Appendix 1

Biggar Bank Traffic Data Monitoring – May 2017

Introduction:

Following concerns raised by residents to Councillor Cassidy traffic data monitoring was undertaken at two locations on Biggar Bank Road. Pneumatic tubes were installed outside No. 113 Ocean Road and outside West Shore Social Club on Biggar Bank Road between Thursday 18 May and Wednesday 24 May 2017. The pneumatic tubes collected data 24 hours a day for the 7 day period they were in place. Collision data records were also consulted in compiling this report.

The data summaries including a location plan, the summary data table and daily traffic flow graph are shown below for each of the sites. This is followed by a summary of the data findings and finally the recommendations of this report following consideration of the data.

Site 1: A590 Ocean Road Walney outside No.113

As a comparison and to allow consideration of factors adjoining Biggar Bank Road, traffic data monitoring was undertaken on Ocean Road. It was done on the approach to The Round House to allow consideration of speeds on the approach to Biggar Bank.

Traffic Monitoring Location:

Data Summary:

Direction.Speed Limit - PSL

(mph)

Start Date.

End Date.

Total Vehicles

5 Day Ave. (Mon-Fri)

7 Day Ave. (Mon-Sun)

% HGV

Mean Speed

85%ile Speed

Southwest 30Thurs

18 May 2017

Wed 24 May 2017

6486 898 927 3.2 28.4 32.7

Northeast 30Thurs

18 May 2017

Wed 24 May 2017

6594 918 942 3.1 27.4 31.2

Two way 30Thurs

18 May 2017

Wed 24 May 2017

13080 1816 1869 3.2 27.9 32.0

Daily Vehicle Flow Summary:

Site 2: Biggar Bank Road Walney outside West Shore Social Club

Traffic Monitoring Location:

Data Summary:

Direction.

Speed Limit - PSL

(mph)

Start Date.

End Date.

Total Vehicles.

5 Day Ave. (Mon-Fri)

7 Day Ave. (Mon-Sun) % HGV Mean

Speed85%ile Speed

South 30Thurs

18 May 2017

Wed 24 May 2017

2491 345 356 3.5 24.8 29.9

North 30Thurs

18 May 2017

Wed 24 May 2017

2223 313 318 4.6 24.4 30.6

Two way 30Thurs

18 May 2017

Wed 24 May 2017

4714 658 674 4.0 24.6 30.3

Daily Vehicle Flow Summary:

Summary:

The monitoring shows that the average speed was 27.9mph at Site 1 and 24.6mph at Site 2 with 85% of drivers going at 32mph or below at both sites.

The directional data shows that vehicle speeds are slightly higher travelling towards The Roundhouse on Ocean Road and marginally higher in a southerly direction i.e. towards Thorny Nook Lane on Biggar Bank Road, however there is not a lot of difference. The data from Site 1 indicates there are 1869 vehicles travel 2-way (7 day average) and site 2 recordings show 674 vehicles travel 2-way (7 day average) approximately half travelling in each direction. A large number of vehicles from Ocean Road will be accessing residential properties / streets before passing site 2.

The 5 day average traffic flow for both directions is only marginally lower than the 7 day average at both sites, which indicates that traffic flow is fairly consistent over week days and weekends. It is likely that most vehicles use the route to access local amenities (playground, beach, restaurant, public houses, riding school) and residential streets.

The data indicates that the following percentage of drivers exceed the existing 30mph speed limit:

Site 1 Ocean Road:o 23.1% exceeded 30mph in a northeast directiono 32.3% exceeded 30mph in a southwest direction

Site 2 Biggar Bank Road:o 17.9% exceeded 30mph in a northerly directiono 15% exceeded 30mph in a southerly direction

On Ocean Road approaching the Roundhouse a greater percentage of drivers exceed the speed limit in a southwest direction is much greater than for the northeast.It is possible to look at the full data and break it down to understand how the percentages are made up i.e. how many are exceeding 35mph and how many are exceeding the ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) or enforceable limit.

Having looked into the at the data for the vehicles which were travelling at above the 30mph limit, most of these were travelling within the 30 – 35mph bracket. It was also found that only around 1% of all vehicles exceeded 40mph on Biggar Bank Road with slightly higher number 1.5% in a southwest bound direction on Ocean Road i.e. towards the Roundhouse.

The data collected indicates approximately 6% of drivers exceed the speed limit on Ocean Road and 5% of drivers are exceeding the speed limit at a level that could be enforced on Biggar Bank Road.

The collision records from the Police indicate that there are no recorded accidents in the vicinity of Site 1 on Ocean Road within the last 5 years. Site 2 had 2 recorded accidents within the last 5 years. The first accident in September 2012 was between a car and a bus which collided whilst the car was parking. It was not speed related. The second accident involved 1 vehicle, a motorcycle. The rider lost control and came off the motorcycle. The police log has identified that the most likely factor which contributed to this accident was poor/slippery road conditions/standing water. The recorded weather conditions at the time of the accident were wet/rain.

It is worth noting that traffic data was collected in November 2016 on Biggar Bank Road near to the Social Club i.e. adjacent to the recent site. The data does not indicate that there were any changes in the speeds between late 2016 and mid-2017.

Recommendations:

The current speed limit is shown to be appropriate across both sites as the majority of drivers are travelling at 30mph or less. The data indicates that there is a slightly higher average speed travelling southwest bound on Ocean Road and South bound on Biggar Bank Road, although the differences in directional speed are small.

Having looked at the data in full and considered the wider behaviour of motorists in conjunction with the collision records it is not considered appropriate for any physical traffic calming at the present time. We do consider that the approach to Biggar Bank from Biggar Village direction could be improved with greater emphasis on the gateway where the speed limit changes from national speed limit to 30mph. We will therefore undertake a scheme of improved road markings to include SLOW, 30mph roundels and dragons teeth with yellow backed speed limit signs at the entry point to Biggar Bank 30mph subject to available funding.

We will pass the data onto the police through the Cumbria Roads and Safer Highways group CRASH with particular consideration of vehicles exceeding the speed limit on Ocean Road for their consideration of enforcement, in line with their own local priorities.

Should any development or large scale changes take place which affect the dynamics for traffic in the Biggar Bank area then Cumbria Highways would monitor its implications with further traffic data collections in future.

Melanie BowerTraffic Management OfficerCumbria Highways