Drivers getting caught out by newly-activated speed camera in Cardiff

A driver who says they are one of many to be caught out by a newly-activated speed camera in Cardiff says signage on the road should be clearer.
The driver, who wished to remain anonymous, said they received a notice of intended prosecution (NIP) after being caught driving over 30mph along a stretch of Western Avenue, which they believed to be a 40mph zone, in June.
They said this particular stretch of the road, between the Ely Road junction and Excelsior Road junction, which changed to a 30mph zone in 2021, didn’t have any clear signage indicating that this was the current speed limit.
The only sign indicating it was a 30mph zone before July was a red, bilingual sign which the driver said is too difficult to read while driving at 30mph.
Cardiff Council said motorists should know that street lighting indicates a 30mph zone is in place and that this is something which is contained in the Highway Code.
The motorist, who is also a local resident, said: “By the time you get to the English and the actual 30mph in written text, you would have to stop the car practically.
“I personally know 15 people in the last week who have got notice of prosecution and we have all lived in Llandaff or nearby for years. It is obviously not clear.”
The speed camera opposite the Excelsior Road junction, next to Tesco Extra, was activated in June. A 30mph sign was put on the speed camera by July 3.
The anonymous driver added: “I am all for reducing the speed limit, I am all for safety, but I just think that it needs to be done properly.”
Cardiff Council ward member for Llandaff, Councillor Sean Driscoll, has also called for clearer signage along Western Avenue.
He said: “Local residents are grateful that highways reduced the speed to 30mph, we’re also grateful to Cardiff Council highways officers who helped deliver the new crossing at Caewal Road, that I promised residents we’d get installed.
“However, they feel more should be done to make drivers aware of the change from 40 to 30mph.
“I recognise it’s not a legal requirement to warn drivers if there’s a speed camera ahead. But installation of warning signs would better inform and discourage drivers from speeding, which is what we want.”
A Cardiff Council spokesperson said: “Where street lighting is in place, a road is automatically covered by a 30mph speed restriction unless the council has made a traffic order specifying a different limit.
“Motorists should know that street lighting indicates a 30mph speed limit is in place unless there are signs to the contrary. This is general information contained in the Highway Code.
“The request made for repeater signs at this location would be illegal, under the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions legislation which states that 30mph repeater signs are not allowed to be put up in areas where there is street lighting.
“Temporary signage has been up on-street since March last year to notify motorists of the change from 40mph to 30mph and these signs are also shown on Google Maps – https://goo.gl/maps/tjTkHzyGhwCoW4Dp9
“Motorists will also see signs indicating that speed cameras are in the area and so we advise everyone using the highway network to abide by the Highway Code and to drive safely and within the speed limits that are set in law.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

by BBC LDRS reporter ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​