Speed management

Speed limits are introduced to promote greater road safety and to advise driver of the maximum speed they should travel along a section of road.  Speeding vehicles can adversely affect the quality of life of many communities causing noise, pollution and community severance.  Measures for influencing the speed of vehicles generally fall into two categories, legislative and physical.  Speed limits fall into the first category whereas traffic calming devices would fall into the second.

How do we set about introducing or amending a speed limit?

Requests for the introduction of or amendment to existing speed limits should initially be raised through the your Parish Council or Local Councillor.  The request will then be assessed by the Councils Traffic Management Team and if considered appropriate the request will be placed upon our lists and forward programme.  Account will be taken of the characteristics of the road, such as its alignment, the level of activity alongside the road, the accident record and the degree of severance caused to a community by the speed of vehicles, and if it is considered  that a change in speed limit is warranted then a new Speed Limit Order has to be made (see Traffic Regulation Orders).

If the road in question has a system of street lighting on it with no speed limit repeater signs, indicating a different speed, then  the road is already subject to 30mph.  The system of street lighting in a built up area is deemed to be sufficient visual indication of a 30mph limit and as such the Council are not permitted to place 30mph repeater signs on it.

Enforcement of speed limits is the responsibility of the West Mercia Police and the Safer Roads Partnership who undertake safety camera enforcement on behalf of both the Council and the Police across Herefordshire.

Details of current Speed Limit Orders are available below (Note - Work is continuing to add detail)