Agenda item

This report sets out a policy framework for Members to decide where vehicle activated signs (VAS) are located to reduce casualties and road danger.  The report is the first of a series of six monthly assessments of speeding issues to be reported to the Council and this initial report covers the period 1 May – 31 October 2006.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member for City Strategy be advised to approve proposals A – F as detailed in the report.

Decision of the Executive Member for City Strategy

RESOLVED:             That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:                  Evaluation of Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS) has shown that they can reduce speeds and road danger. Consequently, their use in York, based on evidence of a known speed and casualty problem, has the potential to reduce casualties in the city.  Conducting 7 day/24 hour speed surveys on category one and two roads will ensure that the data is reliable and reflects the speed profile of the road. Treating roads identified as category one and two in the 2007/08 Capital Programme will ensure the greatest rate of return from capital spending. Allowing Ward Committee’s and Parish Council’s to fund schemes on roads categorised as one and three, will enable roads to be treated that are not included in the 2007/08 Speed Management Capital Programme. Monitoring of roads assessed as low priority will enable an effective response should the situation change over time.

Members considered a report which set out the policy framework for them to decide where vehicle activated signs (VAS) should be located to reduce casualties and road danger.

The report was also the first of a series of six monthly assessments of speeding issues to be reported to Members. It covered the period 1 May – 31 October 2006. The report set out how complaints of speeding have, and will be, verified in the future and the choice of remedial action to be taken where necessary. It also categorised roads where speeding issues had been identified on a scale of one – four, with one being the highest priority. 

The report detailed the following 6 proposals:

A.            To retain the existing nine VAS at their current locations and to implement VAS at sixteen sites in York based on evidence of a known excessive or inappropriate speed by all classes of vehicles and casualty problems.

B.            To develop a programme of Speed Management Schemes, from the list of category one roads, for implementation as part of the 2006/07 Capital Programme, subject to budget allocation.

C.           To develop a programme of Local Safety Schemes, from the list of category two roads, for implementation as part of the 2006/07 Capital Programme, subject to budget allocation.

D.           To give approval to VAS sites funded by Parish Councils and Ward Committees which meet the set criteria and to develop a list of potential Ward Committee and Parish Council funded speed management schemes. 

E.            To continue to monitor speeds & the injury accident record on roads reported by the public, in particular to carry out 7 day/24 hour speed surveys on category one and two roads.

F.            To monitor and report on the short and long term impacts of VAS introduced in York in 2006/07 and to review the performance of these first VAS sites in six months time and all sites thereafter at least every twelve months.

Members discussed the categorisation tests, and the data used to arrive at a list of sites for the possible location of VAS.

Cllr Merrett proposed a motion that the item should be deferred to look further at how the list of the 16 sites had been decided upon. This motion was seconded by Cllr Simpson-Laing. The motion was put to the vote and the motion was lost.     

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member for City Strategy be advised to approve proposals A – F as detailed above.

Decision of the Executive Member for City Strategy

RESOLVED:             That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:                  Evaluation of Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS) has shown that they can reduce speeds and road danger. Consequently, their use in York, based on evidence of a known speed and casualty problem, has the potential to reduce casualties in the city.  Conducting 7 day/24 hour speed surveys on category one and two roads will ensure that the data is reliable and reflects the speed profile of the road. Treating roads identified as category one and two in the 2007/08 Capital Programme will ensure the greatest rate of return from capital spending. Allowing Ward Committee’s and Parish Council’s to fund schemes on roads categorised as one and three, will enable roads to be treated that are not included in the 2007/08 Speed Management Capital Programme. Monitoring of roads assessed as low priority will enable an effective response should the situation change over time.