Speed sign reinstated in Saintfield in bid to halt speeding drivers

19 January 2022

WORK has started to reinstate an electronic speed indicator sign at the Ballynahinch Road in Saintfield.

The sign — one of a number erected across the district by the area’s Policing and Community Partnership — was removed last year after concerns were expressed about its original location at the busy road.

Designed to put the brakes on speeders, the signs have proved effective in a number of locations with plans to install more of them over the coming months.

The reinstatement of the Saintfield sign has been welcomed by Rowallane councillor Kathryn Owen, who said that it will make drivers more aware of their speed at this busy road.

A decision to relocate the Saintfield sign was agreed by a sub-committee of the district’s Policing and Community Safety Partnership.

Cllr Owen said she was delighted that the speed sign was being erected as it will remind drivers of their speed as they approach the built-up town centre area.

Cllr Owen also thanked residents who helped her lobby for the reinstatement of the speed indicator sign following its removal.

The Ballynahinch Road is one of the district’s speeding hot spots with a number of high speeds recorded by the previous speed indicator sign located in a 30mph zone. It was revealed last May that one driver was clocked travelling at an incredible 134mph in the 30mph zone in Saintfield at 6am.

Figures released by the PCSP over the past year have revealed that speeding in built-up areas across the district continues to be a major problem.

In addition to the Ballynahinch Road in Saintfield, other speeding hot spots include the Strangford Road in Downpatrick and South Promenade in Newcastle.

The Dundrum Road in Clough is a new entry on the list following the installation of an electronic speeding device on the approach to the village, while the Downpatrick Road in Ardglass is another new entry on the speeding hot-spot list.

The highest speed recorded in the 30mph zone in Clough was 94mph at 5am, with the highest speed at the Strangford Road — where a 40mph limit is in place — was 93mph. This offence was detected around 7am.

Since the speeds recorded by the electronic devices have been made public, politicians have expressed their shock at the behaviour of those who continue to break the law and have appealed to them to slow down.

Erected as part of a major offensive on speeding drivers at a number of well known speeding hot spots, the speed indicator devices are being hailed a success as speeds in most areas where they are located are reducing.

However, concern remains about the behaviour of some drivers continuing to show a blatant disregard for 30mph and 40mph speed limits in place.

Recent figures published by the PCSP revealed that the highest number of speeders in Castlewellan and Killyleagh were detected around 6am and 7pm respectively, with those who hit high speeds in Ardglass detected at 8pm.

While Clough recorded the highest speed, a detailed examination of the figures reveals that five drivers went through the 30mph in the village at 70mph, with 44% of all drivers travelling in excess of the speed limit.

In Downpatrick, 27 drivers were detected at over 70mph in the 40mph zone, with one driver clocked at 83mph in the 30mph zone at the Dublin Road in Castlewellan. The highest speed recorded at the 30mph zone at the Downpatrick Road in Ardglass was 70mph.

Policing and Community Safety Partnership officials say that figures recorded across the district’s speed indicator signs for the most recent three-month period shows an overall speed reduction of around six percent.

The number of drivers clocked at over 70mph across the 13 speed indicator signs spread across the Newry, Mourne and Down Council area was almost 900, while the average number of speeding violations over 30mph was 46%. The average number of speeding violations over 35mph in 30mph zones was almost 21%.

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