COUNCILLORS hit the roads of North East Lincolnshire yesterday as part of their review of speed limits across the borough.
Chauffeured by Humberside Police casualty reduction officer PC Barry Gardner, members of the speed limit select committee were taken on a tour of the roads which could have their speed limits cut.
It included a trip along the A18 Barton Street between Laceby Top roundabout and the boundary with East Lindsey, near Ludborough, where the council is proposing to cut the limit from 60mph to 50mph.
Also on the itinerary was the section of the A180 between the Pyewipe and Lockhill roundabouts, where the speed limit could be reduced from 70mph to 50mph.
The other roads visited were:
Nooking Lane/Main Road, Aylesby (40mph to 30mph)
B1210 Healing (40mph to 30mph)
B1210 between Healing and Great Coates (60mph to 40 mph)
A1136 between Great Coates roundabout and Europarc
Non-strategic roads in the East Marsh ward (30mph to 20mph)
Non-strategic roads in the Sidney Sussex ward (30mph to 20mph)
For the past few weeks, the select committee has heard evidence from various motoring organisations, highways engineers, psychologists and ward councillors.
Chairman of the panel, Councillor Karl Wilson (Lab, Heneage) said: "We have heard the evidence and listened to people's opinions. This is our chance to actually see the roads for ourselves."
Councillor Philip Jackson (Con, Waltham), who has consistently questioned the effectiveness of a "blanket" speed limit, used the tour to suggest alternative measures of making the A18 safer to drive.
He said: "There should be more areas where it is clearly indicated that it is dangerous to overtake by having solid white lines in the middle of the road.
"This would also have the additional effect of making the road feel narrower, which tends to make drivers go a bit slower."
The select committee is due to meet again on Thursday, March 7.
