Police say 'speed limits not optional' despite hundreds ignoring signs in Chard
Nearly 1000 people have been caught speeding on a stretch of the A358 since December 2021
Last updated 5th Sep 2024
Nearly 1000 people have been caught speeding on a stretch of the A358 near Chard since December 2021.
In the space of just two hours last week (March 21), they spotted 106 people going over the 30 mile an hour limit - with one driver going at 53mph.
Police say speed limits 'are not optional' - they're in place to keep roads safe for everyone.
The majority of the main connecting road between Chard and Axminster is a single carriageway with smaller, local roads and private accesses joining directly with it.
The static speed-check site is within a 30-mph residential area and is characterised by two acute blind bends.
Road Safety Officer PC Daniel Cox is keen to address the issue of excess speed on this high-risk stretch: “For residents, the thought of being hit by a speeding vehicle when leaving their property is frightening.
“Their concerns are justified: there have been four known collisions at this site since becoming an area of police focus, although many collisions aren't brought to our attention.”
In consultation with the local authority, new signage indicating the 30-mph limit was put in place, and the hedges were cut back to make it clearly visible to drivers.
However, police say 'there has been little to no change in driver behaviour' since the changes were implemented.
PC Cox added: “The speed limits we enforce are not optional; they are in place to keep our roads safe for everyone. We will continue to crack down on road users who do not adhere to the safety measures we put in place.”
Speeding is one of the ‘Fatal Five’ behaviours that most commonly contribute to fatal and serious injury collisions.
You can find out more about the Fatal Five on the Vision Zero South West website.