Derby residents stick 30mph signs on bins to slow speeders
Residents in Derby are taking action to slow down speeding drivers by placing 30mph signs on their wheelie bins.
Residents on a Derby street are being encouraged to stick 30mph signs on their wheelie bins to slow down speeding motorists.
But there are concerns the idea won’t make much of a difference and speeding will continue.
Councillors in Allestree have handed stickers to residents to help warn drivers of the new speed limit at Kedleston Road.
The speed limit between the road’s junction with Allestree Lane and Quarndon was changed from 40mph to 30mph a few months ago – but there are still concerns about motorists speeding along the road.
The Conservative councillors have requested that Derby City Council’s highways team put up new permanent 30mph signs but this has not happened.
So the councillors, including Mayor of Derby Councillor Ged Potter and the city’s Conservative group leader Steve Hassall, have issued stickers to residents to use on their wheelie bins.
The aim is for the stickers to be placed on wheelie bins, where at least once per week (bin collection day) motorists will be reminded of the reduced speed limit. The campaign has been given a title – “Project wheelie slow down” – which has also seen stickers stuck on nearby lampposts and bollards.
The idea has been welcomed by residents living on Kedleston Road but they worry the signs may not have the desired impact.
John Robson, who has lived on Kedleston Road for 60 years, said: “It’s a good idea but I’m not sure what difference they will make. It’s definitely an issue as you hear the noise and the rattle of the vehicles.”
Another resident said: “The speeding is a problem. You hear some cars at 2am and you think they are racing each other. I’ve seen the stickers around but I don’t think they will do much.”
And another added: “So on bin collection day people will see them but every other day it’s a free-for-all? Most people speed up and down Kedleston Road.”
Councillor Hassall backed the idea and said he hoped it would be successful and improve road safety.
He said: “The speed limit for Kedleston Road was changed from 40mph to 30mph late last year. But sadly, despite requests to the council’s highways department, new speed signage has not been forthcoming.
“This is about intervening where we can to both help improve road safety and educate drivers who may not be aware of the changes to the speed limit. It would appear to be only half a job in changing the speed limit without installing the appropriate signage to advise drivers.”
A Derby City Council spokesperson explained why no signage had been put up and said data showed that vehicles had slowed down. They said: “The speed limit on Kedleston Road was lowered to 30mph in conjunction with changes to the road layout, with the introduction of the roundabout at Askerfield Avenue, new footways and pedestrian crossings.
“Because street lighting designates a 30mph default speed limit in urban areas, repeater signs are not permitted. Therefore, the only change required to signage following the speed limit reduction was the removal of 40mph repeater signs and the modification of terminal signs within Derbyshire.
“The latest traffic speed data indicates vehicle speeds in the area have decreased.”