Speeding on Highgate Hill

On the morning of 23 May members of the Society met some Community Support Officers and Cllr. Scott Emery, Highgate (Haringey). We stood on The Bank and for half an hour used a portable radar speed camera. Many of the cars coming down the Hill were going faster than the 20 mile an hour speed limit, with some going over 30 miles an hour.

This stretch of road runs between Channing Junior and Senior Schools and there are often children crossing it. There have been several collisions recently in the stretch we were monitoring. Arrangements will be made to measure speeds there in the evenings when there is less traffic. At this first stage data is collected and warning letters are sent to drivers but if the problem is considered to be a significant one then TfL should install permanent safety cameras. When there is sufficient evidence we shall be asking for that to be done.

It is also possible as another step to collect detailed traffic data comprising elements such as vehicle classification, speed, and volume data using a Pneumatic Automatic Traffic Counter. These are better at capturing statistical data on traffic volumes and speeds, but would need to be installed by Haringey.

After the speed check we walked up towards the High Street with Scott Emery to discuss the other points of this campaign:

– the excessive width of the pelican crossing outside Channing Junior School which limits visibility of the traffic signals, makes it hard for the elderly to cross in the time available and makes it possible for vehicles to overtake other vehicles that are stationary at the crossing

– the unnecessarily narrow pavement immediately downhill of the crossing on the Haringey side

– the need for a bus build-out for the bus stop immediately outside Channing Senior School. It is disappointing this was not done as part of the recent works to relay the pavement.

We also saw that parking has been removed either side of the junction with Cholmeley Park and there are new double yellow lines, with the intention of improving visibility. This is not working as can be seen in the photo! Note to Haringey Highways Engineers: we could have told you if you’d asked! A much better solution would have been to move the giveaway line outwards to the line of the parked cars as at the junction of Swains Lane and South Grove.