Do SIDs (Speed Indicator Devices) have to be set at the speed limit in any location? Good question, apparently not. They aren’t enforcing, only advisory, normally – in most places. There to tell you, as the driver – that you are observing the speed limit (smiley face, normally green) or going too fast (angry face, red, and flashing actual speed). They are there as deterrent, reminder and (polite) request to keep within the limit for that stretch of road.
However, Hilcott, with a 40mph limit through the village (not a debate whether that is too high, low, or about right not here, anyway) the SIDs are set to 30mph. So, as the screengrab of a dashcam shows, whilst the vehicle was driving at 31mph, entering a 40mph limit (observing regulations), the SID was flashing red, furiously, stating that the actual speed was 32mph and telling the driver to slow down.
Legal – apparently so. Advisory? A different matter, and different question. Advanced Driver organisations, when asked (or Senior tutors for such organisations – IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) and RoSPA (Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents) aren’t quite so supportive of the Hilcott Speed discrepancy with one senior instructor stating, when asked, that it is ‘dangerous’ to flash up a 10mph over the limit sign as that could encourage a driver to brake hard and create a hazard for any following driver, even though their speed was quite legal. Another instructor added the following question – ‘how would things stand if there was an accident?’.
Another response highlighted the validity of a SID, and what it is there for. If, as in Hilcott it gives an incorrect warning, will a driver take heed of any such SID elsewhere? A SID is always advisory, not enforcing, and most drivers will accept the reading and act accordingly. But if the SID is reporting something which isn’t accurate, or ‘reasonably’ accurate then will a driver take heed of any SID alert elsewhere? Possibly not. And even if those acting in that way represent a minority there is strong argument that this use of a SID renders the effectiveness of any SID, anywhere to be at best questionable, at worst entirely irrelevant.
When asked, a representative of the North Newnton Parish Council told marlborough.news that “the The Parish Council took the decision to set the speeds lower than the speed limits in the hope to slow drivers down further.”
Adding: “This decision is being reviewed regularly and there is a vote on whether to change the speeds to the speed limits due to take place at parish council meeting shortly. The Parish Council have been striving for lower speed limits across the parish, but the hamlets do not seem to meet the criteria to warrant a speed limit decrease. The Parish Council will keep doing everything that they can to try to lower speeds across the parish, as this is a huge concern for the councillors as well as the local residents”.
Ironically the stretch of road through Hilcott is very residential, many domestic entrances, many farm entrances as well with no footpath and it’s a busy stretch. Lots of potential and real hazards at any time. Elsewhere, in other villages in similar circumstances it would not be a surprise to see a 20mph limit in place, let alone a 30mph limit – Lockeridge, a bit further along the same road for example. But that is a different debate, and one to be entertained between the Parish Council, Wiltshire Council and Wiltshire Police.
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