Speed limit to be cut on difficult stretch of A911
The speed limit on a stretch of road in Fife is to be cut this year in a bid to improve safety.
The A911 leading from Auchmuirbridge to Leslie.
- By Craig Smith
- Published in the Courier : 02.05.11
- Published online : 02.05.11 @ 05.02pm
Fife Council has confirmed its plans to reduce the speed limit on the A911 between Leslie and Auchmuirbridge — the scene of various accidents over the years — from 60mph to 40mph following a wide-ranging review of speed limits on the region's A and B class roads.
The move has been rubber stamped by councillors on the Glenrothes area committee. Once implemented, the operation of the new arrangements will be monitored and evaluated at a later date.
Ian Smith, lead officer with the council's traffic management service, said the action would be taken after "numerous concerns" were raised by residents living along or near the infamous stretch.
"Our review showed that this section of the A911 should be reduced in speed and that was based on an assessment of crash records and the current speed of traffic on the road," he said.
"Part of new guidance requires us to look at improvements to a road under consideration — speed limit is not the first line of attack for us.
"But we've introduced flashing signs, the road has been resurfaced and anti-skid provided, so we're now at the stage where we feel we should tackle the speed limit."
The cut in speed limit along the route was warmly welcomed by local councillor Bill Kay, who has long held concerns about the risks posed to drivers and pedestrians.
"It's not just the twists and turns, it's the dips," he said. "I would suggest that if you are travelling at 60mph on that road you are taking your life in your own hands, so I think 40mph is not an unreasonable thing to do."
Council leader Peter Grant also welcomed the reduction but expressed one slight reservation about the change.
"My concern is that we're taking away the only passing place safe to overtake a slow-moving vehicle and people may be more likely to take a chance," he said.
However, Mr Kay added, "Inevitably people will overtake slow-moving farm vehicles and I think you can still keep it to near enough 40 — but it's not a road I would be particularly inclined to overtake anything on."
The change, which has also been welcomed by Fife's chief constable Norma Graham, comes after national guidance on setting speed limits was updated in 2006. At that time all road authorities were required to review the speed limits on their A and B class roads by the end of 2011.
Similar measures have been mooted in relation to other fairly prominent roads, including the B923 Kinghorn to Burntisland road, which will be reduced from 60mph to 40mph, and the B925 Kirkcaldy to Auchtertool road, which is likely to be cut from 60mph to 50mph.
Only in February 2011 the latter claimed the life of a Kirkcaldy man who died after his Honda Civic collided with a Land Rover Freelander.
10.49pm - 02.05.2011 ItsmeOLord - Dunfermline, UK Report This
The red flag brigade is alive and well, any competent driver can do 60mph on this road except when behind a tractor.
08.01am - 03.05.2011 annoyed resident - Markinch, fife Report This
.......don't hold your breath, we have been waiting over a year on Sappi Road in Markinch/Glenrothes being reduced from 60 to 20mph!! for over a year!!! Speeders shortcut from Prestonhall Drive to A911 Leven to Glenrothes Road Its now residential people - PLEASE SLOW DOWN before you kill a child.
09.03am - 04.05.2011 Winston Smith - Airstrip One, Oceania Report This
What happens if the speed limit doesn't work? Inverted potholes (or speed cushions as the professionals call them)?
02.16pm - 04.05.2011 Ian - Perth, UK Report This
ItsmeOLord.... your attitude is one of the reasons for the number of accidents and near misses on this stretch of road. Twists, turns, dips, double white lines, blind summits, numerous junctions....no competent driver would want to do much over 40mph on this road even if he/she feels invulnerable.
08.01am - 05.05.2011 Winston Smith - Airstrip One, Oceania Report This
If most people are travelling a low speed anyway, why do we require signs to tell them? This results in increased cost for their construction, maintenance, and the environmental impact of use of raw materials and visual intrusion in the countryside. And provides an obstruction to pedestrians. T
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