Fresh calls have been made this week for more safety improvements along a busy Burnham-On-Sea road as a new survey reveals more than half of drivers continue to exceed the 30mph limit.
A speed indicator device installed by Somerset County Council in Burnham’s Stoddens Road recorded 58% of drivers exceeding the 30mph limit during a 13-day period between August 16th and August 28th this year.
The study of 25,977 vehicles found 58% (15,093) were driven at or above the speed limit of 30mph, while 41% (10,884 vehicles) travelled under the 30mph limit.
It also found 716 vehicles travelled between 40mph-50mph, while 42 vehicles were recorded driving at over 50mph.
At a meeting on Monday, town councillors noted the new study and said the figures were similar to a 2016 survey which also found 58% of motorists speed along the road.
It was also noted that the latest survey was conducted during the school holidays and residents say holidaymakers use the road as a ‘rat run’ short-cut for Brean.
One resident living in Stoddens Road told Burnham-On-Sea.com the figures “should be ample evidence for safety improvements.”
But Somerset County Council’s Traffic Engineer Dave Grabham said: “The median speed in Stoddens Road was calculated at 30mph which is compliant with the posted speed limit of 30mph. The 85% speed was calculated as 35mph which is 1mph below the ‘intervention limit’ of 36mph. The ‘intervention limit’ is the speed at which a location is deemed to have a speeding issue.”
In 2015, we reported how £20,000 of safety improvements were introduced along Burnham’s Stoddens Road with new road marks and a 20mph limit on the bend near the Rectory Road junction, pictured above. Burnham County Councillor Peter Burridge-Clayton said he was pleased there has been some improvement in reducing speeds along Stoddens Road.
Police are continuing to monitor traffic speeds along the Burnham-On-Sea road and say they will issue tickets to speeding motorists.
