Speeding on WBR has been an issue for many years
As anyone who lives or works on the Wandsworth Bridge Road knows, when the road is free of traffic some drivers will routinely break the speed limit, often at astonishing speeds. This behaviour creates a dangerous environment and increased pollution for pedestrians, cyclists and other road users. It is also responsible for the excessive noise of revving engines, particularly late at night.
Recently there were several near-fatal accidents on WBR between drivers and pedestrians. On 8 September there were 3 in just ONE DAY, one of which was captured on video showing a pedestrian run down at the pedestrian crossing at Woolneigh Street by a speeding van heading north. Sadly these are turning into daily occurrences, with this week seeing an accident-on-accident – where a driver hit an attending ambulance!
Why does this happen?
One of the main challenges with the Wandsworth Bridge Road is that it is straight. When drivers are faced with an unobstructed, straight road, they ignore the 20mph speed limit and mindlessly speed up.
Even when the road is congested, motorbikes tend to overtake and speed in order to bypass traffic. This dangerous behaviour has already contributed to numerous accidents and will continue to do so until something can be done.
These incidents above, and many others, are clear examples of how drivers tend to view this road; as one that is to be sped down as quickly as possible without regard for the pedestrians, cyclists and local community.
How the community is stepping up
Over the past few months community volunteers from the WBRA, together with local Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), conducted multiple Speed Checks on the Wandsworth Bridge Road logging over 160 speeding vehicles, with one driver clocking 44 mph (70km) at 8 o’clock in the evening.
These were undertaken on various days, at various times, using handheld speed guns – able to register vehicles up to 700 metres away! Below are the results of these readings.
Here are the results of the Speed Readings
Click to enlarge
During the above Speed Checks it became obvious where on the road drivers tend to speed up on WBR:
Northbound:
- Coming off the bridge northbound and onto the WBR
- Northbound after the first Pedestrian crossing at Hugon Road
- Northbound after the pedestrian crossing at Studdridge Street
- Northbound after the traffic island at Ryecroft Street
Southbound:
- Southbound after the first bus stop near Cresford Road
- Southbound after the pedestrian crossing at Clancarty Road
- Southbound after the pedestrian crossing at Woolneigh Street
- Southbound after the pedestirna crossing at Hugon Road
The ultimate step to prevent speeding would be the installation of speed cameras at key locations on the road.
The Council recently installed two Speed Indicator Device signs (SIDs) which illuminate when someone exceeds 20mph but only by showing what the speed limit is, but not what speed the driver is actually doing.
So instead, by mid Nov 2022 they will install 6 new SIDs which show the drivers’ actual speed, along with either a green smiling face when obeying the limit or a red frowning face when they are speeding.
More to be done
The dangerous speeding, combined with the excessive noise from motorbikes and souped-up cars are serious issues for those on WBR. Our conversations with the council and police have been very positive and we will continue to lobby for actual speed cameras and additional speed controlling measures to be installed as soon as possible.
In the meantime if you witness any incidents or accidents, speeding cars, noisy motorbikes please report these to the local Law Enforcement Team: let.hf@lbhf.gov.uk / 020 8753 1100 or for serious emergencies please dial 999
From local WBR resident Su Waterhouse, who has been working tirelessly with the council and police to help with Noise Pollution on WBR.
Over the past few months community volunteers from the WBRA, together with local Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), conducted multiple Speed Checks on the Wandsworth Bridge Road logging over 160 speeding vehicles, with one driver clocking 44 mph (70km) at 8 o’clock in the evening.
“I know I’m not the only one suffering from very high levels of noise pollution which was bad before the lockdowns but now noticeably worse. Earlier this year, I’d read that that RBKC were trialling acoustic cameras in problem areas (since then they’ve installed some.) I therefore fired off letters about traffic noise in the Wandsworth Bridge Road to our local MP, our London Assembly Member for West London so that the subject could be raised at Mayor’s Question Time. Locally I spoke to LBHF + the Sands End Police.
“I’ve since changed my mind about acoustic cameras solving the problem. In my opinion much of the noise is caused by speeding vehicles and mainly comes from supped-up motor bikes and high performance cars. As I see it, and the WBRA supports me, if drivers kept to the 20mph speed limit for which the Association fought hard, then noise levels would be considerably reduced. The problem is enforcing the 20 mph.
“Members from the WBRA working with our local Police’s Community Roadwatch team (PCSOs) now have official data on speed breakers at different times of the day and early evening after undertaking
Speed readings in late July and August. The data* was collected using police laser guns (not laser cameras un-fortunately which would have been preferable). Initial warning letters were sent out to those doing 25-35 mph and those caught driving over 35mph will have been prosecuted immediately. The PCSO’s did tell us which stakeholders are responsible for funding, installing and maintaining speed cameras, but it is quite complicated and involves several departments. They suggested we lobby for Average Speed cameras – like on motorway roadworks where average speeds are registered while travelling along the road.
“The data we gathered was from readings taken between 10am-1pm and from 8pm-9pm. The problem is we have no data on speed breakers overnight from 10pm-7am, which is often the most prevalent time of speeding. It would be useful to gather footage of speeding vehicles during these times. I know of some people who have Nest Cams which point to the road and if any others have any such cameras it would be helpful if you might be willing to help gather some footage. This footage could be useful evidence for the council, or police, to install speed cameras. Please email if you are interested in finding out more: info@wbrassociation.org.uk“