Proposed locations – consultation on new powers to improve road safety
Consultation closed: Thursday 4 August 2022
Consultation opened: Thursday 23 June 2022
The proposed sites all meet the Department for Transport criteria and initial surveys indicate the sites may be suitable for the use of automated number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras. Following the results of the consultation, further site visits may be required at some of the locations.
Site 1: Barton-Le-Clay – Barton Road and Bedford Road junction
No right turn signage installed along Bedford Road to prevent traffic driving across carriageway to Barton Road.
Signs and road marking
This road currently has a "no right turn for vehicular traffic" sign in place as well as no entry signs and adequate lining.
Reason for further enforcement action
Bedford Road is a busy road with a high volume of vehicles travelling at the national speed limit. The no right turn was introduced as a safety scheme as the site was subject to a cluster of collisions.
Road safety is a key priority of the highway service and ensuring that this turn can be enforced through the moving traffic offences is likely to increase compliance and therefore safety.
Department for Transport objectives addressed at this location:
- tackle congestion on our roads
- improve road safety on our roads
- improve air quality
Site 2: Biggleswade – Sun Street
No entry sign clearly displayed at end of Sun Street.
One-way signs are clearly displayed at entrance to Sun Street.
Signs and road marking
Sun Street has a "No Entry" sign displayed at one end of the road and a "One Way Only" sign at the other end.
Reason for further enforcement action
This issue was flagged by members of the public who observed vehicles driving in contraflow rather than following the one-way arrangement with Sun Street, Rose Lane and St. Johns Street. Some road users have been ignoring the signage. The risk of a head-on collision is a road safety issue.
Department for Transport objectives addressed at this location:
- tackle congestion on our roads
- improve road safety on our roads
- improve air quality
- increase lifespan of highway assets (i.e reduce traffic jams and make the road surface last longer)
Site 3: Brogborough – Bedford Road (C94)
Heavy goods vehicles restriction indicated by the signage prior to entering Brogborough.
Signs and road marking
A sign prohibiting goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes is located at the entrance to the village.
Reason for further enforcement action
Despite restrictions being in place, there are reports suggesting that lorry drivers continue to travel through the area and park overnight. We have received reports and complaints about heavy goods vehicle drivers ignoring the signage.
Department for Transport objectives addressed at this location:
- tackle congestion on our roads
- improve road safety on our roads
- improve air quality
- increase lifespan of highway assets (i.e reduce traffic jams and make the road surface last longer)
Site 4: Cranfield – Lodge Road
No left turn for vehicular traffic located on Thillans.
Signs and road marking
A no-left turn for vehicular traffic sign is located on Thillians before Lodge Road.
Reason for further enforcement action
We have received reports and complaints that road users ignore the signage and turn left onto Lodge Road. A banned left turn into Lodge Road from Thillans will help support the parish council to reduce the amount of traffic using this.
Department for Transport objectives addressed at this location:
- improve road safety on our roads
Site 5: Dunstable – Sainsbury’s one-way route
Yellow box junction marking in place at location.
Signs and road marking
The yellow box junction on Church Street at the junction with White Lion Retail Park service road in Dunstable means that vehicles are not allowed to stop within the markings. This is required to keep the one-way system clear and enable free-flowing traffic.
Reason for further enforcement action
Congestion is a daily occurrence on this stretch of road. Vehicles often stop in the yellow box junction which is illegal. If this section of the one-way system is blocked, queues cannot clear resulting in gridlock and affecting bus punctuality on this busy public transport route.
Department for Transport objectives addressed at this location:
- tackle congestion on our roads
- improve road safety
Site 6: Houghton Regis – Tithe Farm Primary School
"School Keep Clear" yellow zig zags are in place with sign plate.
Signs and road marking
This road currently has "School Keep Clear" yellow zig-zags in place with a sign plate visible in both directions.
Reason for further enforcement action
Tithe Farm Primary School is located along Tithe Farm Road in Houghton Regis. We have received numerous reports of incidents of drivers parking on the zig-zags to drop off children. The school is also located on a bend so when cars are parked on the yellow zig-zags it is a road safety concern to children and other road users.
Department for Transport objectives addressed at this location:
- tackle congestion on our roads
- improve road safety
- improve air quality
Site 7: Leighton Buzzard – Clipstone Brook Lower School
"School Keep Clear" yellow zig zags are in place with sign plate.
Signs and road marking
This road currently has "School Keep Clear" yellow zig-zags in place with a sign plate. The road also has double yellow lines and bollards in place to try to deter parking.
Reason for further enforcement action
Clipstone Brook Lower School is located along Brooklands Drive in Leighton Buzzard and has been an area of concern for both our Highways and Parking Enforcement teams. The School Crossing Patrol Officer operating close by has reported numerous incidents of drivers parking on the zig-zags to drop off children.
We have also received online reports from members of the public who are unhappy about the parking and there are concerns that this could be a road safety issue.
Department for Transport objectives addressed at this location:
- tackle congestion on our roads
- improve road safety
- improve air quality
Site 8: Leighton Buzzard – High Street
Entry to and waiting in a pedestrian zone restricted.
Signs and road marking
At the start of the High Street where the road meets Lake Street, there is a pedestrian zone sign which states the exemptions.
Reason for further enforcement action
This is a road safety issue with vehicles travelling in a pedestrian zone and pedestrians not expecting their presence. The town council manages the closure of the High Street to vehicles when the market is in operation on Tuesdays and Saturdays but outside of the market hours (8am to 4pm) some motorists ignore the restriction.
There is a concern that motorists are ignoring the restrictions and putting pedestrians and cyclists at risk. The use of moving traffic offences powers will enable more robust enforcement.
Department for Transport objectives addressed at this location:
- tackle congestion on our roads
- improve road safety
- improve air quality
- increase public transport reliability
Site 9: Silsoe - Barton Road / High Street
Signage at the roundabout between A6 and Barton Road.
Signage into the entrance to Silsoe of the A6.
Signs and road marking
There are signs prohibiting goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes at both entrances to Silsoe.
Reason for further enforcement action
Drivers of lorries exceeding the weight limit currently use this road causing congestion and affecting air quality. The road surface is also under stress due to the many heavy goods vehicles.
Department for Transport objectives addressed at this location:
- tackle congestion on our roads
- improve road safety
- improve air quality
- increase lifespan of highway assets (i.e reduce traffic jams and make the road surface last longer)