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Hildenborough: Many Motorists ignoring 'Slow' Signs endangering bicycle commuters' safety at train station
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by Beaulieu | June 26, 2008 at 09:25 am
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Motorists ignore 'Slow' Signs endangering rail cyclists' safety at Hildenborough Station
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Cyclists using Hildenborough Train Station, near Tonbridge, are risking their lives on a daily basis as they try to get out of the entrance.
Motorists, driving along Rings Hill, a steep and windy hill, are regularly failing to slow down at the warning 'Slow' and 'Bend' signs by the station and not keeping a safe distance apart.
The station entrance is just after the bend seen on this Exclusive Now Public video which gives you an idea of how fast and busy the road can be, and how difficult it is to be a cyclist. There is no cycle path towards the station or any plans for one and the area is dimly lit at night.
The video was taken in the afternoon about 5pm although it gets much busier from 7pm when people return from London.
Though the country road is 60mph, the National Speed Limit, Hildenborough Station has a very busy entrance, full of cyclists and motorists. The risk increases at night and during poor weather as the station is on a steep hill.
Bicycle commuters are having trouble just trying to cross the road by the station, as vehicles speed past towards the Hilden Golf Centre or speed towards the village. Even if they go up to the top of the road, they face motorists travelling at 60 mph or more. The road is also used by horse riders from nearby farms and stables. Cyclists are also finding it difficult to turn into the nearby Noble Tree Road because of the speeds.
Recently, a cyclist was in an accident along this road and more of these will happen unless motorists reduce their speed, the limit is reduced and speed cameras are installed along this road. Joy riders are now in the area and so the matter is really coming to a head.
'You have to have your wits about you' said one leisure cyclist.
Now Public Beaulieu has contacted MP Sir John Stanley for his comments today.
UPDATE 1/7/08 Keys magazine, a monthly magazine for Hildenborough, say residents have complained about joy riding at Rings Hill, the B245 and Stocks Green Road. Some they say, are people in the motor trade, testing their vehicles.
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (3)
at 13:29 on July 1st, 2008
Update 1/7/08
Letter from the Highways to the Police about the speeding:-
Speed limits are set by the Department of Transport ( Traffic Advisory
leaflet 2/06) it sets out what speed limits are applied in different
circumstances and how these are assessed. It is not in the gift of KCC
as the Highway Authority to set a speed limit based on anecdotal
evidence or perception of risk of high speeds. Although speed limits
are set for most country lanes at 60 mph - this is a limit and not a
target - the responsibility for driving safely and according to the conditions
of the road ahead remains solely with the driver. The Highway Code
applies to all who use a road - be they pedestrians, horse riders or
cyclists as well as motorcyclists and drivers.
Parish Councils can join the Speedwatch initiative which is aimed at
helping local communities (Parish Council) combat known safety problems
created by inconsiderate drivers who regularly exceed speed stipulated
speed limits. TMBC have assisted Parish Councils with funding for
equipment in the past and many parish councils share the equipment to
get better use out of it. I do not know if Hildenborough PC are already
doing this
There is a criteria set by KCC for the installation of safety cameras
and that is to place them on sites where there is a known problem with
speed related injury crashes - so they are used where the need is
greatest. KCC would be able to advise on the crash data for this site
of if there are any plans for S Cameras in the area. The Police also can
do speed checks and its worth having a chat with them about these
concerns.
There is a cycle strategy in place for TMBC where we have worked on
with KCC to build up a programme of extending and delivering measures
to encourage and promote cycling in the Borough. The recommendation for
Hildenborough is to extend facilities on the London Road up to Half
Moon but I am not aware of anything for Rings Hill area of around the
Station
at 13:30 on July 1st, 2008
Update 1/7/08
The local police confirm that they do plan some speed checks in area.
at 15:49 on July 14th, 2008
Update from the Highways 14/7/08
To justify their implementation, speed cameras can only be used where there is a specific crash record - more information is available at the Kent and Medway Camera Partnership web site http://www.kmscp.org/ . I have checked the injury crash record outside Hildenborough and a speed or safety camera would not be appropriate here.
Also I'm afraid we are not at liberty to implement any speed limit we like. Speed limits must relate to actual speeds. Unrealistically low speed limits simply criminalise large proportions of the motoring public who are driving at appropriate or reasonable speeds. The government has recently changes its policy to say that speed limits should relate to the 50th percentile speed (average speed) previously speed limits were determined from a measure of the 85th percentile speed i.e. the government deemed that 85% of us were driving at safe speeds with the top 15% defined as 'speeders'.
Since this policy change Kent Highway services has resolved to review speed limits on all A and B roads first. The bottom line is - whilst there may be inappropriate behaviour outside Hildenborough Station, there is not a history of injury crashes to justify priority attention here on limited recourses. Kent Highway services will continue to monitor all records of injury crashes however and the locations of crash clusters to prioritise attention and public expenditure where it is most needed.