Speed limit near shops now 20mph
People visiting shops in Shepway should feel a little safer now a lower speed limit has been introduced.
Traffic is restricted to 20mph in Northumberland Road, near the parade, for 350m, reduced from 30mph.
The move was instigated by the Maidstone South division county councillor Brian Clark.
As odd as it sounds, police will not sanction a speed limit reduction if the average traffic speed is much above that proposed, because it would be difficult to enforce.
Cllr Clark used his member’s budget to fund a speed survey along the road, which is often used as a cut-through from Willington Street to Sutton Road.
The study found the mean speed to be just over 24mph, low enough that the speed limit could be reduced without further expensive traffic-calming measures being introduced.
The new speed limit is now fully in place with signs in Northumberland Road and also in Cumberland Avenue, on the approach to Northumberland Road.
Cllr Clark said: “If a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle travelling at 20mph, there is a 90% chance they will survive.
“But if the car is travelling at 30mph, that reduces to 50%.”
There have been five crashes along the road where people have been hurt in the last five years, one serious.
The scheme was well supported locally with no objections raised to the speed reduction during the consultation.
Cllr Clark said: “The area alongside the Northumberland Road shops is well known locally for speeding vehicles and it is also the point where most residents cross the road to reach the shops.
“I hope this scheme will significantly increase pedestrian safety at this point.” The total cost was £3,103. In 2014, Cllr Clark used his member’s budget to finance the rebuilding of the zebra crossing in the road, which had suffered many years of neglect.