Speed checks today in the Hope Valley

Today, our team conducted foot and mobile patrols throughout the villages and in more rural areas, taking advantage of the pleasant weather. We would like to address the primary concerns we frequently receive from the community, which include speeding and anti-social driving behavior. As part of our efforts to tackle road safety, we performed speed checks on Buxton Road, Castleton and then later on the A57 Snake Pass.

Regrettably, we observed poor driving standards along the A57, with numerous motorists—both motorcyclists and car drivers—exhibiting reckless behavior, seemingly made worse by the sunny conditions.

We would like to remind the public that the A57 has a notably high number of accidents, particularly during the spring and summer months. These incidents are often associated with excessive speed or poor driving practices.

Below are statistics from the Derbyshire Road Safety Partnership, covering the period from March 1, 2019, to October 31, 2024, during the summer months:

- **Motorcycle Collisions:** +42
- **Bikers Injured:** +48
- **Bikers Killed or Seriously Injured:** +31

**Contributory Factors for Motorcyclist Incidents:**
- Traveling too fast for conditions
- Exceeding the speed limit
- Loss of control
- Poor turns or maneuvers
- Disobeying double white lines
- Failing to accurately judge the path or speed of other road users

**Additional Route Facts:**
- 90% of riders involved were male
- 83% of collisions occurred in fine weather
- All incidents took place during daylight hours
- Over half of the collisions occurred on bends
- 80% of motorcycles involved were over 500cc
- Two-thirds of the collisions transpired on weekends

We encourage all road users to exercise caution and adhere to speed limits, particularly on the A57, to ensure the safety of all members of our community.