Mum's shock at speeding drivers
A mother whose daughter was killed in a car crash said she was "shocked and saddened" nearly 500 people were caught speeding at the accident blackspot.
Julie Holwell had campaigned for four years to get a speed camera on the A6, near the One Ash Island, in Loughborough, after her daughter Becki, 20, died when the speeding car in which she was a passenger hit a tree.
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A speed camera has been monitoring drivers since the start of August and in its first five weeks of operation, 493 drivers were caught driving above the 50mph limit.
Julie, 47, of Mountsorrel, said: "I find the sheer number of people surprising. I'm really shocked and it is quite saddening.
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"There are plenty of signs and it has been advertised so much before it started catching people. It is unreal.
"I know it sounds bad but I am glad they have been caught and fined. Maybe it will make them think more about speeding next time.
"I suppose I just have to think maybe by getting that camera installed I have saved one of those 493 people's lives, by making them think twice about speeding.
"I hope, when we look at the next lot of figures, fewer people will have been caught – it would show people have learnt their lesson."
In line with conventional speed camera rules, of the 493 speeders, those who were caught driving between 57mph and 64mph will get a £60 fine and three penalty points.
Those driving faster will be called to magistrates court.
The camera was put in place in May and, during a pre-enforcement trial period, 858 speeding motorists were caught in 37 days.
Mrs Holwell collected almost 2,000 signatures on a petition calling for safety measures to be installed at the accident blackspot, which has claimed the lives of three other people in the past 36 months.
After she submitted her petition to Charnwood Highways Forum three years ago, studies were conducted but officers concluded the road did not warrant safety measures.
However, in August 2011, the day before the third anniversary of Becki's death, Julie was told a speed camera would be installed at the spot, after further consideration.
Ian Drummond, chairman of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Road Safety Partnership, said: "The presence of the safety camera has been successful in moderating motorists behaviour and we are already beginning to see the long-term safety benefits."
Lesley Pendleton, Leicestershire County Council lead member for environment and transport, said: "In response to safety concerns, and following an assessment of the site last summer, the safety camera was installed by Leicestershire County Council.
"The assessment found that in the previous 36 months, in addition to four slight accidents, four people had been killed or seriously injured on this particular stretch of road."
Comments
by upthecity
Tuesday, September 25 2012, 12:24PM
“@bikeresteban I don't speed I'm a biker (Suzuki bandit) as well as a car driver and it took me years to gain my experience I have been driving 20 years but I would say my experience only became good in the last five years . just because people don't think speed is all the fault doesn't meen we disregard the law as you suggest ..”
by karinfall1955
Tuesday, September 25 2012, 12:09PM
“I have the deepest sympathy for the lady concerned and it is good that the law recognises there is a difference between being 'just over' the limit and blatantly ignoring it. However, my greatest concern is idiots who speed in what are totally residential built up areas. There is so much more potential for damage to be done. How you deal with that I haven't a clue..”
by LikeItaLot
Tuesday, September 25 2012, 11:59AM
“Correct. You can not discount speeding as a contributory factor (along with others). Put simply, if your inexperience causes a driving problem, going faster than you should for the road conditions will often make matters worse. Braking is just one example”
by bikeresteban
Tuesday, September 25 2012, 11:46AM
“"it's not the speed it's the driver inexperience" is the usual reply from people who speed and don't give a thought for the safety of others. I agree with PLYMFOX01, there is a real need to tackle this problem and get these morons off of the road.”
by upthecity
Tuesday, September 25 2012, 11:24AM
“it's not the speed it's the driver inexperience is the killer here
and how did they get the right to put her in the middle of a dual carriageway with no hivis coat or regards for safety .”
by PLYMFOX01
Tuesday, September 25 2012, 11:12AM
“These 493 people obviously have no consideration for their own or anyone else's safety. Maybe if the speeding fine was £600 and an instant ban even for speeds below 100mph then it might be more of a deterrent.”
by Graham_LE8
Tuesday, September 25 2012, 9:14AM
“I think the results of the first five weeks just illustrates how lightly drivers perceive the offence of speeding to be; cocooned in their metal can, protected by seat belts, airbags and ABS, warm and comfy compared to the outside and probably under some time-pressure to be somewhere/get back, it turns out travelling at a speed in which you feel safe irrespective of the posted limit has become the norm, but doesn't necessarily mean that you are safe - your own or others' momentary inattention can change the situation in a split second...
Unfortunately it takes experiences like Mrs Holwell's to realise how serious the repercussions can be. A salutary lesson to us all, yet daily we still see 'accidents' waiting to happen - a misnomer if ever there was one - they won't be accidental...”