We now have the first set of statistics from Langford Village’s very own Speed Sign. For clarity, this is not a speed camera, it does not record any number plate details. It simply records for each vehicle passing it, its maximum speed along with a time and date stamp.
It is all too easy to accidentally speed, the primary objective of the speed sign is to actively draw each drivers attention to their speed. It has been noted that drivers are slowing down when the speed sign has indicated they are travelling above 30 miles per hour, so the impact has been positive.
The sign is mobile, with two ’sockets’ already in place on Peregrine Way, with one socket near Kestrel Way and one near Avocet Way. At each of these locations the sign can be positioned to measure traffic speed in either direction. A third socket will shortly be installed along the section of Peregrine Way containing the shops and school.
The first set of data we have is for cars traveling from the Osprey Close/Falcon Mead roundabout down Peregrine Way towards the Shearwater Drive/Avocet Way junctions – basically leaving the estate. Over a period of one month, 44,167 vehicles passed the speed sign. The chart below puts traffic into 5 mile per hour buckets. So for example, 19,347 vehicles passed the sign traveling between 25 and 30 miles per hour.
The data indicates that we do have a surprising number of cars travelling down this section of road above the speed limit. Just over 12% of vehicles are speeding – that is 5,612 speeding vehicles over a period of 1 month (October 2023).
In response to some requests to publish a more detailed breakdown of the instances of over 30mph speeds the LVCA can also provide this additional chart/data table. This shows that there were 688 times when a vehicle was recorded as speeding between 36mph and 55mph.
The sign has now been moved to record data for cars traveling from the Goldcrest Way/Pipits Croft roundabout towards Ravencroft and Kestrel Way junctions, we will publish this data when available.
The primary objective of the Speed Sign is to encourage us all to drive at a safe speed on our roads, on our estate. The secondary objective is provide actual data to determine if we have a problem with speeding on Langford. If we do, we can provide this information to the relevant authorities who can in turn decide if they want to carry out any enforcement actions.
Let’s work together to make Langford a safe place to live.
Laurence Gray, LVCA Committee Member
Be interesting to see how many vehicles enter Langford from the entrance with the roundabout compared to the plain junction entrance that I use. I have long believed that not having a roundabout this entrance is far more dangerous which accident stats over the years will prove.
I am also convinced it’s the busiest entrance to Langford.
John. We should have that information in a month or so. We will publish it.