approach to a town or village for just this purpose, without the driver getting a silly speeding fine for his/her lack of attention. ” COUNCILS being fair to drivers !!!
Peter Shorland
We need one of the SID units on Weir View in Charminster. Either the current signage is inadequate or the road users have a blatant disregard for them as it appears that no-one is obeying the 20mph signs.
I have never experienced drivers ignoring speed limits as they currently are here.
Chideock has one. Has not worked for some years. Highways England silent.
What can you do for Chideock
Perhaps we should buy a SID – traffic actually speeds up through our village and the police do nothing . Tarrant Hinton on the A354 is the only village in Dorset which invites motorists to speed through the village by indicating that 50 miles an hour is the minimum speed required by law. There haven’t been enough fatalities, apparently, on our 400 yards of road
It’s good to see the introduction of SIDs but the one erected by the Trumpet Major pub in Dorchester seems to have gone missing – is it intended to replace it as it did have an effect on traffic accelerating off the roundabout !!
We need one of these in the High Street on Porltand which is an accident blackspot with traffic coming down the hill too fast for the sharp corners.
Farnham Parish Council has a speeding traffic problem – how does one buy a SID?
Hi Peter, please email our Community SID Team: sids@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk and they will happily help you.
On comming means vehicles comming towards you ?
Splendid idea if there were any. Absolutely necessary on NEUBOURG WAY.
WYKE Street. B3081 at the ORCHARD roundabout.
Dear Sir or Madam,
I think S/D are a great deterrant ,i live in Verwood Margards Lane and the traffic speed going up and down this road is more than 30mph in most cases !!!
We have two schools down the bottom of this road, but it doesn’t appear to deter drivers to drive more cautiously even during school entry times..
Just ask the childrens crossing lady down near the school, she has had some near misses.
Yours Sincerely,
Robert Kirkcaldy.
While these systems are useful, my experience is people mostly ignore them. That said, Preston Road In Weymouth needs a deterrent to prevent the excessive speeding and racing. Do we need to wait for a death? Has an average speed system ever been considered for a residential area?