Council looks for new powers to improve High Street road safety

RMBC is looking to apply to the Department for Transport for enforcement authority to help improve road safety at problem sites.

The powers would also cover the Doncaster Road/Clifton Lane crossroads outside Clifton Park to prevent drivers making banned turns.

And, at Catcliffe, they would cover the no entry zone at the western end of Sheffield Lane, as well as the bus gate on Wood Lane.

Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act (2004) allows local authorities to take action against poor driving habits which currently, under criminal law, can only be enforced by police.

Cllr Dominic Beck, RMBC cabinet member for transport, said: “We’re aware of a number of locations in the borough where pedestrians and drivers have expressed concerns and we’re looking to use these new powers to help make the roads safer in these places for everyone.

“We encourage feedback from the public and I urge residents to give their views on these proposals.”

The sites were chosen because of the number of recorded collisions, historical reports of poor compliance of the traffic rules, or potential delays to vehicles on the network.

The aim of taking on the extra powers would be to improve highway safety, for example by preventing collisions; reduce traffic congestion; improve air quality; improve journey time reliability; and safeguard pedestrians.

Civil enforcement would be done through automatic number place recognition cameras, with penalties sent by post to road users who continue to ignore the restrictions.

Visit www.rotherham.gov.uk/consultations to see further details and have your say.