The Shared Space scheme in Ashford, Kent has received conflicting reports this week – both of which are housed in the same document.
The controversial blurring of pedestrian and vehicular priority has been heralded as ‘instrumental in breaking the restrictive collar that the ring road has had on the town’s development’. However the monitoring of vehicle speeds through February has revealed that the average motorist is travelling in excess of the 20mph limit. 70 vehicles were recorded travelling in excess of 45mph. At speeds above 40mph there is an 80% chance that a pedestrian will be killed if involved in a collision.
A flashing sign has been installed that alerts drivers as to their speed and this sign will be moved around the shared space every two weeks. This move was deemed necessary after an initial survey discovered that 85% of drivers were travelling at speeds over 30mph.
The fact that drivers are now averaging around 21mph would suggest that the alert signal is having an effect. This is ironic given that the concept of shared space is founded upon removing unnecessary signs and road markings; in the belief that perceptions are heightened and the drivers will naturally slow down without the need for a sign.
Nevertheless, the failure to observe speed limits has not had an adverse effect on accidents. Before shared space was instigated in Ashford, the ring-road averaged 24 crashes per annum. Since the scheme began there have been no reported accidents. Work continues on the Ashford Shared Space scheme.
