Working together to reduce speeds – Six steps for organisations wishing to
purchase a Speed Indicator Device (SID).
Background
Suffolk County Council and Suffolk Constabulary have jointly launched an
initiative to tackle concerns about speeding in villages. The Council purchased
new Speed Indicator Devices (SIDs) for Community Speedwatch groups to
enhance their activities and temporary Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS) which
highways engineers install. The first phase of the initiative has seen signs used in
many locations on a rota basis and it is intended that the next phase will be
based on the same strategy. SCC does not want to see a proliferation of
permanent electronic signs. It is concerned that the motorist will get used to
seeing the signs which will reduce their effectiveness.
SCC possesses only a limited number of signs and some organisations (Parish,
Town, Borough and District Councils) are keen to ensure that signs are used
more frequently in their area. SCC has agreed that organisations will be able to
buy their own signs which can be moved around from location to location by
organised volunteers.
Any organisation with concerns about speeding can submit a request form which
will be assessed by the local highways engineer. The engineer will need to
assess the nature of the speeding problem. If the engineer is satisfied that the
site meets the criteria then the organisation will be invited to enter into a formal
agreement with the county council and purchase any signs direct from the
manufacturer. It is anticipated that most requests will be from town and parish
councils and the draft agreement is on the basis of the county council being able
to delegate management responsibility to another tier of local government. If
requests are from other organisations, bespoke agreements may be needed
depending on the level of control the county council has to exercise to meet its
obligations, especially in relation to management of health and safety.
To ensure that signs are correctly and safely installed, the organisation will be
required to sign a legal agreement (memorandum of understanding). A schedule
attached to the agreement will state where the sign can be installed and how it
will be operated.
The primary aim is to achieve safe operation.
1. REQUEST (form below)
The organisation completes request form and forwards it to the local highways
engineer for assessment (via suffolkroadsafe@suffolk.gov.uk )
2. ASSESSMENT
SCC Engineer carries out an initial desktop assessment, followed by a site visit.
3. LEGAL AGREEMENT (formal below)
The organisation signs an agreement with Suffolk County Council which
establishes the correct and safe use of the sign(s).
4. PURCHASE
Upon approval of the sign(s), the organisation contacts the approved list of
manufacturers and purchases directly. The two signs that are recommended by
SCC for the Parish to purchase are:
1. Radarlux Tempodis 230 SI
http://www.radarlux.co.uk/#!tempodis-230-si/c22pw
2. Westcotec portable mini speed indicator device (SID) http://www.westcotec.co.uk/static/products7e.html
The organisation also purchases protective equipment for volunteers.
5. SITE PREPARATION
If necessary, SCC will install poles for the signs, although the organisation will be
responsible for all costs. Existing posts may need extension posts. It may also
be appropriate to leave part of the sign mounting bracket attached to the post to
make ongoing mounting and removal quicker and easier.
When the VAS is not placed on a post leaving the post with no lawful
attachments it will be necessary to attach temporary educational poster signs,
such as Kill Your Speed or a Think Motorcyclist message.
6. SAFETY MANAGEMENT
The Organisation will be responsible for ensuring that all operations are carried
out safely, taking into account the risks to both volunteers and road users.
The Organisation is responsible for ensuring safe systems of work are adopted
and followed by volunteers.
Suffolk County Council can offer advice on setting up the signs
SCC recommends that the following are taken into consideration:
1. A minimum of two people to be present when signs are being placed or
removed, or batteries changed, including one person whose role is to
watch over the operation including observing oncoming traffic.
2. A charged mobile phone to be available with contact numbers to call for
assistance if needed.
3. Where it is reasonable to do so, signs shall be mounted at a height which
does not require climbing on to any step or platform. Where there is no
other suitable location we may recommend a higher mounting height up to
2.3m where the proposed location is adjacent or above a footway or 2.5m
adjacent or above a cycleway. In this instance the Organisation will be
required to understand the risks associated with installing and removing a
sign at this height before confirming that they would like to proceed.
4. Any vehicle used for transport to the location to be parked in a safe place.
If it is possible to park safely on the road, this can help move passing
traffic further away. This is especially important if it is necessary to work
from a step or platform.
5. High visibility clothing to be worn (minimum of long sleeved high visibility
jacket). If working on uneven ground, boots with good ankle support to be
worn.
6. Where it is necessary to work off the ground, a platform or set of steps
should be selected most suited to the location(s). A lean to ladder is not
suitable for this work. The HSE toolkit for working at height can be found
at
http://www.hse.gov.uk/work-at-height/wait/intro.htm
7. Among the factors to consider are:
a. The platform or steps must be free standing and self-supporting, not
leant against a post or similar.
b. Use individually adjustable feet or levelling mats to ensure stability
where ground is uneven.
c. People using the steps or platform must be sufficiently fit and able to
do so safely.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Question
Answer
REQUEST
If drivers are seen to be The signs are used for educational purposes, not
exceeding the speed
enforcement.
limit will they be
prosecuted?
How can we find out
Details of the scheme can be found at:
about the Community
http://www.suffolk.police.uk/safetyadvice/roadsafety/knowthe
Speedwatch scheme?
law/speeding/communityspeedwatch.aspx
We can afford to
purchase a sign but
cannot find a volunteer
to install the sign. Will
SCC do it on our
behalf?
Unfortunately, SCC is not in a position to do this. If the site
meets the engineer’s assessment criteria, then the location
could be included on a schedule for an SCC owned VAS to
be deployed on a rota basis as part of our schedule of
temporary VAS deployment. With over 100 sites on the list,
it could be some time before a sign will appear in an agreed
location. Some organisations may choose to pay individuals
to carry out this work.
As a resident, I am
concerned about
speeding, can I request
a sign?
SCC will only consider requests from an organisation (or
elected representative). It may be worthwhile expressing
your concern to your local councillors and proposing this
option.
Can the sign be used in
a 20mph or 40mph
limit?
In some instances, the signs can be calibrated for 20mph. It
will be necessary to check with the manufacturer. In the
case of 40mph, the local engineer will make an assessment
based on health and safety criteria related to working at the
road side. However, it is unlikely that the signs will be
approved for use in 40mph limits (or higher).
ASSESSMENT
What factors will the
local engineer take into
account when making
his or her decision?
Can the Parish
Councillors attend the
site visit?
LEGAL AGREEMENT
Why is it necessary for
a Council to sign a
Memorandum of
Understanding?
SITE PREPARATION
What happens if there
is not a suitable pole for
the sign to be attached
to?
PURCHASE
How much does a sign
cost?
To meet the criteria , at each site there should be:
- 100m clear sight line wholly within 30 mph limit (not over
junctions or high densities of driveways),
- a suitable place to install and maintain the sign and post
- community anxiety about speeding and
- no other planned highways mitigation.
- no significant distractions (bends, crossings, junctions, high
density of roadside development etc)
- No existing features that would or would have potential to
interfere with the sight line.
A representative of the organisation may wish to attend the
site visit to understand how the engineer arrives at the
decision however the engineer will provide written
justification for his or her decision.
SCC is responsible for the highway. In this instance the
Council is prepared to delegate powers to organisations
however it is necessary for signs to be erected correctly and
volunteers must operate safely. Without that reassurance,
SCC is unable to allow an organisation to proceed.
Organisations will be responsible for arranging insurance to
cover the use of the signs and for developing and operating
safe systems of work.
SCC will arrange for a post to be installed and the
organisation will be charged the appropriate amount
(approx’ £150 depending on the extent of the work involved).
Signs should not be attached to telephone or electricity
poles, but may in some circumstances be permitted on
street lighting columns (with the approval of the SCC Street
Lighting Team). Signs erected over pavements should be at
least 2.3m above the ground. However if routes are used by
cyclists it may be necessary to install signs at 2.5m. Where
signs are installed in the verge then it will be possible and
often desirable to erect the signs at a lower height with the
agreement of the local engineer.
Signs vary in price. The signs that SCC has approved cost
between £2500 and £3500 approximately.
Our PC cannot afford to
purchase a sign
outright. What should
we do?
In some instances, County Councillors have paid for signs
from their budgets. It is quite feasible to purchase a sign in
partnership with a neighbouring organisation. Community
Speedwatch groups share signs and this appears to be
working well.
Why is SCC insisting
that signs can only be
In choosing the signs, SCC wanted to ensure that they are
light-weight, easy to install and display speed data
purchased from an
approved shortlist?
appropriately. The signs are meant for temporary use and to
be moved from site to site. It is not intended that SCC staff
will be involved in this process and will need to be familiar
with the signs that organisations purchase. Information
about the signs can be obtained in the first instance from
SCC via www.suffolkroadsafe.net or by emailing
suffolkroadsafe@suffolk.gov.uk
Why is it not possible to
purchase signs with
multiple colours and
images?
SCC has examined the Department for Transport advice
and accepts that only certain signs meet the current
specification. For example current regulations state that text
on light-emitting Variable Message Signs must be displayed
in white, off-white or yellow LED's.
Some signs record data but it is unlikely that SCC would
require the data as we have our own sources of objective
data collection.
Will signs record speed
data?
SAFETY TRAINING
What will volunteers be
required to do and
wear?
Volunteers will be required to work in accordance with the
safe system of work which the Organisation has put in place.
See Section 6 above.
What are the key issues
of the sign installation
which the engineer will
need to take into
account?
The highway engineer will assess the suitability of the site
and offer general advice but will not carry out a detailed risk
assessment or provide a detailed safe system of work. The
highway engineer will recommend installing signs at heights
which can be reached by volunteers standing on the ground
unless there are overriding reasons to mount them higher.
How long should a sign
be left at one location?
Currently, SCC is rotating signs on a 2 or 3 weekly basis.
Organisations should leave signs in place for no more than
4 weeks and then remove or relocate them for a similar
period.
REQUEST FOR ASSESSMENT FOR SPEED INDICATOR DEVICE(S) FROM
ORGANISATION
DESCRIPTION OF
PROPOSED
LOCATION(S): Road
Name and/or number,
address, OS grid ref
1
2
3
4
PLEASE STATE
REASON(S) FOR
REQUEST
LEVEL OF SUPPORT
FROM WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY
FUNDING
SOURCE(S): Parish
Council, County
Councillor, Others
(please state)
HOW MANY PEOPLE
ARE WILLING TO
VOLUNTEER TO
MANAGE SIGNS
COMMUNITY
SPEEDWATCH
GROUP OPERATING
Request submitted by
Position held (if
appropriate)
Date
Consulted and
supportive
Parish/Town/District/Borough
Council (as appropriate)
Yes / No
County Councillor
Yes / No
Police SNT
Yes / No
Residents
Yes / No
Yes / No / Pending
PARISH SID APPLICATION ASSESSMENT REPORT
(Insert Parish Here)
Date of Inspection:
Inspection Engineer:
For the purposes of this assessment it is assumed that the Organisation/Parish Council are
proposing to purchase, attach, remove, move, store and maintain one of the SID units as
recommended by SCC Road Safety Team and have read, understood and agree to the
guidance and conditions within the legal agreement provided by SCC which will need to be
signed prior to proceeding with the proposal.
Insert Plan Here with numbered symbols / arrows to indicate locations
assessed.
Location
Ref:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Summary of Approval Status:
Approved / Possible subject to considerations / Rejected
Approved / Possible subject to considerations / Rejected
Approved / Possible subject to considerations / Rejected
Approved / Possible subject to considerations / Rejected
Approved / Possible subject to considerations / Rejected
Approved / Possible subject to considerations / Rejected
Approved / Possible subject to considerations / Rejected
Approved / Possible subject to considerations / Rejected
Approved / Possible subject to considerations / Rejected
Approved / Possible subject to considerations / Rejected
Insert Street View Shot of Specific Proposed Location Here.
Ref
Location
Proposed by Parish or suggested by
SCC
Speed limit
Existing Speed Data if available (Data
source(SID/SDR)/mean/85th percentile)
Suitability Considerations (Delete and edit as applicable)
Green indicates suitable conditions.
Orange indicates conditions or hazards that need to be understood by the Parish Council before agreeing
the location.
Red fields indicate conditions or hazards that are unsuitable for a VAS placement.
>100m inside speed limit terminal?
YES
No (Reject application)
Road Geometry
Straight road with sufficient forward
Location on a bend without sufficient
visibility.
forward visibility and would present
distraction to drivers negotiating the bend.
(Reject application)
Near side or Off side?
Near side
Off side (consider the natural line of sight
and the level of distraction for drivers)
Junctions or driveways within 100m sight line?
There are no junctions or
There is a high density of
There is a significant
no significant density of
driveways within the sight
junction within the sight
driveways within sight line.
line.
line.
(Reject application)
(Reject application)
Parking considerations for Parish Rep.
There is suitable
There is no suitable Parking on private
There is no suitable
off road parking
off road parking
land / driveway
off road parking area
area available
area available but
possible if
available and the road
within the vicinity
on road parking
agreement is
would not be suitable
for the Parish Rep
could be
sought with land
for on road parking.
to erect / remove
considered by the
owner.
(Reject application)
sign.
Parish Council.
Safe access for erection / maint’ for Parish rep’.
Proposed location is
There is a ditch or other
Narrow and / or uneven
reasonably wide and flat to hazard within close vicinity verge to work from. (Reject
work from
of the proposed location.
application)
Vegetation Considerations
There are no concerns
Vegetation
There is significant
regarding vegetation at this
(Trees/hedges/shrubs)
vegetation growing
location
present adjacent the
adjacent the sight line that
sightline therefore the PC
would limit forward
would be responsible to
visibility. (Reject
ensure that private
application)
landowner’s vegetation is
maintained to prevent it
interfering with the sight
line.
Resident consultation recommended?
Resident consultation is not required
Due to the location of the proposed VAS it
is recommended that the PC consult with
adjacent residents before proceeding with
this location.
Existing post available & condition / post extension or new post required?
An existing post in
The existing post at this
A new post is required at
reasonable condition can
location is in poor
this location and therefore
be used to mount the VAS
condition and will need to
an additional sign will also
on but a post extension will
be replaced to mount the
be required to be attached
be required.
existing sign and proposed when the VAS is not in use.
VAS
Additional signs required when VAS is not in use ?
There is a suitable existing
Back to back 30 repeater
A ‘Cut your speed’ poster
sign already attached that plates will be required to be sign will be required to be
can be left on when the
attached to the post when
attached to the post when
VAS is not in use.
the VAS is not in use.
the VAS is not in use.
Mounting height considerations (verge/footway or cycle path)
1.5 - 1.8m mounting height for VAS
2.3m mounting height is required above
required in verge
footway / cycleway
Overhead cables in vicinity? (Details)
Obvious signs of utilities within the vicinity? (Describe)
Previous speed anxiety reported?
YES
No
Other previous or planned speed management measures?
Other
Yes subject to
considerations above and
conditions within
Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU).
Approved Status
Possible site, subject to
confirmation of agreement
by PC with regard to
specific considerations
highlighted above and
conditions of Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU)
Works Required
Estimated Cost of works.
Site not approved as it
does not meet required
criteria and / or would
present a significant
distraction to drivers.
AGREEMENT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 72 ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984
SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL
AND
[
]
Mr Tim Earl
Solicitor to the Council & Head
of Legal Services
Suffolk County Council
Constantine House
5 Constantine Road
Ipswich
IP1 2DH
AGREEMENT pursuant to s72 Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 dated this [
] day of [
]
BETWEEN
SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL of Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich,
Suffolk, IP1 2BX (“The County Council”) and
[
] (“The Organisation”)
WHEREAS
(1) The County Council by virtue of the Highways Act 1980 and section 50 of
the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 is the highway authority for the
County of Suffolk and the Traffic Authority for the purposes of traffic
management in the County.
(2) The Organisation wishes to enter into an Agreement for the purposes of
deploying on or near any road, other than a footpath or bridleway, mobile
speed indicator devices (“the Signs”) for the purpose of alerting drivers to
excessive speed on highways within the Organisation’s area.
(3) This Agreement is made pursuant to s72 of the Road Traffic Regulation
Act 1984(the ‘Regulations’) and sets out the conditions upon which the
County Council grants the Organisation permissions as permitted under
the Regulations for the installation of Signs.
THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND [
] AGREE:
1. The Organisation shall prior to the installation of the Signs obtain approval
from the officer of the County Council appointed with such duties as to the
design and specification of the Signs.
2. The Signs shall be installed and maintained at locations as shall be
approved in writing by the officer.
3. The Organisation shall carry out any works specified by the officer to
ensure the installation of any Sign in the highway does not prejudice the
fabric of the highway, the County Council’s duty to maintain the highway or
the health and safety of the public.
4. The Organisation shall be responsible for the cost of repairing, maintaining
or replacing the Signs and shall if necessary repair or replace any Sign so
as to avoid the sign becoming a nuisance or danger to users of the
highway or to any other person including adjoining landowners.
5. The Organisation shall if required by the officer immediately remove any
Sign from the highway or relocate it to an alternative location approved by
the Director.
6. The Organisation shall ensure that any operations involved in transporting,
installing or maintaining the Sign comply with all health and safety
procedures, laws and appropriate codes of practise including by way of
non-exclusive, for example the provision of High visibility clothing.
7. The Organisation shall ensure the appropriate training, health and safety
of any employee, volunteer or contractor engaged on its behalf to carry out
any works or operations under this Agreement.
8. The Organisation shall ensure that at all times the installation use and
maintenance of the Sign complies with all appropriate laws, regulations
and codes of practise.
9. The Sign shall remain the sole responsibility of the Organisation and the
County Council shall not accept responsibility for any damage to the Sign
or interference with such howsoever caused.
10. The Organisation shall ensure that the Sign will be in one location for no
more than 4 weeks at a time.
11. The Organisation hereby indemnifies to the maximum extent permissible
by law the County Council against any action, cost, claim or proceeding
arising from the installation or use of the Sign.
12. The Sign must be placed to minimise the need for working at height, but
with a minimum height clearance of 2.3m over a pavement (footway).
13. The Agreement shall be terminable without fault by either party upon three
months written notice being given by one party to the other at the
addresses recorded in this Agreement.
14. The County Council may terminate this Agreement without notice if:
(i)
The Organisation fails to comply with any of the conditions specified
in the Agreement.
(ii)
The Organisation ceases to use or has abandoned the Sign, or
intends to do so.
(iii)
The County Council as Highway Authority considers the withdrawal
necessary for the purpose of the exercise of their powers and
duties as Highway Authority.
15. When the Agreement terminates the County Council may:
(i)
Remove the Sign(s) and reinstate the highway and recover from the
Organisation the expenses incurred in so doing; or
(ii)
If satisfied that the Organisation can, within such reasonable time
as the County Council may specify, authorise the Organisation at its
expense to remove the Sign and reinstate the highway.
16. All notices in connection with this Agreement shall be served upon the
addressees of the recipient cited at the commencement of this
Agreement or such other location as is notified by the receiving party for
the purpose.
17. This Agreement is made and shall be construed under the Laws of
England and Wales and the parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of
the courts of England.
Agreed for and on behalf of
Suffolk County Council acting by [
]
Authorised signatory ………………………………………………………
And
Signed by [
]
Authorised signatory ……………………………………………………..