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TRAFFIC SPEED SURVEY – 2
Update April 2003On
Sunday, 27th April 2003, between 1525 – 1625 the Buckland Village
Appraisal Roads Sub-Committee monitored eastbound ( towards Reigate) traffic
speed on the A25 (Reigate Road) between The Old Cottage and The Buckland
Garden Centre over a measured distance of 110 yards. Motorcycles were
specifically targeted. Road
surface dry, cloudy with some sun. Traffic was considered light with much
traffic turning into the nearby garden centres and The Jolly Farmers eating
house. (We witnessed one near-miss outside The Buckland Garden Centre) All
motorcycles were counted and totalled 21 machines passing through the measured
zone. 8 bikes were considered to be breaking the speed limit and were checked.
The fastest was 92.5 mph and the slowest 54 mph. The average speed overall was
69.53 mph. One
car was checked with the speed being 72.51 mph Motorcycle
traffic was very light for a Sunday. Query more intervention at Box Hill ?
The
Roads Group Sub-Committee formed to look at problems and concerns brought to
light by the recent Buckland Village Appraisal have met on several occasions and
have undertaken an assessment of conditions when attempting to cross the A25 in
the middle of the village. Measurements were paced out so the calculations
cannot be regarded as exact to the last millimetre! However, as a guide they are
interesting to say the least. General
observations. These
calculations are based upon a vehicle travelling at the legal limit of 40
mph.(The figures shown in brackets are for 30 mph) At a greater speed the times
will be even shorter. No account has been taken of ‘thinking distances’.
This is the time it takes for the message to get to the brain of a driver and
then get transmitted into the action of putting his foot onto the brake. At 40
mph the thinking distance covered by a vehicle is 13.3 yds.(10 yds) A pedestrian
on the other hand also has a thinking distance too. Reaction times of older
people are generally slower than their younger counterparts. The height of the
pedestrian used in these calculations was 173cm (5ft 8in).
Someone of shorter stature will see an approaching vehicle coming up-hill
slightly later and on the other hand a taller person will see an approaching
vehicle slightly earlier. The
Roads Sub-Group looked at the specific problem presented by the A25 at the
village centre. We looked at crossing the road at a point opposite the erected
railings near the telephone box (POINT A) and then further east at a point just
west of the church rear entrance across to the west side of the mouth of Rectory
Lane junction with A25 (POINT B). POINT
A North
to South (1)
A pedestrian standing on the north footway wishing to cross from north to
south (towards the shop) first sees a vehicle approaching from the Dorking
direction when it is 52 yds away. The vehicle will take 2.6 (3.5) seconds to
reach the pedestrian. (2)
The
same pedestrian first sees a vehicle approaching South
to North (1)
A pedestrian standing on the south footway wishing to cross to the north
side (to the pond) first sees a vehicle approaching from the direction of
Dorking when it is 110 yds away. This vehicle will take 5.6 (7.5) seconds to
reach the pedestrian. (2)
The same pedestrian first sees a vehicle approaching from the Reigate
direction when it is 57 yds away. The vehicle will take 2.9 (3.9) seconds to
reach the pedestrian. North to South (1)
A pedestrian standing on the north footway wishing to cross (2)
The same pedestrian first sees a vehicle approaching from the South
to North (1)
A pedestrian standing on the south footway wishing to cross to (2)
The
same pedestrian first sees a vehicle approaching from the
Reigate direction when it is 120 yds away. Again, the vehicle will take
6.1 (8.2)seconds to reach the pedestrian. Pedestrians We
timed a pedestrian crossing the road at a normal pace – 5.9 seconds. At a
simulated OAP pace – 7.8 seconds Conclusions It
will be seen that the POINT B offers the best crossing positions having the
longest sight times. Pedestrians must therefore be encouraged to cross at this
point in preference to POINT A and also not to cross the road if they can
physically see a vehicle approaching them before they start to cross. The
Sub-Committee would like the opinion of the village regarding the following
suggestion we have aired in committee. When crossing the A25 from or to Rectory
Lane (POINT B) it is necessary to walk in the roadway at the mouth of the
junction of Rectory Lane. If a short path was constructed on the extreme
easterly boundary of the green containing the pond this would provide a
protected area where the danger is most evident. May we have your views please.
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