Make SID smile in Suffolk – by sticking to the speed limit

Suffolk motorists who keep to the speed limit could be rewarded with a cheery smile from a new roadside monitor launched in mid-January.

Suffolk County Council has launched three new Speed Indicator Displays - known as SID - which will be used across the county to remind drivers to stick to the speed limit.

The SID speed detection equipment beams up the speed of a passing vehicle on a roadside board – accompanied by either a smiling or scowling face, according to the speed recorded. Motorists travelling over the speed limit will not be fined or receive points on their licence - SID is simply designed to make drivers more aware of their speed.

The system is portable and can be set up easily in any area where speed is an issue - outside schools and on rural routes through villages, for example. The county council will also make one of the monitors available for use by Suffolk Police.

"These mobile units will play an important role in improving road safety in the county," said Peter Monk, a member of the county council’s executive committee. "The reaction to SID has been very positive in our trials. SID’s smiling face may appear to be a bit of a gimmick but the message is serious and the equipment’s use in other areas has slowed vehicles down - and slower speed saves lives.

"The majority of motorists on our roads do not intentionally drive over the speed limit - they just don’t realise how fast they are going," he added. "SID will make drivers more aware of their speed and will help us achieve our aim - to make Suffolk’s roads safer for everyone."

For further information about this article please contact Rod Sore, road safety engineer, 01473 583203.