Forty-five communities in Dorset are seeing slower vehicle speeds and safer roads thanks to Dorset Council’s community Speed Indicator Device (SID) programme.

SIDs display the speed of oncoming vehicles – raising drivers’ awareness of local speed limits – and are proven to reduce traffic speeds when used at appropriate locations.

A SID recently deployed on A352 Wareham Road in Wool saw most drivers reducing their speed:

• Before the SID on average 569 vehicles were travelling over 35mph between 7am and 7pm, during the SID placement this dropped to 142.

• Before the SID on average 160 vehicles were travelling over 40mph between 7am and 7pm, during the SID placement this dropped to 31.

Dorset Highways oversees the setting up of new sites, providing risk assessments and training, with Parish and town councils funding their local programme, owning the devices and responsible for deploying them.

Cllr Ray Bryan, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said: “By working together with parish and town councils, this community-based initiative has expanded and become more responsive to local needs.

“These displays have a measurable impact on reducing traffic speeds, something many communities are concerned about, and they contribute towards changing driver behaviour through our towns and villages.

“My thanks to all the communities who have worked hard on schemes in their area – you’ve made a real difference and helped make our roads safer.”

There are currently 45 communities deploying SIDs at 127 locations in the Dorset Council area.

Following the success and expansion of the community programme, a small number of SID locations where Dorset Council currently deploy the devices will be withdrawn in March 2021, with the community-based scheme offered in replacement.

Any community interested in the scheme can contact sids@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk