Poor signs blamed as 5,000 drivers are caught speeding on A358 near Taunton
More than 100 motorists a week are being caught speeding on a busy road on the outskirts of Taunton, but many did not realise they were breaking the limit.
Magistrates have raised the issue with police and highways experts after 5,336 motorists were filmed speeding by mobile police camera between May 1, 2011, and April 30, 2012.
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The new stretch of dual carriageway on the A358 between Henlade and the M5 motorway has a 30mph speed limit
A new stretch of dual carriageway and a lack of repeat 30 mile per hour signs are at the heart of the problem.
The A358 between Henlade and the M5 roundabout includes a new short stretch of dual carriageway. Although 30 mile per hour signs have existed on the Taunton side of the roundabout west of the stretch, and on the approach to Henlade east of the stretch for some years, some motorists see the new road layout and assume a higher limit is in force.
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Legislation does not allow for repeat 30 mile per hour limit signs to be installed.
Councillor David Fothergill has called for the speed limit from the roundabout to Henlade to be increased to 40mph, which would allow more signs and painted warnings. Consultations are under way.
Harvey Siggs, Cabinet member for highways, said: “We need to listen, involve the police and challenge speeders. We already have signs, chevrons and lights along this stretch – if this is not enough, we will be fighting on behalf of motorists in lobbying the Department for Transport for change.”
Comments
by monkeytwizzel
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 11:22AM
“This section of road could be a 40mph easy,i was caught there this year at 37mph which was lucky because i thought it was a 60mph(duel carridgeway without central reservation).
Taunton sscc put some 30mph signs up YOU ARE NAUGHTY BOYS!”
by kris491
Thursday, August 30 2012, 7:28PM
“Well it is still happening as on 05/08/12 @ 08.23am I was caught by one of these so called mobile vans which was parked in a layby outside a private residents home call Limbrey, back in 2005/6 the camera partnership van parked on a private drive of the council leader private drive to catch drivers come the slope a picture was highlighted on very speed camera web sites throghout the uk and it appears from the picture above it shows a special constable using a hand held unit? this should be done by only traffic police these specials are only part-time and should not be allowed full stop. The Magistates have failed to keep on top of this. And Cllr Fothergill has stated that monies raised [£152.250 has gone to the tresury when this money should being used to pay for new signs & flashing slow sign boards but no the motorists are easy targets for these highway robbers stand and deliver if you are lucky you may 3 points but I have spoken some motorist who were caught first time and they got 9 points and they lost their jobs so this only goes to show how greedy the SSC / Avonandsomerset police are!! what a joke 5 months down the line and the motorist are being treated as crims. My advise to motorist & holiday makers is to keep away Taunton as it carries a health warning. Before speeding is used as excuse SSC need sort out the uneven & pot holes first and foremost? SSC answer to speed is mobile cameras / traffic lights to cause as much chaos as possible! speed is not the killer its badley repaired roads or the lack of them more to the point?
The Magistates need to stop the mis-use of these unfair mobile vans who are breaking a law to enforce a law asap as it is getting out of hand!!!!!!”
by Dave0523
Saturday, July 07 2012, 11:14AM
“And nothing will change as this is a great money-spinner for the powers that be.”
by Charlespk
Friday, July 06 2012, 2:15PM
“They are always bleating about being short of manpower, but they've they've always got plenty for sort of work. . Well 'work' is really a misnomer isn't it. . It's more like an obsessional recreation and real crime prevention avoidance scheme. . It's not dissimilar to tax avoidance and gives equal satisfaction.”