May 2023 Update
The Campaign Continues
The Community Council has formed a sub-group who look after the Road Safety Campaign and work to keep actions on it happening.
The sub group is made up of Community Councillors and members of the public and they meet quarterly with Aberdeenshire Council representatives to discuss matters, requests and look at actions.
Since our survey findings were shared with the Council, there has been a number of meetings with the Council who have already started actioning several issues raised.
We are currently working on finding a simply way of sharing these with members of the public and hope to publish that document soon.
The Campaign Continues
The Community Council has formed a sub-group who look after the Road Safety Campaign and work to keep actions on it happening.
The sub group is made up of Community Councillors and members of the public and they meet quarterly with Aberdeenshire Council representatives to discuss matters, requests and look at actions.
Since our survey findings were shared with the Council, there has been a number of meetings with the Council who have already started actioning several issues raised.
We are currently working on finding a simply way of sharing these with members of the public and hope to publish that document soon.
Campaign issues and focus areas
Whilst recognising that our road networks are an essential element of modern life, there have been significant changes in the way people live the lives - with many more people using their local open spaces and appreciating the outdoors. We have the A93 main road passing straight through our community and the B9077 South Deeside Road used by many commuters and the A957 Slug Road being used by HGV's to the south, so we have to have a balance between those users and the community needs. Normally legislative guidelines and Aberdeenshire Council actions would address these issues however it is clear that neither are moving in the direction that our community wishes - we can point to numerous complaints to us about inappropriate driving and road noise, the poor state of road markings on the A93, the explosion of potholes not being repaired (and if repaired, they quickly fail) and the refusal by Aberdeenshire Council to reduce speed limits in Kirkton of Durris and Crathes.
The key issues we wish to change are
The overall goal is to change the priority on our roads from cutting journey times for road users to enhancing the communal places for the local residents.
The key issues we wish to change are
- Appropriate speed zones - challenging the 50 mph in Kirkton of Durris and the 40 / 60 mph zones in Crathes and the side street speeds in Drumoak (Park 40 mph could also be included); allied to this is better speed reducing features e.g. speed indicators
- Road makings / signage - to slow down drivers and warn them of hazards e.g. rumble strips or other means of warning drivers to slow down for Drumoak, there are very few warning signs about pedestrian and cyclist users of the roads despite the fact that they have priority in built up areas,
- Better infrastructure - to have more features to change driver behaviour and improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists - both Drumoak and Crathes have no cycle ways despite the Deeside Way converging onto these ares, Drumoak has limited road crossing island refuges on the A93 for school kids, there is little or no traffic calming measures.
- Better maintenance - we appeciate that Covid and budget constraints have impacted matters recently, however now funds appear to be available. The standard of all our roads compared with, say the A96 trunk road, is deplorable. Many road markings are badly faded, cats eyes are ineffective, vegetation is not cut back and obscures signage.
The overall goal is to change the priority on our roads from cutting journey times for road users to enhancing the communal places for the local residents.
Statements & Actions
Online Survey Closed - 175 respondents - Key findings
In general, pedestrians do not feel safe in our villages
- speeding vehicles, inappropriate speed limits
- insufficient and inadequate paths
- insufficient pedestrian road crossings
Cyclists & drivers felt unsafe on our roads
- poor conditions of roads and verges
Inconsiderate road behaviour
- pedestrians impacted by cyclists on paths
- pedestrians and cyclists impacted by vehicles
Drumoak priorities - A93 crossings, road markings and village gateways
Durris priorities - lower speed limits in Kirkton, better maintained verges
Crathes priorities - crossing A93 between bus stops
Rural areas - road conditions, inconsiderate drivers and cyclists, verge and tree maintenance
The Community Council will raise these issues with key officials in Aberdeenshire Council and also seek to co-ordinate with other communities and action groups.
Attached are some key documents - position statements, survey results, links to key websites etc.
In general, pedestrians do not feel safe in our villages
- speeding vehicles, inappropriate speed limits
- insufficient and inadequate paths
- insufficient pedestrian road crossings
Cyclists & drivers felt unsafe on our roads
- poor conditions of roads and verges
Inconsiderate road behaviour
- pedestrians impacted by cyclists on paths
- pedestrians and cyclists impacted by vehicles
Drumoak priorities - A93 crossings, road markings and village gateways
Durris priorities - lower speed limits in Kirkton, better maintained verges
Crathes priorities - crossing A93 between bus stops
Rural areas - road conditions, inconsiderate drivers and cyclists, verge and tree maintenance
The Community Council will raise these issues with key officials in Aberdeenshire Council and also seek to co-ordinate with other communities and action groups.
Attached are some key documents - position statements, survey results, links to key websites etc.
| improving_roads_and_traffic_management_in_our_communities.pdf |
| cddcc_road_safety_survey_2022.docx |
| road_survey_data_graphics.pdf |
2015 Historical Campaign - Road Safety Residents Action Group
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On behalf of the RAG, we wish to thank all residents, stakeholders, elected ward councillors and community councillors who took the time to attend the first meeting of this group. For those who were not able to attend but sent forward apologies, thank you.
The meeting was extremely positive and the forward plan is being worked by Mike and Mark and will be communicated soon. Minutes of the meeting can be found here. |
