Speed trap snares 200 motorists
POLICE CATCH THOSE GOING TOO FAST ON ROAD WHERE TEEN DIED
SPEEDING motorists were caught out 200 times in just three half-days after the speed limit was reduced on a dangerous Whitley Bay Road.
The speed limit on The Links in Whitley Bay was cut from 40mph to 30mph on May 21, and Northumbria Police speed camera vans caught out 200 motorists in the first three half-days they visited the road, a public meeting was told.
North Tyneside Council is looking at what more could be done to tackle speeding on the deadly stretch of road.
Bright sixth-form student William Dorey was tragically killed in a hor
ror crash on The Links stretch of road last year.
He had been out for a jog when boy racers Joshua Cherukara and Harry Cable, veered off the road, killing the 18-year-old. The pair were sentenced to serve time in a young offenders’ institute for their role in his death earlier this year.
St Mary’s ward councillor Judith Wallace said that the community of Whitley Bay were determined to improve safety on that stretch of road and that William’s tragic death should be the last.
She said: “That was one too many, it must be the last.
“The police are right in what they say that they can’t get rid of stupidity which is what led to that tragic crash.
“However this road is getting busier and busier, it is a residential area and more can be done to improve the safety of the road.”
A public meeting was held at Whitley Lodge School this week when new road safety measures were discussed.
North Tyneside Council’s highways team have proposed a number of further measures including cutting the dual carriageway to one lane and a raised pedestrian crossing to improve road safety in the area.
A North Tyneside Council spokesman said: “Since the introduction of the reduced speed limit, average speeds on The Links remain high for a 30mph road.
“At the public meeting, we presented a number of possible further measures, which included a lane reduction on both sides of the dual carriageway and a raised table crossing next to the Brierdene car park.
“There was support for the proposals and we will now be exploring whether funding is available to carry out works this financial year.”