Safe Speed Forums

'Strong winds' blamed for wrong speed limit signs in Denham
By Lawrence Dunhill 3:20pm Wednesday 11th May 2011

A COUNCIL says 'strong winds' are likely to have caused the wrong speed limit signs to be on display on the A40 – within a section where a camera issued about 2,000 speeding fines in two months.

Driver Kes Ward, 33, took this photograph in early April of the A40 through Denham - which used to be 50mph but has been subject to a temporary 30mph limit since February 9. It shows a 50mph repeater sign just before the speed camera.

Buckinghamshire County Council said the 50mph signs were 'bagged over' before the speed limit changed, but it was told at a meeting on April 5 that five of the signs had become uncovered.
Spokesman Rosemary Bryant said: “Either the signs were deliberately uncovered, or more likely, the strong winds loosened the bags and exposed the signs.”
The uncovered signs and all the remaining 50mph repeater signs that were still bagged over between A412 junction, the North Orbital Road and Denham Roundabout were removed the next day, she said.

Mr Ward, a wedding photographer from Amersham, saw a flash as he went past the camera in March, though he has not received a speeding fine to date.
He said: "Don't get me wrong, if motorists are flouting speed limits then they should pay the penalty for their unsafe driving, but they still have to be given a fair chance to obey the conditions of the road with clear and correct signage and this clearly was not the case."

Other drivers have sent in photos of a road merger sign which appeared to block one of the 30mph signs (see link below).
The council said it was notified of this on March 14 and moved the merger sign further forward on March 18.

However, the spokesman said the nearside sign, on the other side of the road, would have been fully visible, while the outside sign was only 'partially obscured' from a driver's position on the carriageway.
Other motorists have complained they were not given sufficient warning about the temporary speed limit. More than 1,000 fines were issued in the first four days after the speed camera was installed.