Calls for speed cameras on A256 after woman dies in crash
There are calls for speed cameras along the A256 after a woman died in a crash last month. Jim Back, Dover[1] district councillor for Whitfield is leading the calls and has written to police urging them to take the issue "more seriously".
Cllr Back said residents are concerned over the “lack of police enforcement or speed cameras”. But police said officers respond "robustly" to concerns about dangerous driving and nuisance vehicles on the A256.
The councillor wrote to Kent Police’s Chief Constable Tim Smith on August 15 following the death of a woman in her 40s who was a passenger in a Ford Ranger. The car was struck by a BMW M Sport coupe, believed to have been travelling well in excess of the 70mph speed limit.
He said: “I am totally frustrated by the lack of any police officers or speed enforcement on the A256. Virtually every day and night residents have to put up with dangerous and antisocial behaviour from speeding cars and motorcycles.
"I am calling for Kent Police to take this issue more seriously, with a regular police presence and the installation of speed cameras, before any more lives are tragically lost at the hands of irresponsible criminal drivers."
Cllr Back said the dual carriageway has been used for ‘dangerous and illegal’ races on the long stretch between the roundabouts. He added: “Cars have also been seen ‘drifting’ and congregating in the Tesco car park at Whitfield to compare their highly-tuned cars.”
In his letter, he claims he had already complained some years ago. It reads: “I think the only answer is to have speed cameras on this part of the A256 or officers on the flyover bridge at Archers Court Road, Whitfield with hand held speed cameras, as residents are at their wits end.
“I did complain some years ago and the then Chief Constable told me that he did not have enough resources.”
'We will continue to take action'
Keith Taylor, District Commander Chief Inspector, said a dispersal order was put in place on August 25 on and around the route. He said: “When one man failed to leave the area as asked, he was arrested and charged with failing to comply with a direction under Section 35 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act.
There was a further order in the same area on September 1, resulting in officers locating a group of drivers and their cars and moving them on, Mr Taylor confirmed. He added: “A further order was put in place on Friday 9 September, with no action required by attending officers on that occasion.
"The dispersal orders followed more than 10 warnings being issued under Section 59 of the Police Reform Act, telling motorists their vehicles can be seized if they persist in nuisance driving, as part of Kent Police's Safer Summer campaign. These led to the seizure of a nuisance vehicle.”
He told KentLive that officers from the Camera Enforcement Team are currently looking at creating a new speed camera van site in the area. “We will continue to take action against anyone driving dangerously or in a manner which would impact others, and I would urge all road users to take responsibility for the way they drive and not put themselves and others at risk.”
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References
- ^ Dover (www.kentlive.news)
- ^ Man taken to hospital after two car crash on M20 (www.kentlive.news)
- ^ Find out more here. (data.reachplc.com)