Motorists caught by road sign switch ‘prank’

Hundreds of motorists may have been caught by speed cameras after practical jokers put up a sign near a camera in Woodside Road at Wyke – one of the main routes into Bradford.

One resident said the camera flashed like a “strobe disco light” as many motorists put their foot down before passing it.

Highways chiefs believe the perpetrator went to great lengths to carry out the prank.

First they had to get hold of a 40mph sign, either by stealing it from a pole or the back of a works lorry. Then they had to remove the existing 30mph sign and replace it.

But in their haste they left loose nuts and highways officers said it could have fallen off and hurt someone.

It is believed the rogue sign was put up earlier this week near the junction with Carr House Lane. Motorists could have been caught out by it for up to 48 hours.

Council officials were told on Tuesday afternoon but it wasn’t until Wednesday afternoon that they took it down.

A spokesman said the delay was caused by investigating the matter and then finding someone to remove it.

It is not clear whether motorists caught speeding will be let off – but a council official suggested that it might be looked on favourably.

Lorry driver Dave Clarke, who lives nearby, said: “People were coming at 30mph but this sign brought them back up to 40mph so people were picking their speed up and setting the flash off.

“Some evenings it’s been like a strobe disco light. There have obviously been a lot of people who have been caught by it.

“Whoever has placed the sign there, it’s a stupid thing to do. It costs time and effort for all those involved in the fines process.”

The council’s principal engineer for Bradford south, Darren Badrock, said: “It’s a crassly irresponsible thing to do. It inconveniences the public and potentially puts them in breach of the speed limit and receiving a ticket.”

He said the metal sign had not been affixed securely and could have been blown onto a pedestrian or through a car windscreen.

“This was a really stupid thing to do,” he added.

Asked if any speeding fines would be waived for the period the sign was up, he said that the West Yorkshire Casualty Reduction Partnership would take into consideration the fact of the rogue sign.

Mr Badrock suggested that the sign may have been put up by a prankster or by someone with a grudge after being caught speeding.

The road used to be a 40mph zone until it was changed to 30mph at the end of last year.

The limit was lowered because there had been 157 casualties, including some deaths, on the A641 over three years.

Mr Badrock added: “Anyone who receives a fixed penalty notice related to the camera monitoring traffic travelling north on Woodside Road, between High Fernley Road and Carr House Lane, who believes the unauthorised sign was a factor should contact the partnership.”

It is not the first time pranksters have interfered with speed cameras in Bradford.

Some years ago they placed a white sheet over a camera, leading motorists to believe it was not working. But a hole in the sheet ensured speeding drivers were caught in the act.