Recently the speed limit on Seaham Rd through Nelson’s Plains was reduced to 80kph. There was much controversy as some felt the extra few minutes it would take to get from “a to b” was an unacceptable imposition.

Local residents along Seaham Rd have long felt the dangers of speeding traffic. Those needing to exit or enter their properties welcomed the reduction in speed limit. Residents who live near the Hinton Rd intersection regularly see the accidents and clean up the debris.

A recent accident occurred where a car was turning right into a property. The driver had the indicator on, brakes applied and needed to wait for an oncoming bus before he could make the turn. Unfortunately another car was bearing down on the stationary vehicle from behind, at speed well over the 80kph limit and the impact propelled the stopped vehicle into the path of the oncoming bus. Thankfully the bus driver could see this play out before her and was able to stop with barely a metre to spare.

Luckily the driver and the child in the impacted car were not severely injured but the traumatic experience will live with them and their family for a long while. As it will with the bus driver and the driver who wasn’t paying attention and caused the accident. The speding driver was attended to by ambulance staff, but luckily was not hospitalized.

This is a vindication of the reduction in speed that local residents have been asking for over many years. However, people constantly ignore the limits and use their mobile phones while driving and thus are not aware of what is happening right before their eyes.

So, when you think that travelling over 80 will get you to your destination faster remember that local residents have no alternative but to slow down and wait before they can access their driveways.