Lee Murphy of Cheshire Road Safety Partnership talks to The Chronicle about rural roads

Feb 25 2010 by Barry Ellams, Chester Chronicle

In the second of a two-part report, NAOMI DUNNING asks Cheshire Road Safety Partnership manager Lee Murphy how road safety is being tackled on our rural roads

QThere is the national speed limit on the majority of our rural roads — this means despite the bends and sharp corners drivers are racing through.

Drivers go too fast on roads like Hook Lane to Guy Lane in Waverton. What is being done about it?

AThe police deal with speeding enforcement. The Road Safety and Sustainable Travel Unit only acts if investigations reveal there is a proven collision issue.

Similarly, under the Speed Limit Review (A + B roads only, thus the section highlighted was not reviewed) it was agreed that measures would only be implemented if there was a proven collision history.

In the past five years, seven collisions have occurred on the section of carriageway from Guy Lane to the end of Hook Lane. The seven collisions are spread through the section of carriageway with no clear collision clusters.

Therefore, with very little evidence of a collision issue it is not the best use of limited resources investing in remedial measures on rural roads such as these.

QAlong many rural roads, the hedges have been left to get overgrown. This restricts the view for drivers — what is the policy on this?

ASafety is the dominant issue in the maintenance of all boundary hedgerows.

In almost all cases, hedges are owned by the adjacent landowner and not the council.

Most hedges need to be cut back on a regular basis. If they are not and they create a potential or immediate hazard to road users, the council has powers to require the owner of the hedge to remedy the problem by cutting it back.

If they refuse to do this work within a specified period – usually 14 days, or are not able to do so, the council can cut back the hedge and recoup the costs is has incurred in doing so from the landowner.

QThe junction between the A51 and the Stamford Bridge pub causes many delays, and is often the scene of accidents.

Would it not be sensible to put a filter right at that junction?

AThe A51 Tarvin Road carries a vast amount of traffic in and out of Chester every day, which inevitably leads to some congestion and delays during peak times.

Although no right turn filter arrow is provided on site at the junction, there is a specific right turn lane provided for those vehicles wishing to turn right.

Detailed investigation of the junction reveals that although the perception may be that it is vehicles turning right on to Barrow Lane that are involved in the majority of the collisions, this is in fact not the case.

Collision data provided by Cheshire Constabulary illustrates that in the past five years at the A51 Tarvin Road/Barrow Lane junction there have been 13 collisions, all of which have been slight in nature.

Of those collisions, there were two instances of right turn collisions featuring vehicles turning right across the path of other vehicles.

The collision data analysed suggests that the existing arrangement is working adequately to enable all users to complete the right turn manoeuvre safely.

QIs it not dangerous to have the direction of cycle lanes contra to the direction of the traffic?

In Northgate Street the one way traffic goes the opposite direction to the cycle lane often leaving pedestrians in danger.

AContraflow cycling provides permeability for cyclists, national guidance advises that two-way cycling for cyclists should be considered when introducing one way systems.

Northgate Street Contraflow offers a safer and shorter alternative to directing cyclists down Princess Street and along St Martins Way.

There have been four recorded accidents on Northgate Street involving pedestrians over the last five years, all involving motorised vehicles.

There is always some risk to pedestrians crossing any street and following the Highway Code should ensure safety for pedestrians.

QAre you concerned about the mess left on the roads by farmers’ tractors and livestock? Often the roads are left slippery and dangerous after the mud and manure is not cleaned up? What are the rules for farmers?

AVehicles should not leave the carriageway in an unsafe condition and farmers should make arrangements to clean their vehicles before travelling on to the public highway if at all possible.

If not, they should make arrangements to sweep the road if they deposit mud on the carriageway, immediately after travelling on the public highway.