410 drivers twice limit

410 drivers twice limit

4 December 2024

A STAGGERING 236 drivers were detected travelling in excess of 70mph in the 30mph zone in Strangford, just a short distance from the village’s primary school, shocking new figures have revealed.

It has also been confirmed that 114 drivers were clocked travelling in excess of 70mph at Main Street in Dundrum.

Speeding is continuing to be an issue at the Strangford Road in Downpatrick where 41 motorists were detected travelling in excess of 70mph in a 40mph zone.

The figures — which were recorded between September 11 and November 15 — have been revealed by the district’s Policing and Community Partnership (PCSP).

However, it is continuing to withhold key data on the individual speeds of drivers recorded by electronic speed indicator devices across the Newry, Mourne and Down area.

While the data was first made public several years ago, it is now being kept secret, with one local politician this week calling for “openness and transparency” and for the information to be published.

The latest statistics reveal there continues to be a hardcore of irresponsible drivers who are placing themselves and other road users at risk by driving at outrageously high speeds in built-up areas.

While the speed devices can record how fast vehicles are travelling, they cannot capture vehicle registration numbers, with drivers thumbing their nose at speed limits which are in place to make approach roads to towns and villages safer.

While the majority of high speeds in Strangford, Downpatrick and Dundrum were recorded during the early morning, concern remains that drivers breaking the law are not being held to account for their flagrant disregard of road safety.

A breakdown of the speeds is published every quarter with the latest data revealing almost 30 drivers were detected at 70mph in the 30mph zone in Kilcoo and 17 at Ballynahinch Road in Saintfield.

Eight drivers were recorded travelling in excess of 70mph in the 30mph zone in Clough, with the highest speeds in both villages recorded at 5am and 3am respectively.

Six drivers were detected driving at over 70mph in Ballynahinch, with the highest speed in the market town recorded at 5am.

Six drivers were recorded travelling at 70mph or more at the Downpatrick Road in Ardglass with the highest speed recorded at 3am. Six drivers were also recorded at 70mph or greater in the 40mph zone at Darragh Cross.

In Newcastle, three drivers were detected over 70mph at South Promenade, with no drivers exceeding 70mph in the 30mph zones in Killough, Killyleagh and Leitrim.

No data was available for Castlewellan as the electronic device was not operational.

The PCSP said speeds are reducing across the district by almost six per cent and that on average, almost 18.5% of vehicles passing speed indicator devices were travelling at 35mph.

The highest speed reduction was recorded in Leitrim, down by almost 19%.

However, the latest data confirms speed continues to be a district-wide issue with councillors concerned that a high number of drivers are continuing to put themselves and others at risk with their excessive speed.

They believe tougher action is required with Downpatrick councillor Gareth Sharvin calling for the detail of the highest speeds by drivers recorded across the district to be made public.

He said it was “extremely concerning” that Strangford continues to be at the higher end of the league table for speeding violations over 70mph across the district. 

“The village speed indicator display captured motorists at 70mph and over 236 times between September and November which is over 26 cars on a weekly basis, or nearly four cars every day,” Cllr Sharvin remarked.

“This is totally unacceptable for Strangford residents and the question has to be asked — what is the PCSP and PSNI doing to address such frightening numbers?”

Cllr Sharvin said it was unclear from the data now shared by the PCSP what the top or average speed was in excess of the 70mph.

He added: “I feel it is vitally important to have that data available to strengthen the argument for further speed calming measures from the Department of Infrastructure, increased police presence and to make residents and drivers aware of the dangerous driving taking place.

“It’s maybe a worrying number to share for the PCSP, but there should be openness and transparency when it comes to road safety.”