Movable speed indicators have been in Abingdon for nearly two years, but this is the first time I’ve seen one working so close to a long-standing speed camera. This is on Audlett Drive in Abingdon, where the limit has recently changed from 40 mph to 30 mph.
While I watched for a couple of minutes, all the cars were at or under the 30 mph limit.
Which works better: the carrot or the stick?
Looking out of the window at around 11 am, there was a queue of traffic heading up West St Helen Street. One driver said she had not moved for 15 minutes. This was the first traffic problem in the street after weeks of relative quiet during the road closure, and it occurred during half term, when traffic is usually lighter.
On this occasion, the disruption was caused by an accident or medical emergency.
Traffic tailed back along Bridge Street, Stert Street, The Vineyard, and Stratton Way.
Within about an hour the incident had been dealt with and traffic was moving freely again. For a while, a person from the company who look after the car parks on behalf of Vale of White Horse District Council took on the role of directing traffic at the junction of West St Helen Street.
Gas Mains replacement works near the Ock Bridge on Drayton Road are scheduled to run from 4th August 2025 for two weeks. Although the timing coincides with the Summer school holidays, when traffic is usually lighter, the introduction of temporary traffic lights is causing delays.
The impact has not been limited to Drayton Road. St Helen’s Wharf, Marcham Road, Ock Street, and surrounding routes are all seeing slower traffic than usual.
This is part of a wider programme of gas mains replacement work. Drayton Road is known to be one of the more sensitive locations for traffic disruption. Lets hope there is not an accident on the A34 that forces more traffic down that road.
Somebody leaned out of his car window at Wilsham Road and asked ‘Do you know the cause of the hold up?”
One.Network indicates that there are temporary traffic lights by the McDonalds roundabout . The hold up could be a knock on effect of that.
The Living Streets website says that the ‘22nd September is World Car Free Day, when all around the world, towns and cities allow people to experience streets free of motor traffic as well as making travel easier for those who rely on private vehicles for health and mobility reasons.‘