Minutes:
It was moved by Councillor O Scargill and seconded by Councillor C Johnston, that:
Road Safety
From speeding problems to road markings, we take seriously the complaints we receive from residents about dangerous driving, unsafe roads, and the often inadequate response to these problems.
It is regrettable that the Council’s response to road safety issues can be too slow or defeatist – particularly when councillors are told that there is no problem because ‘the average driver does not speed’ or because 'there has not been a fatal accident'.
Council asks the Mayor to bring forward a speeding prevention plan, which includes:
• Change the way speeding problem areas are identified, moving away from the average to a system which reflects a mix of incidents numbers, police concerns, resident complaints, councillor reports and maximum speeds recorded
• Develop a strategy for dealing with anti-social driving outside of sociable hours
• Improve the way that Council logs and reports upon residents’ speeding complaints and to frequently communicate this data to Northumbria Police
• Work more closely with the police on the installation of 20mph zones to ensure these can be effectively enforced
• Work with Northumbria Police to establish Community Speed Watch schemes in problem areas
• Introduce a system for councillors to request urgent junction protections be installed in areas of their wards where poor visibility is hazardous
• Prioritise the re-painting of faded junction lines over other road markings where the faded junction lines present a danger to drivers' safety
An amendment was moved by Councillor H Johnson and seconded by Councillor C Johnson as follows:
To remove paragraph 2 and replace with
‘Road safety is a hugely important issue for the council and we note that the council has invested millions into road safety improvements over the last few years.
Council also notes other than road and road infrastructure design North Tyneside council has little power to enforce on road safety.’
Paragraph 4 - To remove the following sentence ‘Council asks the Mayor to bring forward a speeding prevention plan, which includes:’, and replace with ‘Council asks the cross party Thriving sub-committee to bring forward a road safety plan which considers the below suggestions and which is submitted to cabinet for consideration.’
The amendment, on being put to the meeting, was approved by 43 votes to 7 votes.
A further amendment was moved by Cllr L Bones and seconded by Cllr O Scargill, as follows:
Paragraph 4 - To add ‘Before the end of the municipal year’.
The amendment was accepted without a vote.
The amended motion therefore read:
‘Road Safety
From speeding problems to road markings, we take seriously the complaints we receive from residents about dangerous driving, unsafe roads, and the often inadequate response to these problems.
Road safety is a hugely important issue for the council and we note that the council has invested millions into road safety improvements over the last few years.
Council also notes other than road and road infrastructure design North Tyneside council has little power to enforce on road safety.
Council asks the cross party Thriving sub committee to bring forward a road safety plan which considers the below suggestions and which is submitted to cabinet for consideration before the end of the municipal year.
• Change the way speeding problem areas are identified, moving away from the average to a system which reflects a mix of incidents numbers, police concerns, resident complaints, councillor reports and maximum speeds recorded
• Develop a strategy for dealing with anti-social driving outside of sociable hours
• Improve the way that Council logs and reports upon residents’ speeding complaints and to frequently communicate this data to Northumbria Police
• Work more closely with the police on the installation of 20mph zones to ensure these can be effectively enforced
• Work with Northumbria Police to establish Community Speed Watch schemes in problem areas
• Introduce a system for councillors to request urgent junction protections be installed in areas of their wards where poor visibility is hazardous
• Prioritise the re-painting of faded junction lines over other road markings where the faded junction lines present a danger to drivers' safety.’
The amended substantive motion, on being put to the meeting, was agreed unanimously.