Calls for enforcement on Heckington road after driver clocked at 80mph in 30 zone

Following concerns raised at several parish council meetings, a mobile speed indicator and recording device was temporarily set up inside the 30mph zone on a built up, residential stretch of Sidebar Lane (B1395), East Heckington.

The camera recorded speeds for two weeks – during the first, 88 per cent of drivers were breaking the law; while in the second, 74 per cent were doing more than 30mph.

The top speed recorded was 80mph, seven vehicles clocked 75mph and more than 200 were doing 60mph or above.

Another speed survey, known as an Archer Survey, carried out by Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership, registered an average speed of 50mph by motorists.

Resident Steve Parry is one of those calling for a crackdown on rogue drivers.

He said: “Every school morning my 12-year-old daughter Sophie and I wait for the school bus on Sidebar Lane and we feel unsafe with speeding motorists placing us at risk of serious injury or death.

“The speed survey figures we have collected clearly demonstrate 
the need to enforce the speed limit.

“It is inexcusable where children’s safety is concerned. We have to wait further down the drive for safety but have to run up to attract the bus driver who has to stop suddenly and cars are overtaking him.”

With the help of the Community Speed Watch scheme, residents have been given 30mph reminder posters to stick on wheelie-bins and on temporary signs placed in gardens along the road – a rat run for drivers cutting through between the A17 andthe A153.

John Siddle, of Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership, said the 30mph limit was put in place for a school which has since closed.

Although not condoning breaking the limit –especially those going above 60mph which he described as a ‘wilful act’, Mr Siddle said it ought to revert to national speed limit as it is an open road with homes set back.

He said part of the issue is reminding drivers what the speed limit is without them treating a reactive sign as a toy to see how fast they go.

He said: “The Archer Survey has brought this up as an issue, but realistically, without the accident data we cannot justify the limited manpower.

“We have to go where people are being injured or serious collisions have occurred.”

A police spokesman said their Neighbourhood Policing Team will continue to conduct enforcement with handheld radars when resources permit.