Traffic Calming

• Traffic Accidents
• How Traffic Calming is Achieved
• Where Traffic Calming is Used
• Local Safety Schemes
• Safety Improvements on Main Routes
• Safety Improvements in Residential Areas
• Cutting Accidents
• Frequently Asked Questions

Traffic Accidents

Investigating and responding to all queries and complaints relating to traffic management and road safety issues. Also, implementing highway improvements such as parking restrictions, new signs and road markings, one-way systems, mini-roundabouts and pedestrian crossings.

Recently the Government has published revised targets for casualty reductions on our roads.

The Government focused on setting an overall 40% reduction target for 2010 for the number of people killed or seriously injured on the roads, with a specific 50% reduction target for children.

The main aim of the Government is to make speeding traffic as socially unacceptable as drink-driving has become.

One of the ways in which the Government suggests some reductions may be made is by creating more 20mph speed limits/zones around schools and adjacent residential areas. It is hoped that by introducing a large number of 20mph limits/zones around schools and adjacent residential areas drivers will automatically slow their vehicle to a more suitable speed when they enter any residential area.

The 20mph speed limit/zone is not a totally new idea in this Borough as developers of new residential areas are encouraged to design Traffic Calming/20mph Zones into their schemes and, where applicable, this Council have introduced 20mph Zones as part of their Traffic Calming schemes.

Due to the Government's attitude to the introduction of 20mph zones etc., it seems reasonable to investigate the possibility of making 20mph speed limits/zones which would initially cover areas surrounding primary schools

It is felt that to introduce limits/zones in these areas is a beneficial step in the driver awareness of 20mph limits/zones.

The department also has an approved criteria to allow potential traffic calming sites to be measured, in terms of degree of hazard, and hence prioritised. The general criteria used by Tameside MBC is 8 injury accidents in a 3 year period within a 50 metre radius of a junction or over a 300 metre length of road.

How Traffic Calming is Achieved

Traffic calming can be achieved with a variety of measures. These may include speed humps of various types (often called 'sleeping policemen'), mini-roundabouts, kerb and footpath widening, road narrowing, road closures (full or partial), pedestrian refuges, traffic islands and changes in colour and texture of the road surface. 

The use of all these is controlled by highway legislation, which specifies how and when they can be used. Care has to be taken to make sure that the measures used reflect the type and scale of the problem. For example, on large residential estates the problem may be one of traffic using some of the roads as 'rat-runs' to avoid a major junction on the main roads. In this case a series of full or partial closures could be used to make it less attractive as a rat-run.  At the same time we have to be careful to allow residents reasonable access to their homes.

Where Traffic Calming is Used

We have to consider a number of factors before an area is earmarked for traffic calming. One of the main criteria is the number of accidents where someone has been injured. We also look at traffic speeds, the amount of through traffic and other features of the neighbourhood such as schools, churches and shops.  It can take some time to collect and consider these factors before a priority list of locations can be drawn up.  A long list of sites throughout the Borough has been put into priority order, and the more deserving sites are studied with a view to implementing a scheme. Although the measures used are classed as 'low cost', they can still be quite expensive. To effectively treat an individual site can cost tens of thousands of pounds, so it is essential that the money is spent on the worst cases first.  In some cases, where there are few or no accidents at all, it may be possible to treat the area with extremely low cost measures such as road markings. The effect will not be as noticeable as road narrowing or chicanes, and drivers may not take as much notice, but it is hoped that there will be some improvement for residents.

Site selection

Tameside Council carries out as much traffic calming as possible with the limited funds available. All roads are monitored on a regular basis and money is spent on the areas that benefit the most. There may be problems with speeding cars on your own road or estate, but control of reckless and anti-social behaviour by a small section of the public is essentially a problem to be enforced through the law. Traffic calming is for the benefit of the majority and is designed to improve the environment as well as calm and reduce the traffic in residential or commercial streets. Traffic calming is not intended to be a replacement for enforcement.

Local Safety Schemes

Tameside Council is committed to reducing road traffic accidents on the Borough's roads and improving road safety particularly for pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users. The Council appreciates the cost of accidents to the community, identifies the specific road safety problems encountered in the Borough and makes comparisons with the rest of Greater Manchester. Key target areas, where accidents are occurring on a regular basis, are identified and form the basis of the Council's annual Local Safety Schemes Programme for which the Government provides funding through the Greater Manchester Local Transport Plan.

Dependent upon detailed investigation of accident data information from the Police, it may be possible to implement engineering schemes to prevent the types of accidents that are occurring. Individual schemes receives approval from the Tameside Traffic Management Unit (TMU). Members of TMU include the Emergency Services, Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive and the Head of Engineering Services.

Safety Improvements on Main Routes

Local Authorities receive funding from the Government to reduce road accidents and improve safety. This can be achieved by introducing traffic calming measures and the aims of these schemes are as follows:

• To reduce the number of road accidents, particularly involving pedestrians, children and other vulnerable road users;
• To reduce vehicle speeds, noise and fumes and thereby improve our environment;
• To reduce parking at locations which may encourage accidents, such as close to junctions; and
• To encourage and promote healthy travel modes such as walking or cycling, particularly for short journeys, e.g. to schools and shops.

Safety Improvements in Residential Areas

Local Authorities receive funding from the Government to reduce road accidents and improve safety. This can be achieved by introducing traffic calming measures and the aims of these schemes are as follows:

• To reduce the number of road accidents, particularly involving pedestrians, children and other vulnerable road users;
• To reduce vehicle speeds, noise and fumes and thereby improve our environment;
• To reduce parking at locations which may encourage accidents, such as close to junctions; and
• To encourage and promote healthy travel modes such as walking or cycling, particularly for short journeys, e.g. to schools and shops.

There is a natural yearly increase in the amount of traffic on the roads in Tameside. An increase of almost 2% was recorded last year. Traffic growth within a specific location may be as a result of changes in your area that cannot be helped. If, however, you feel the increase is attributable to "rat running" traffic (people taking short cuts) it can be assessed by a Traffic  Management Officer.

Cutting accidents

Tameside Council is committed to reducing the number of road accidents in the Borough, and has already had some success. We employ a whole range of relatively inexpensive techniques including warning signs and road markings, better street lighting and road surface improvements. 

The Council has also bought revolutionary cameras that detect drivers who are speeding or jumping a red light. These are operated by the police at known danger spots throughout the Borough, and produce high quality photographs for use in court.

There are a variety of ways used by the Council to cut the speed of traffic in residential areas. Examples include mini roundabouts, road narrowing, access restrictions, central islands and, in some cases, total road closures. 

However, road humps are not widely used as a means of traffic calming, because they can cause severe problems for the fire, ambulance and bus services.

Contact Information
Send us a Message	Traffic Management Tameside MBC Council Offices Wellington Road Ashton under Lyne Lancs OL6 6DL View local map
0161 342 3926
0161 342 3924