Cabinet to discuss speed limit reduction on Queens Drive

It comes after councillors supported a motion in February last year calling for additional road safety measures to be introduced on the busy stretch of road between Whitbourne Avenue and Drakes Way due to children crossing the road on their way to neighbouring schools in the area.

Councillors brought the motion before Council due to their concerns about the number of accidents on Queens Drive, noting that children from more deprived areas were more likely to be casualties.

Following the motion, the Council commissioned a study to examine speed data and collision rates along the dual carriageway to inform recommendations about how the concerns expressed in the motion could be addressed.

Detailed analysis of average speeds along Queens Drive highlighted that the majority of drivers are travelling within the posted 40mph speed limit suggesting that it is viewed by motorists as appropriate to the road conditions and function.

However, the report added that lower speeds may help to reduce the severity of any collisions and improve driver response times at crossings, and that there is a case for reducing the speed limit to 30mph north of the Whitbourne Avenue junction.

Although average speeds are within the posted limits, speed has been identified by Wiltshire Police as a contributing factor in 22 per cent of collisions.

The study reported that there were 37 accidents on Queens Drive between February 2018 and January 2023, three of which were classed as serious and 34 were recorded as slight. There were no fatal accidents in the same period.

Of the 47 casualties recorded, 12 were children and three were over the age of 60. Nine accidents involved 12 pedestrians, while four accidents involved cyclists. There were five accidents involving motorcycles.

The report also highlighted how the existing pedestrian crossing at New College Drive needs to be reviewed, as does the lack of a crossing just south of Drakes roundabout.

If the Council’s Cabinet agrees to implement a reduced speed limit between Whitbourne Avenue and the existing 30mph limit south of the Drakes roundabout, a consultation will be carried out before the change is made.

Additional signage would also be provided to highlight the reduced speed limit and the existing pedestrian crossing points.

Councillor Chris Watts, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment and Transport, said: “We want to make our roads as safe as possible for both pedestrians and motorists and that is especially true of Queens Drive, which is one of Swindon’s busiest strategic arterial routes.

“Councillors were very concerned about recent collisions along Queens Drive when considering the number of pupils who regularly cross the road to get to neighbouring schools, which is why the motion calling for the reduction in the speed limit received such strong support across the Chamber.

“The study, which the Council commissioned, analysed speed and collision data and I’m pleased it concurred with councillors that a reduction in the speed limit would help to reduce the severity of any collisions and improve driver response times at crossings.

“I hope my Cabinet colleagues will support the proposed changes to the speed limit on this part of Queens Drive and will also be supportive of our plans to look at the other end of the road between Coate Water and Whitbourne Avenue to see if any further road safety improvements can also be made there following the recent decommissioning of the two subways.”