Resident speaks out on the need for better enforcement of speed limits

A resident has claimed that little has changed since a 20mph speed limit was introduced on a busy Sheffield road after a car overturned in a crash.

Emergency services were called to Psalter Lane, in Nether Edge, at around 12.40pm on Thursday, June 18 following a collision involving a grey Mini Cooper and a black Vauxhall van at the crossroads with Cowlishaw Road and Kingfield Road.

The impact caused the Mini to flip onto its roof.

South Yorkshire Police said there were no reports of life-threatening or life-altering injuries.

A resident, who did not want to be named, lives opposite the junction and described the dramatic scenes in the aftermath of the crash.

They said: “The car overturned and the van was stoved in. Passers-by were trying to get the woman out of the car and her airbags had gone off.

“It caused chaos on the road for a time.”

The resident said that this collision was not a result of speeding, but it is one of a number of recent collisions on the road, despite the introduction of a 20mph limit.

“As a resident that lives here, I feel that since the 20mph has been put in, little has changed to prevent accidents,” they said. “In fact, since it has been enforced there have been at least five high-speed collisions in less than a year.

“Just last month, 50 metres down the road there was a collision with a parked car in the early hours of the morning.

“Lunatic drivers use it like a race track, as it is a straight road.”

The resident added that many drivers appear to ignore the speed restriction, although there is no reason to believe this was the case in the latest incident.

“It is not making it safer. There are still lunatics driving out there, speeding down the road and ignoring it, especially at night,” they added.

“I would also say that more than half of the people driving on the road in the day would be liable to prosecution.

“You don’t see people abiding by the speed limit, which makes it even more dangerous.

“The people who do stick to 20mph often end up with queues of traffic building behind them and can feel pressured by other drivers.

“I also think the limit can create its own problems because drivers are constantly having to change down a gear and keep braking to stay at 20mph.”

Calling for further measures, they said: “We need better enforcement of the rules, a speed camera for example.

“I also think bringing the speed limit up to 30mph alongside these cameras would be the safest idea.

“If accidents are continuing to happen at the rate that they are, the inconvenience of having to drive at 20mph is not bringing any benefits.”

A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said following the incident: “We were called at 12.40pm today (June 18) following a report of a collision between two vehicles at the crossroads between Cowlishaw Road, Psalter Lane and Kingfield Road in Sheffield.

“It is reported that a black Vauxhall van and a grey Mini Cooper were involved in a collision.

“There are not believed to be any life threatening, or life altering injuries and officers remain at the scene.”