Camera won't curb "rally drivers"

Written by Paul Wellstead and published in Epping Forest Guardian on Sat 22nd Oct 2005

RESIDENTS of Piercing Hill, Theydon Bois, fear introducing of a mobile speed camera will do little to curb the "rally circuit" mentality of speeding drivers.

According to the Essex Safety Camera Partnership Piercing Hill has seen six accidents including one death and one near-fatality over three years.

In a 24-hour speed survey last year 70 per cent of the 8,000 vehicles using the road were exceeding the 30mph speed limit with some eight per cent, almost 650 drivers, 15mph or more over the limit.

Piercing Hill resident Stephen Phillips said: "It's like a rally circuit at the brow of the hill; drivers struggle to keep control of their cars, some leaving tyre marks across the road and the pavement.

"The mobile speed camera is good news but it's only a partial solution to the problem. Installing physical measures and fining speeding motorists would be the best solution.

"It's only 20 yards to the Brownies but I drive my children rather than run the lottery of walking along the road where you're putting your life in their hands."

Graded red, the camera site has been set at the highest level of enforcement and will be reviewed annually by Essex Safety Camera Partnership.

Former Theydon Bois county councillor Janet Whitehouse welcomed the news but would prefer a fixed camera.

She said: "I hope it will visit regularly and will result in motorists being more careful about their speed."

A county council spokesman said the route was part of a strategic road network so no physical traffic calming measures could be introduced, but the council might investigate introducing a variable message sign.

Clare Pollock, of Piercing Hill, said: "The mobile camera will have an effect on some drivers, not the boy racers. The two serious crashes occurred in the early hours; I doubt a mobile camera will be around at that time."

Mrs Pollock believes this is too little, too late, adding: "I wrote to Government departments and agencies about the dangers of this stretch of road and nothing was done then someone lost their life, and they should take some responsibility for it."