Our cabinet approved the delivery of a package of measures to tackle speed-related collisions and careless driver behaviour on a stretch of the A361 between Barnstaple and Ilfracombe this week.
In a show of cross-party support at the first cabinet meeting of the year on Wednesday, the leaders of both the Labour and Lib Dem groups groups backed the decision.
A combination of spot speed and average speed cameras will support safer speeds, and innovative artificial intelligence cameras will help encourage drivers to adopt safer driving practices.
This includes reducing drivers being distracted by mobile phones and increasing use of seatbelts.
The scheme follows DCC being awarded £5,040,000 last March by the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Safer Roads Fund (SRF) to deliver safety improvements on the A361.
The route was one of 17 in England designated by the DfT as ‘high risk’ in last year’s SRF funding round and Devon received the highest award.
Approval for the scheme followed an AI camera pilot on the A361 last August, which identified 1363 instances of a seatbelt not being worn, and 436 mobile phone distraction offences recorded over a four–week period.
The AI cameras represent phase one of the safety improvements and cameras could be in place as soon as the end of next year.
Three new bidirectional ‘spot’ speed cameras are being planned, two to help reduce speeds at Knowle and Ilfracombe and the third will help manage speeds on the 50mph A361 dual carriageway and its approaches into Ashford and Barnstaple.
Additionally, two new average speed camera systems will be delivered between Ashford and Chivenor and between Knowle and Mullacott Cross.
Further safety improvements, to be considered at a future Cabinet meeting, are also being planned and will include junction upgrades and pedestrian and cycle crossing improvements including access to bus stops.
DCC is part of the Vision Zero South West (VZSW) road safety partnership, involving local highway authorities across Devon and Cornwall, National Highways, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and all the emergency ‘blue light’ services including Devon and Cornwall Air Ambulance.
Councillor Stuart Hughes, our Cabinet Member for Highways Management and Vice Chair of VZSW said:
“The package of measures will help make the A361 safer by encouraging safer speed and safer driving habits.
“A third of all fatal collisions across Devon and Cornwall involved someone not wearing a seatbelt and so if we can encourage more drivers and passengers to do this, we can save peoples’ lives.
“I’m proud that Devon continues to lead the way in adopting the latest technology and in this case applying it to reduce dangerous driving and make our roads safer for everyone.”
Other councillors gave the proposal their full support.
Councillor Andrea Davis, our Deputy Leader and the local member for Combe Martin Rural s=also spoke on behalf of Councillor Pru Maskell, the Local Member for Braunton Rural and said:
“I’m horrified that people don’t wear seat belts, but the tragedy is that we have had a lot of incidents on this route and when you hear of another it’s heartbreaking.
“I’m very pleased that this has come forward and on behalf of all residents I want to thank (Councillor) Stuart (Hughes) for bringing this forward.”
Councillor Caroline Leaver, Leader for the Lib Dem Group and Local member for Barnstaple South said:
“I am in full agreement (with the Authority and this report.)
“It is one of the worst roads in North of Devon for fatalities and crashes and the idea of not wearing a seatbelt is extraordinary to me, and certainly we have seen it is mainly young people who are either driving dangerously or are victims of dangerous driving.
“The police tell us that the introduction of a night bus between Ilfracombe and Barnstaple (a temporary service over the festive period) led to a noticeable reductions in road traffic accidents on this road in the late evening.
“I urge the county council to ensure that plans for improving road safety include all road users including cyclists, and take on board the need to reduce conflicts between cyclists and motorised vehicles as set out in the Highway Code.”
Councillor Carol Whitton, Leader of the Labour Group, said:
“Anything that helps to improve compliance and saves lives is to be welcomed.
“It’s disappointing that the county council has to spend money to ensure people do what they are supposed to do. If everybody was compliant (with highways regulations) this would all be totally unnecessary.
“There are a cohort of drivers who persistently refuse to comply with speed limits, use mobile phones or refuse to wear seat belts.
“I hope that this will have a knock-on effect on other roads and that, as word gets around, that the authority is serious about enforcing rules in order to keep people safe.
“This is not about the fines it’s about saving lives.”
