At a recent DCC Cabinet meeting, Conservative Councillors approved the launch of a trial to promote the use of Speed Indicator Device signs (SIDs). These are signs that measure the speeds of oncoming vehicles and then remind drivers of the speed limit.

Working with their local county councillor, parish and town councils will be able to purchase SIDs for use in areas where speeding is a local concern to encourage drivers to reduce their speed and promote road safety.

The launch is initially a 12 month trial so the County Council can collect data on the impact of the SIDs to feed in to wider policy reviews and enforcement measures.

Cllr Barry Lewis, leader of the County Council, said, “We had a manifesto commitment to do everything we can to improve road safety and this is a big step towards that. I know residents will welcome this new opportunity to try to tackle speeding by giving communities the power to install these signs where there are local concerns.”

Derbyshire County Council will be contacting all district, borough, parish and town councils to explain the process for purchasing SIDs over the next month. Police and Crime Commissioner Angelique Foster is also supporting the initiative by launching a £150,000 road safety scheme, which will support with grants for communities wanting to install SIDs.