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Road safety

a road lit with street lights and text Bright, Seen, Safe written over it

Ways we manage road safety in North Lincolnshire, including driver advice, education, speed management and safer crossings.

For a wealth of road safety advice, tips and resources you can also visit these useful websites:

Road safety measures in North Lincolnshire

Developing life skills through education

The Road Traffic Act 1988 says that local authorities must prepare and carry out work that promotes road safety. This includes providing information about safe use of the roads and training for any type of road user.

The North Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership (North Lincs Road Safety and Active Travel Team, Safer Roads Humber, Good Egg Safety and our EYFS, Schools and Colleges) delivers education, training and publicity to:

  • promote safe road use
  • give safety advice to road users
  • develop safe attitudes and behaviour

We target work at all age groups and have a programme of education and training in schools that helps develop key road safety skills and an understanding of what is safe and unsafe behaviour on the roads.

North Lincolnshire Road Safety and Active Travel team host special events such as:

  • In Car Child Safety Seat Fitting Workshops- where face to face 1 to 1 expert guidance on the fitting and wearing of your child’s car safety seat.

Educational Programmes

Road safety education and training gives lifelong knowledge and skills that are developed and built on throughout a child’s education. This building block approach helps keep knowledge and skills relevant before moving on to deal with new more complex road safety messages. The key road safety schemes are:

  • Partnership with parents is aimed at pre-school and children in reception/foundation. We work closely with parents, to help them understand their own role in their child’s road safety education.
  • Pedestrian Skills and attitudes -Activities for both in class, at home and out on the roads prepares children with the basic skills they need to cross the road safely.
  • Cycle Training is offered to all primary and junior schools as part of the national Bikeability scheme. Learn to ride/ on road skills and advanced level cycling skills training. Activity book is provided to reinforces other important road safety messages. For more information about cycling routes in North Lincolnshire, visit our cycling webpage.
  • Transition -the new challenges of independent travel faced by children going up to secondary school are covered both before and after they start their new school.
  • Motorised Travel-Older teenagers show as a high risk of becoming a casualty either a moped rider, car drivers or passenger. Work in Year 11 and colleges targets this group, looking at the causes and consequences of crashes and promoting the powerful passenger message for those that feel uncomfortable when a car is being driven badly.

These eBooks have been created by our partner and provide accurate and current information and is FREE to all North Lincs residents.

Please use the link below to access the full range available.

A valuable and rewarding role in the community

School crossing patrols were created in 1953 to help children walking to and from school. Since then they have become a familiar and integral part of the journey to school for many children.

Patrols have a legal power to stop traffic to cross any pedestrian, adult or child, and failing to stop is an offence. Whilst traffic has increased enormously since the 1950s the role of the school crossing patrol is virtually the same.

Communities, parents and children in North Lincolnshire value this service greatly. Although drivers and other members of the public sometimes think little of patrols, it is only when they are not on duty that people realise how much they are worth.

Today’s crossing patrols are better equipped to carry out the job than ever before with high quality uniform to protect them from the weather and help them be seen by drivers. They are not only trained to work on the crossing point but also in dealing with the issues they are likely to come across when working in a front line service on the highway.

Each crossing point meets agreed criteria based on the number of pedestrians crossing, the amount of traffic passing and various other factors about the site. Patrols can be anywhere on a route to school and may serve children from more than one school.

There are 61 school crossing patrol sites throughout North Lincolnshire, although the majority are centred in the Scunthorpe and Bottesford area.

Anyone can request a new patrol. If you think a new patrol site is needed please contact us. We will carry out a survey to see if the site meets the criteria.

Interested in working as a school crossing patrol?

School crossing patrols in North Lincolnshire work a minimum of five hours a week and a maximum eight and a half hours per week depending on the site, term time only. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all out staff to share this commitment.

Pay: £8.73 per hour.

Other benefits include:

  • access to the council’s pension scheme
  • access to the health scheme
  • uniform for winter and summer
  • regular newsletters
  • training seminars
  • union membership available

Our current vacancies for School Crossing Patrol can be found on the list of latest council vacancies.

If you are interested in applying for a job with the council, please visit our applying for a council job webpage for advice about filling in your application.

Please contact the Road Safety Team to discuss becoming a School Crossing Patrol and for more details of any current vacancies.

roadsafety@northlincs.gov.uk
01724 297000

Pedestrian crossings will be put in at sites that meet our assessment criteria to improve safety and encourage people to walk.

Report a problem with pedestrian crossing lights

You can report a problem using our online form:

Request a new pedestrian crossing

We get many requests for new crossings. Each request is assessed and the site surveyed to see if it meets the national criteria. There are only enough resources to put them in the areas with the most need and so the list has to be prioritised.

The main factors are the number of people crossing and the amount of traffic passing the site. Other factors built into the survey include the number of road casualties near the site and local features such as hospitals, schools and shops.

Research has shown that putting crossings in where there are higher levels of pedestrian casualties will improve safety, however putting a new crossing at a site with low pedestrian casualties can actually make things worse by increasing the chance of pedestrian/vehicle conflict.

If you think a new pedestrian crossing is needed please contact us.

What type of pedestrian crossings do we use?

Puffin Crossings (pedestrian user friendly intelligent crossing)

Puffin crossings are an updated version of pelican crossing and look similar. One of the main differences is that the red and green are just above the WAIT box and not on the other side of the road. Pedestrians should press the button on the box and wait until the lights change. Sensors detect a pedestrian waiting and keep traffic stopped until all pedestrians have crossed the road before changing back again. Puffins don’t have a flashing green man or flashing amber light phase.

Pelican Crossing (pedestrian light controlled crossing)

Pelican crossings are controlled by a pedestrian pressing the button on the WAIT box and waiting until the green man lights up and traffic has stopped. Sometimes there is a bleeper to help blind or partially sighted people know when it is safe to cross. There may also be a rotating knob under the WAIT box, which turns when the green man shows. Puffin crossings are now installed rather than pelican crossings as they give a better facility for pedestrians.

Zebra crossings

This crossing has black and white stripes (like a zebra) with orange flashing beacons at each end. A zebra crossing gives pedestrians the right of way once their foot is on the crossing. However pedestrians must make sure traffic has stopped before stepping onto the road and keep looking and listening as they cross. Many people ask for zebra crossings to be changed into puffin crossings, thinking they are safer. Recent studies have shown the safety record is similar for both types of crossing and in some cases zebra crossings are safer.

Toucan Crossings (two can cross)

These crossings are provided for pedestrians and cyclists, usually at sites where cycle routes cross busy roads. They are similar to a puffin crossing and are operated by a button on the WAIT box. There is a red and green cycle signal as well as a red and green man. Cyclists don’t have to get off to use this crossing. Toucans also have sensors to detect people waiting use the crossing and there is no flashing green man/cycle signal. Drivers must wait until they get a green light before moving.

Pedestrian Refuges

In some locations, where a pedestrian crossing cannot be justified, a pedestrian refuge (traffic island) may be put in. They narrow the road for traffic and pedestrians can cross the road in two halves with a safe place to wait in the middle. Pedestrians should cross with care as drivers have priority at these crossings.

Other sites of interest

Images showing signs for not parking near schools

The number of children travelling to school by car has more than doubled in the last 20 years. One in five cars on the road at peak times is on the school run making parking outside school busy and stressful.

Walking and cycling are much healthier ways of getting to school. Children who get fresh air and exercise on the way to school are much more alert and attentive in class (ask any teacher) and fewer vehicle on the road is better for the environment.

The links below give you more information on what we’re doing to encourage more children to walk, cycle, travel by bus or car share on the journey to school.

This Parking Outside Schools Package [PDF, 34Kb] gives advice and guidance on dealing with parking problems outside school and encouraging sustainable travel to school.

Walking

Cycling

Bus

Other sites of interest

We can offer MOT tests and Engineer’s Reports to the general public from our workshop on Grange Lane North, Scunthorpe.

Why should I book an MOT test with the council?

We do not carry out remedial repairs, and therefore the MOT test is an independent examination.

Why should I book an Engineer’s Report?

If you are looking at buying a used car, you should consider the following:

  • Before you part with your cash it would be wise to invest in the price of a tank of petrol for a thorough check of the car. This will make sure there’s nothing wrong that can’t be spotted from a quick test drive and a once over on the garage forecourt or outside someone’s house
  • We can provide an Engineer’s Report on any car, regardless of its age. The report will give details of the condition of the car and all the important components that contribute to the vehicle’s safety and roadworthiness
  • At the end of the inspection and road test, which takes approximately one hour, you will receive a written report from an MOT qualified mechanic. The report will give details of the car’s condition and approximate value as presented to the workshops on the day
  • The mechanic will advise on any recommended repairs, if any, and the information will help you negotiate the right price with the seller

How much does it cost?

  • Class 4 MOT test (cars and light vehicles up to 3,000kg) is £50
  • Class 7 MOT test (light vehicles between 3,000 – 3,500kg) is £50
  • Engineer’s Report is £57.

For further information on either of our test facilities or to book an appointment please contact us.

Contact details

North Lincolnshire Council
Fleet Workshop & Offices
Plot 22
Grange Lane North
Scunthorpe
DN16 1BT

01724 297000

A short series of fact sheets have been produced by the North Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership to give information on the law and useful advice to help your driving. The information in them will help keep you and other road users safe on North Lincolnshire’s roads. Visit our driving fact sheets page.

We are always looking at ways to reduce accidents and make our roads safer for all users.

If you have seen an incident where a collision has nearly taken place please take the time to tell us about it.

For example, where a car pulls out of a junction and vehicles have to brake sharply but no collision, or a very minor one, takes place.

This information can help us build up a picture of what is happening on North Lincolnshire’s roads. It will add to the information we already get from the police when there are crashes on the road that result in casualties.

Those sites where a number of different incidents are reported are investigated to find out if anything can be done to help prevent a crash happening in the future.

Please make sure you fill in both pages of the incident form.

Thank you for taking the time to provide us with this information.

Please note

This form is not for reporting vehicles speeding along a road, other traffic offences taking place or incidents of aggressive driving or road rage.

If you wish to report a fault or problem on our roads please visit our roads and footpaths page.

For information about how we manage speed in North Lincolnshire, please visit our speed management page.

Speeding and excessive speed are widely seen a major contributor to crashes on the road. Reducing speed by only one mile per hour is likely to reduce the total number of crashes by five per cent. Whilst most people see speeding by other drivers as a problem, they rarely see fault in their own driving.

Speeding in North Lincolnshire is tackled through the speed management strategy and a combination of:

  • publicity
  • enforcement
  • engineering
  • education

Speed seminars are an alternative to prosecution. They are offered to drivers caught speeding on camera doing over the normal prosecution level. Every driver is expected to take a full and active part in the seminar –  if they don’t it is treated as a failure. They will then face prosecution.

Using education as an alternative gives drivers the opportunity to understand the risks, dangers and possible consequences of speeding. By targeting the root causes of people’s attitude and behaviour to speeding the number of drivers re-offending has been shown to be less than if they are prosecuted.

The seminars are self-financing and any surplus money is put into road safety schemes within the Humber area.

For further information or to book onto a speed seminar course please use the link to Safer Roads Humber.

As well as Speed Seminars and the Driver Alertness course there are a number of other education seminars that can be offered to clients as an alternative to prosecution. These include:

  • What’s driving us?
  • Driving 4 change
  • RIDE (for motorcyclists)
  • Seatbelt course
  • National motorway awareness course (NMAC)

For more details on all these courses go to Safer Roads Humber

The Humberside Police Driver Alertness Course is an alternative to prosecution for some drivers involved in a crash where they have been driving without due care and attention.

Studies have shown that drivers involved in this type of crash are much more likely to others in the future than someone who has not.

As prosecution does not address faults that led to the crash the scheme looks to improve the knowledge and skills of those drivers. The aim is to reduce the chance of them being involved in similar incidents in the future.

Theory work and practical re-training at the client’s own expense is given during the one-day course.

Thousands of drivers have now attended this course in the Humberside Police area and similar courses are run all over the country.

The Driver Alertness Course is self-financing and not for profit. The police refer drivers to the scheme rather than for prosecution if there is enough evidence to prosecute. If the driver refuses to go on the course, fails to attend or does not take part properly they will be sent for prosecution. No further action is taken if the driver completes the course successfully.

A driver cannot go on another Driver Alertness Course for three years.

As well as the Driver Alertness Course and Speed Seminars there are a number of other education courses that can be offered to clients as an alternative to prosecution. These include:

  • What’s driving us?
  • Driving 4 change
  • RIDE (for motorcyclists)
  • Seatbelt course
  • National motorway awareness course (NMAC)

For more details of all these courses go to Safer Roads Humber

Speed limits in North Lincolnshire are set using national criteria and guidance produced by the Department for Transport (DFT).

Following consultations, the DFT updated this guidance in 2011. As a result, a wide ranging review of speed limits within North Lincolnshire has taken place on all A and B class roads. Most speed limit changes have already taken place, however other changes may take place where it is appropriate.

The updated guidance should help to improve the consistency of how each speed limit was applied to a road, taking into account the nature of the road, housing and buildings, casualties and existing speed data.

Speed is a factor in about one third of crashes on the road in the UK. In urban areas, speeding vehicles can affect the quality of life in many communities.

Speed limits are introduced to improve road safety. The speed of vehicles is influenced in two ways:

  • Legislative – speed limits
  • Physical – traffic calming

Information on speed limits on different types of road is found in the Highway Code.

How do I request a speed limit change?

If you think a speed limit should be lowered, raised or extended please contact the Traffic Team. We will then assess your request.

We will ask the police for their view on a change in the speed limit. We will also take into account:

  • The nature of the road, including its alignment
  • Level of activity alongside the road
  • Road casualty record
  • Affect caused to a community by the speed of vehicles

In urban areas the speed limit should look and feel right for the road if drivers are to keep to it. Before making a decision to change a speed limit the council must consider all relevant factors. These include:

  • Expected reduction in crashes on the road
  • Improvement to the environment
  • Reduction in public anxiety
  • Improved facilities for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists
  • Delays to traffic
  • Cost of changing the speed limit
  • Cost of putting in and maintaining changes to the road (for example, signs and lines)
  • Cost of police enforcement, particularly where the speed limit is seen as unreasonable by drivers

If justified, a new speed limit order will need to be made. The legal process for this takes around nine months to complete.

If a road has street lights and no repeater signs then the speed limit is 30mph. The council is not allowed to put up repeater signs on these roads.

If you wish to report a missing or vandalised speed limit sign please contact the Traffic Team on traffic@northlincs.gov.uk or by calling the Customer Contact Centre on 01724 297000.

Other sites of interest

Moving freight efficiently and safely to and from local ports and industrial areas is important for the economy and environment of North Lincolnshire.

Freight routes

To reduce the number of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) travelling along residential and other unsuitable roads, freight routes have been created in North Lincolnshire.

Unsuitable routes

Many roads in North Lincolnshire are not suitable for HGVs because of restrictions on weight, height or width.

Any load over 40 tonnes is classed as abnormal and the haulier must inform the police and receive permission to move it on the roads.

HGV signing

Roads unsuitable for HGVs are signed with the restrictions. These need the backing of a traffic regulation order (TRO) before they can be enforced. The council will put restrictions on roads that they consider to be unsuitable for HGVs.

If you want to report a missing or vandalised sign, please contact us.