Speeding Vehicles Down On A483 In Pant, Shropshire

The number of drivers breaking the speed limit on the A483 in Pant, Shropshire, is down by 26 per cent since the Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia introduced a new mobile speed enforcement site in the village in November last year.

Speed enforcement activity in the village was introduced in direct response to community concerns over the safety of the road. A speed camera van has been enforcing the 30mph limit as part of the ‘Community Concern' enforcement programme which targets activity in communities where there is a high level of concern around speeding vehicles and the dangers they represent to other road users.

Katy Jenkins, of the Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia, says: "It is great news that the number of drivers breaking the 30mph speed limit is down by 26% on the A483 in Pant. Local residents told us that the speed of vehicles travelling through their village was affecting their quality of life and the safety of pedestrians and other road users."

"We have taken action to support the local community. The message to drivers from people living in and around Pant is to slow while travelling on the A483 through the village. Please consider other road users who are put at greater risk when drivers speed."

Martin Taylor-Smith, Shropshire Council's Cabinet member for strategic planning and transport, said: "This is fantastic result and I hope that people will continue to travel with care through the village."

Councillor Arthur Walpole comments: "The significant reduction in the number of speeding vehicles is a great result for the local people in improving the safety of this busy A road which runs through the centre of the villages of Pant and Llanymynech. A number of local people had told me they believed that there had been improvement as a result of the presence of the speed camera van and this is borne out by the figures. Overall we should all be pleased with this very positive result - but not complacent and always looking for further improvement."

The Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia and its partner agencies receive a huge number of requests from local people for speed enforcement. The Safer Roads Partnership and its partner agencies respond to these requests for action to be taken against speeding drivers through the ‘Community Concern' programme. In cases where there is a significant level of concern from local people supported by speed data to demonstrate an enforceable speed problem the request can be considered as part of the scheme.

The Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia is made up of 13 partner agencies including Shropshire Council and West Mercia Police. The aim of the Partnership is to reduce the number of casualties and make the roads safer for all users in West Mercia through speed enforcement and by seeking to change attitudes and behaviour.

 Issued: Friday 6 August 2010