As part of Kent County Council’s commitment to reducing the number people killed and injured on the roads, a phased casualty reduction scheme has been implemented on the A28 Canterbury Road between the St Nicholas roundabout and Brooksend, Birchington. 

The scheme began with replacing the old road studs and signs and repainting the lines and road markings.  Work has also included reducing the speed limit from the national limit to 50mph and the construction of two new hard standings to allow speed enforcement.

From June 2015 the 40mph speed limit at Brooksend and the new 50mph speed limit on the dual carriageway between Brooksend and St Nicholas roundabout saw enforcement by periodic visits by the Safety Camera Partnership mobile enforcement vans as well as local patrols of Kent Police, however some road users are still choosing to take unnecessary risks and drive at excessive speed. 

As a result, an average speed camera system is being installed that will monitor speeds and record offences 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  The infrastructure is largely in place, with the camera columns and the infra-red lighting poles already installed.  The system will “go live” and begin enforcing the 50mph limit once installation is complete and a period of testing, calibration, and certification has been completed.

This phased and partnership driven approach between Kent County Council and Kent Police is expected to go a long way to address the crash history at this location that has resulted in multiple fatalities, serious injury, slight injury and ‘damage only’ to vehicles, property & street furniture.  In the five year period leading up to the start of the scheme this section of the A28 saw 3 fatal, 3 serious, and 27 slight injuries resulting from 19 crashes.

We would like to ask all road users to help us by playing their part to make sure everyone gets home safely.  Keep your speed down, put your seatbelt on, and please don’t drive distracted.