Tackling speeding is ‘in the mind’

TACKLING speeding down the hill into Middleton-in-Teesdale needs a new approach, according to a leading police official.

Paul Emerson, traffic manager at Durham Police, told Middleton-in-Teesdale and Newbiggin parish council a “credible speed limit” was required on the B6282 from Eggleston because the existing sign layout was not working.

He suggested to councillors that moving the 40mph limit to the top of the bank and pushing the 30mph limit to the bottom of the hill would be more effective in reducing speeds. Mr Emerson said: “There is a greater chance people will adhere because at the moment they don’t.”

Figures from Durham County Council a couple of years ago revealed motorists coming down the stretch were clocked at an average speed of 34.8mph with 15 per cent of motorists travelling at or faster than 40.9mph.

Mr Emerson added: “If the limit was 40mph that’s only a four per cent speeding rate – that’s a reduction and that’s a speed limit people see in their minds.

“We had exactly the same set of circumstances in St John’s Chapel where the non-compliance with the 30mph way out in the countryside was even worse.

“The camera van used to go up there on a regular basis and it was like shooting fish in a barrel – but it had no effect whatsoever on speed. We eventually got the support to change the sign to 40mph. Speeds have gone down because people recognise it’s a 40mph limit and they recognise it’s a village environment.”

Speeding on the approach to Middleton has been a Pact (Police And Communities Together) priority in the past.

Mr Emerson explained how the psychology and typology of motorists was important to examine when it came to speeding.

“There will always be people who obey speed limits – 15 per cent of people obey whatever the law is,” he said. “If the Department for Transport said you have to drive in a pink tutu – these people would go out and buy a pink tutu. At the other end of the scale you have 15 per cent of people who do not care about the law – they’ve kept me in employment for 30 years.”

However, it was the “70 per cent in the middle” Mr Emerson was interested in.

He added: “They usually obey the speed limit but on the odd occasion they might not. If they get caught they say ‘hands up and fair dos’. The vast majority of people in the 70 per cent will look for a credible speed limit – if they see a valid reason, there is a greater chance they will do it.

“And that’s an important point in relation to that section of the village where the 30mph limit is, quite frankly, not credible.”

A lack of change in the built environment and surroundings at the existing 30mph sign was pointed to as a reason for the higher speeds.

Costs for the sign replacement and installation were estimated at £7,000 to £8,000.

Mr Emerson also told members having a 40mph limit starting at the Middleton-in-Teesdale sign would be more effective and would allow road markings to be painted.

He added: “It’s a case of getting into the psychology of the driver – that’s what we’ve got to do.”

Volunteer run Community Speedwatch operations were also encouraged. Mr Emerson said: “With Speedwatch you get a letter and if you get a second letter you start getting a knock on your door and we send the boys round to say ‘pack it in’.”

To find out more about Community Speed Watch, contact PCSO Liz Finn on 101.