APPENDIX B

Background

At the meeting of the Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Committee on 28 November 2024, members resolved to request a public information campaign to educate drivers on the risk of speeding (Minute 94).

Response from Network Strategy

In the context of the proposal, voted on, to explore a public information campaign aimed at local drivers, highlighting the risks of speeding, particularly around areas such as schools and high pedestrian traffic areas, Fiona Ancell (Team Leader, Safety and Travel Awareness) has raised this with the York and North Yorkshire Road Safety Partnership (RSP) Coordinator and we’re happy to keep you updated on this and what actions may or may not be generated as a result.  For completeness though, it is worth noting that NYC and the wider RSP are already active in terms of road safety generally, including around the school environs, the details of which are set out below:

Road Safety Education, Training and Publicity

The York and North Yorkshire road safety Partnership targets drivers through countywide media campaigns to support enforcement and raise awareness of speed limits and the effects of speeding.  It also arranges pop up engagement events to promote road safety with a focus on speed and attends public event such as the Yorkshire show.  Speeding, i.e. exceeding the speed limit or driving too fast for the conditions is just one of a range of themes, which the RSP focuses on.  Specific speed campaigns will start countywide in April, in line with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and National Fire Chiefs’ Council campaign calendars.

Road Safety Enforcement

The Safety Camera Vans (SCV) are very active in the Harrogate and Knaresborough area.  In 2024, the vans made over 1,400 visits to the Harrogate and Knaresborough area, total over 1,500 hours and processed over 2,440 offences.  The SCVs also attend events in the area such as Tractor Fest at Newby Hall, Ripon Farm Services Show and the Great Yorkshire Show.

Road Safety Engineering

In relation to speed outside schools, North Yorkshire Council is in the process of assessing all 400 education sites in the county, including schools, nurseries, and colleges, starting with those where speeds outside are the highest. The council has adopted a presumption in favour of lowering speed limits in these locations.

In addition, with regard to Harrogate and Knaresborough, Members will already be aware that following receipt of a petition in June 2023 requesting a maximum speed limit of 20mph on a number of roads in the South and West of Harrogate, officers carried out a review of the area and the proposals. They have previously advised Members of the area proposed to implement a 20mph speed limit and this process is ongoing through the Traffic Regulation Order procedure. The proposal is designed to improve road safety and provide wider Place, environmental and health and wellbeing benefits.   

More widely, NYC is in the process of preparing to carry out a planned programme of speed limit reviews across the whole road network in the coming months and years, which will be underpinned by a Speed Management Strategy.  The aim of the SMS is to provide a safer road network and environment for all road users by applying a consistent approach countywide in setting out how speed should be managed on the roads in North Yorkshire. Alongside reducing road casualty risk, the aim of the reviews is to improve the sense of Place and help create the conditions for increased use of active modes, such as walking and cycling.  In so doing, the Strategy will inform and be informed by existing measures NYC and its partners undertake with respect to road safety:

· Education: using road casualty statistics and working with our road safety partners on attitude and behavioural change programmes for different road user groups

· Engineering: collision investigation and analysis, including cluster site and route analysis and fatal collision investigation, as well as initiatives such as the Temporary VAS Protocol and 20mph Speed Limit and Zone Policy

· Enforcement: Support for North Yorkshire Police on their core activity

With a focus on being evidence-based and data led, the principles on which the proposed speed limit reviews and the underpinning SMS are based on, include seeking to ensure local communities and their elected representatives are at the heart of local decision-making process and being more responsive to their needs. 

Contact Officer:

Allan McVeigh

Head of Network Strategy

Allan.McVeigh@northyorks.gov.uk