want to request safety mirror at dangerous junction.Any advice?

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Perce

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as title. There are several dangerous crossings I have to use but one particular would be much safer if it simply had a safety mirror. It is at the top of the village.
You need to cross a busy road which has a 30 mph speed limit which I suspect is often ignored! You cannot see if anyone is coming up or down the hill unless you stick your horse's head (or car for that matter) into the road. they can't see you waiting so don't slow down.
A mirror would allow you to wait back from the junction and only come forward when the road is clear. Sorted!

Has anyone any experience of getting the council to put up a mirror? What were the steps you went though?
Anyone ride around Woodbury East Devon fancy joining me to work at making this crossing safer in Woodbury and any others onto Woodbury common feel free to say so :-)
 
My mum asked our local council and was told it would cost us 4k!! If its put on private land with owners permission though you could purchase one yourself.
 
Don't know if it's along the same lines, I got in touch with my local highways agency, found them via the local council. I wanted a horse triangle sign putting up, they came out to assess the road, decided there was a need/money available , and eventually put sign up. I did have to pester them every few weeks.
If you can persuade the relevant officials that the lack of mirror is an accident waiting to happen, or point out any near misses, they might see your point? Get as many people as you can to ring up too.
Hated riding on a blind bend and hearing a car come screeching towards you!! Good luck.
 
thanks.
Will contact Highways and see what they advice.
unfortunately I think it is an accident waiting to happen...the problem is that Highways often seem to need the accident to happen before anything can get money to be done...
The wall it could go on is probably privately owned so I could try approaching them once I have spoken to Highways. but 4k! agh!
 
Well you might get a different response at different times of the year , if they have some budget left towards the end of the financial year they are more likely to say yes
 
Parish Council is the first approach.

You need to go with a 'level head' and no emotion and explain the dangers to the road users, pedestrians-mums with buggies is a good one, cyclists and horse riders.

Show photos of the area to back up your evidence.

If necessary, source the mirror and show examples of what you mean, and go with costings!!!

It maybe possible for the PC to approach the land owner and ask to have the mirror installed on their land without the need for 4000!!!!!
 
I would have thought that if it's considered a dangerous junction and in need of a mirror then it's up to the council and nothing to do with the landowner, having said that, the only mirrors I've ever seen have been on farms to help with moving tractors etc on country roads....
 
Parish council. Find out when their next meeting is and go along to put forward your case for a mirror. Maybe try and video yourself trying to get across the junction (hat cam would be good). You could also email your local MP. Our MP is really good especially on rural affairs so it may be worth a try getting them on your side.
 
I don't know anything about getting mirrors but I have to cope with some junctions like crossing a 50mph A road. I deal with it by turning the pony 90 degrees to the way I'm going at the stop line. Then I can safely stick my head out to see if there's anything coming without his head being in the main road and if he happens to take a step forward he's still in the side road.
 
Council can only put up street furniture on highway, not private land without land owners permission. First find out if it is a primary route. If it is you need to deal with the HA, if not the council. I do not know of a council who will fund a mirror. IF, they agree t it, and not many will, you will have to pay for the job (cost isn't just the mirror) and it's maintenance. 4k sounds about right for the work.

pm me the details aI will try to help you. I live in the south west and am a highway engineer who works for an engineering consultancy that's used by another sw council. This issue is vastly more complicated than someone who doesn't work in this usually appreciates and is a minefield. Whatever you do don't write saying it is an accident waiting to happen, as to be frank any piece of road used by an incompetent driver is.
 
thanks for further replies. Have pm'd you pip.

I do use this crossing and have done so for years using various strategies to be as safe as possible, but each time I think "I really must see if anything can be done to make this safer" and because I now have a youngster out again it becomes more relevant.
 
I would approach this from the angle of being dangerous for car drivers, you're less likely to come across someone who thinks all horse riders are stuck up snobs who will try to stick a spanner in the works just for fun.

Good luck :)
 
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