Road safety signs taken down over distraction fears
BANNERS promoting a road safety campaign have been removed because Bridgend council fears the banners themselves could distract drivers.
The authority said it has a blanket ban on all nonofficial roadside signs, so it has removed professionally printed banners erected on the A48 in Bridgend by the A48 Make It Safe campaign.
The campaign is calling for Bridgend council and the Welsh Government to implement a number of safety measures – including a reduction in the speed limit from 60mph to 40mph and the construction of a safe crossing – following the death of 16-year-old Rhys Rubery, from Pencoed, after a collision on July 12.
South Wales Police are continuing their investigation.
Rhys was a pedestrian when he was involved in a collision with a black Suzuki motorcycle near the Merthyr Mawr junction on the A48 at around 5.15pm.
But Councillor Ian Spiller, who started the campaign, has criticised the authority for removing the two banners, which were on the corner of Merthyr Mawr Road and the Broadlands roundabout, last Friday.
He said: “Amazing how they can manage this but fail miserably on everything else!”
A Bridgend council spokesman said: “Whether it is a professionally produced sign or a home-made sheet wishing someone a happy birthday, attaching banners and adverts onto road signs, railings, lamp posts and other highway fixtures risks drawing the attention of drivers away from the road as well as obscuring the signage, which is often there for important safety reasons or to inform drivers.
“As doing so constitutes an offence under the Highways Act, in the interests of road safety, the council removes all signs placed on ground or property that it is responsible for maintaining, and stores them at its Waterton depot where they can be collected by their owners.
“In some cases, unauthorised banners and adverts are put up and taken down again in a short space of time, but in the majority of cases they are left indefinitely.
“If the council didn’t remove them, their sheer numbers would quickly build up and create problems across the county borough.”
The council spokesman added: “Some of the locations they appear in are also dangerous, not just to the people putting them up, but for the workers who have to take them down.”
A48 Make It Safe has also set up an online petition calling on the Welsh Government to make the A48 from the Ewenny roundabout to Laleston safe for all road users and pedestrians. It has been signed by 618 people.
Coun Spiller said: “Since the inception of the A48 campaign, I’ve received a number of letters sent in to Bridgend council over the years calling for a common sense approach to road safety on the A48.
“Our Welsh Assembly petition has now been signed by over 600 people all calling for the Welsh Government to make essential funding available to upgrade and make the A48 fit for purpose for all road users.”
Last month Bridgend council announced it would commission an investigation into that stretch of the A48 following Rhys’ death.
Bridgend AM Carwyn Jones has welcomed the news. He said he has received many representations from constituents and local councillors regarding safety of pedestrians on the A48 following the recent tragedy.
Mr Jones was told by Bridgend council that the investigation will take into account factors such as traffic movements, speed of vehicles, pedestrian movements and other concerns which have been raised with the council. The report will provide recommendations for any remedial work where appropriate.
Mr Jones said: “This ac- tion is certainly a step in the right direction. I will be monitoring this carefully and in particular, the report’s recommendations.
“It is important that this report is concluded as quickly as possible to assess all the options to make the road safer after this tragic accident.
“I have also discussed safety concerns with Chief Superintendent Stuart Parfitt. I understand that a police investigation is under way.”