Highways Safety
Following on from concerns raised by residents of the Crescent, Risley Lane regarding speeding vehicles we made a request for a reduction in the speed limit to the Highways Safety Team at Derbyshire County Council. Today we received this response:
We refer to your request for the speed limit on Risley Lane between the Navigation Inn to be reduced from 40mph to 30mph.
Firstly, we would like to assure you that the safety of Derbyshire’s road users remains a top priority for the County Council in its role as the local highway authority. A key responsibility of all highway authorities is to take effective action to reduce the number of people killed or injured on the roads they manage.
As part of our Road Safety Team’s remit, we focus on preventing personal injury collisions across the highway network. Our resources are directed to locations where serious accidents have occurred and where meaningful interventions can improve safety outcomes.
We operate under agreed policies for interventions such as speed limit changes, one way systems, weight limits, parking restrictions, and the installation of speed cameras or other traffic calming measures. These policies ensure consistent application across Derbyshire and are based on robust criteria.
To prioritise effectively, we analyse relevant data including the number, severity, and contributing factors of collisions at any requested location. This approach ensures that resources are allocated where they are most needed and can deliver the greatest safety benefits.
The Police database has been checked which records all collisions resulting in personal injury – for collisions on the section of Risley Lane in question. The data reveals Risley Lane has an excellent road safety history with no collisions resulting in personal injury over the last 3 years (this being the standard test period for assessment).
We also examined police speed data, which uses Bluetooth technology to extract vehicle speeds on Risley Lane. The data shows that the all-day 85th percentile speed is 38mph—meaning 85% of vehicles are travelling at or below the posted limit, indicating general compliance.
We have reviewed your request to extend the existing 30mph speed limit along the entire length of Risley Lane. The current placement of the speed limit has been carefully determined in line with national guidance, including the Department for Transport’s criteria for setting local speed limits. These guidelines consider factors such as road layout, traffic volumes, collision history, and the presence of residential properties.
In this case, the existing 30mph limit begins at a point that reflects the transition into a more developed area, including nearby housing. This placement is intended to alert drivers to the change in environment and encourage appropriate speed reduction as they enter the residential zone. Extending the limit further may not meet the necessary criteria and could reduce the effectiveness of the current arrangement.
We fully understand and empathise with the concerns of local residents, particularly the reports of frequent bumps and minor collisions along this route. We also recognise the growing fear that a serious accident may be only a matter of time.
While we acknowledge this perceived risk, in accordance with national guidance and statutory frameworks, highway authorities primarily rely on data from reported personal injury collisions to inform safety assessments and prioritise interventions. This approach is underpinned by the Department for Transport’s (DfT) STATS19 data collection system, which is the nationally recognised standard for recording road traffic collisions involving injury. These records are typically supported by police reports, ensuring a higher degree of accuracy, consistency, and reliability for analytical purposes.
The criteria for intervention are guided by the DfT and applied consistently across all local authorities and police forces in the UK. This ensures that decisions are evidence-based and aligned with the principles of the Highway Network Management Plan (see attached).
In the case of Risley Lane, while we acknowledge that there are some narrow sections and bends, the road is predominantly rural in character, with limited frontage development. According to national guidance (DfT Circular 01/2013), 40mph is considered an appropriate limit for rural roads of this nature where the national speed limit (60mph) would be unsuitable, but where the road does not meet the criteria for a 30mph limit.
It is also important to note that speed limits are not targets. Drivers are expected to travel at speeds appropriate to the conditions, and many naturally reduce their speed on roads with bends, narrow sections, or limited visibility. This is consistent with the principle of “self-compliance” promoted in national guidance.
Bearing in mind the above we not in a position to support a reduced speed limit on Risley Lane from 40mph to 30mph at this time.
We genuinely regret that we cannot offer a more immediate solution. Please be assured that your feedback has been carefully considered and contributes to our ongoing monitoring and review of road safety across Derbyshire. We remain committed to applying consistent, evidence-based criteria in line with both local transport objectives and national guidance.