Agenda item

Report of Director of Transportation and Highways

The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Transportation and Highways which sought approval for the installation of four new Average Speed Enforcement (ASE) schemes at locations in the city which had the highest number of people killed or seriously injured (KSI) based on the latest three year accident history rate. Councillor Williams, a Bablake Ward Councillor, attended the meeting for the consideration of this item.

The report indicated that the City Council received many requests for road safety measures from local residents and Councillors across the city concerned about inappropriate vehicular speed. This included a significant number of petitions requesting road safety measures where vehicular speeds were deemed excessive. Speeding vehicles continued to be a significant contributory factor in recorded personal injury collisions in Coventry.  Although the overall collision rates were declining on Coventry’s road network, the number of people killed or seriously injured remained high on major routes that carried high volumes of traffic. 

In March 2018, Cabinet approved the use of Average Speed Enforcement on London Road and Ansty Road to mitigate the KSI trend on these high traffic volume routes. Both schemes were introduced in January 2019. Early indications revealed that since their introduction vehicle speeds and KSIs had reduced. Therefore, in March 2019, Cabinet approved the installation of two further ASE schemes. These ASE schemes have been operational on Binley Road and Henley Road since January 2020.

Extensions to two existing schemes were also approved in March 2019. The extension to the London Road ASE scheme (extension from Allard Way to City Centre) had been operational since April 2020 and the Ansty Road extension (from Clifford Bridge Road to City Boundary) would be the next ASE scheme to become operational in the next few months.

The report provided further details about the reductions in accidents following the introduction of these ASE schemes.

The report informed how the ASE cameras worked by detecting vehicles through Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and calculated their average speed by measuring the time taken to travel between defined points, a known distance apart. A clear signing strategy was used to inform drivers that they were entering an average speed control zone. The criteria used for selecting aa appropriate site was detailed.

Every year a citywide review of personal injury collisions was undertaken and used to identify the Local Safety Scheme Programme. As part of this review an additional four potential ASE locations had been identified. These were  Longford Road and part of Foleshill Road and Bedworth Road (from its junction with A444 to Ibstock Road); Bell Green Road (from its junction with A444 to its junction with Henley Road); Burnaby Road and The Scotchill (from its junction with Lockhurst Lane to its junction with Keresley Green Road); and Sky Blue Way (from its junction with Lower Ford Street to its junction with A444). The report detailed the number of personal injury collisions and their severity at these four sites.

The installation of new ASE projects would be funded from the Highways Maintenance and Investment Capital Programme budget through the Local Transport Plan. 

Councillor Williams outlined his support for the new average speed enforcement routes, particularly the Burnaby Road and The Scotchill location. He raised concerns about lorries going to and from the Amazon depot using these roads. Officers reported on the ongoing work in the area to try to alleviate resident’s concerns.

Councillor Heaven sought clarification for the reasons behind the accidents which led to 378 people being killed or seriously injured on Coventry’s road network over the past three years; further information about the financial implications of the schemes; and how any future locations for average speed enforcement schemes would be determined. The issue of education was discussed.

RESOLVED that:

(1) The new Average Speed Enforcement scheme to be implemented on Longford Road, Bell Green Road, Burnaby Road and Sky Blue Way be approved.

(2) Approval be given for associated procurement process for Average Speed Enforcement equipment to be undertaken and approval be given to collaborate with partner organisations (West Midlands Police and other West Midlands Local Authorities).

(3) Details of the contributory factors which resulted in a total of 378 people being killed or seriously injured (ksi) on Coventry’s road network over a three year period be circulated to Members.