Residents urge road safety action

The petition, which contained 95 signatures, argued there was an "ever-increasing violation of the speed limit on Wheel Lane".

It added: "Rarely, if ever, do motorists drive within the 30mph limit. The norm is anything from 50mph upwards.

"There have already been several serious accidents due to excessive speed and we believe that traffic calming measures are long overdue."

Although Sheffield Council has received complaints about speeding on the road in the past, it said safety measures could not be justified because of the "relatively low" number of accidents there, compared with other locations.

Highways officers have now, however, come up with a 55,000 scheme which is designed to make drivers slow down on the 1.5-mile route, which links Halifax Road (A61) with the Common (A6135).

Characteristics along the route, which comprises Wheel Lane, The Wheel, Town End Road and Church Street, vary considerably, as some sections are long and straight and other sections are short with sharp bends.

The width of the road also changes regularly, and the gradient is "quite severe" along some sections.

A report written by Sheffield Council's head of transport and highways, John Bann, which is set to be considered by councillors at a meeting next week, says: "The differing nature of this route may encourage drivers to speed along the wider, more open sections, but these sections then lead into narrow, more difficult areas where conflicts may occur."

Speed surveys found the average speed of vehicles at the Wheel was 34mph, while at Town End Road it was 31 mph, though the highest recorded speed was 47mph.

An analysis of accidents over a five-year period between December 2004 and November 2009 revealed that a total of five "slight" collisions occurred along Wheel Lane and The Wheel.

Mr Bann said: "Sheffield Council focuses its resources on addressing road safety problems at locations with a poor injury accident record.

"The relatively low accident record on Wheel Lane and The Wheel means that substantial road safety measures cannot be justified from the citywide safety budgets.

"However, the newly formed Northern Community Assembly could allocate some of its highways budget to implementing accident improvement and danger reduction measures along this route."

The report suggests putting in "gateway" features along the stretch of road, which remind drivers to slow down and take more care.

A total of five "gateways", comprising signs, road markings and contrasting road surfacing would highlight the road layout at appropriate locations on the western and eastern approaches to the Wheel.

These could be coupled with both "rumblewave" surfacing and vehicle-activated signs, that light up when approached by speeding drivers.

Mr Bann's report adds: "Historically, Wheel Lane, the Wheel, Town End Road and Church Street is a through route where the speed patterns are known to South Yorkshire Police.

"Although a mobile road safety camera was an effective tool in reducing vehicular speeds during the enforcement time period, this reduction was only temporary, as speeds returned to normal soon after the enforcement period finished."

If the suggested "gateway" scheme goes ahead, speed surveys will be carried out afterwards.

The scheme is set to be discussed at a meeting of Sheffield Council's west and north highways area board on Tuesday.