12 January 2024 , 15:27
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A farmer who lives on a road notorious for car crashes says there have been no accidents since he installed a fake speed camera made from a wooden bird box.
Nick Porter, 40, from Braintree in Essex, decided to take matters into his own hands after calls for highway officials to cut the 60mph speed limit were ignored. The accident blackspot had already caused four cars to lose control and fall into a ditch last year, while nine deer were hit by vehicles. In 2014, three people were killed in a crash in the same spot.
But since the fake camera went up on the A1017 between High Garrett and Gosfield near Braintree in Essex three months ago, Mr Porter says drivers have cut their speed allowing for a much safer road. He said: “It's money well spent. We no longer get the really fast cars. People would literally put their feet down from the traffic lights about a quarter of a mile away and can get up to 70 or 80mph. Motorcycles sometimes reached 90mph.”
Mr Porter made the camera using a £40 bird box he found online, spending a further £25 on the metal rail used to hold it above the road. He painted the box yellow so that it resembled an official speed camera and converted the hole where birds would normally enter the box into a camera lens.
The contraption was a response to complaints by locals who were growing increasingly concerned with the levels of dangerous driving in the area. The spot is home to ten houses with 15 children, and many say they can’t use a bus stop outside because there are no pavements.
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Nick decided to take matters into his own hands (JOHN McLELLAN)Neighbours had even offered to pay out of their own pockets for new signage and looked into the possibility of buying a car to park on the road and force vehicles to slow down as they drive past it.
He said: “Obviously we don't want to have to do it because, if something happens, it'll then be on our conscience. But it's getting to the stage where it's either that or it could be one of our children. We're left with very limited options.
"It's a fairly straight road but there are enough curves in it to make it dangerous, which is why people end up in ditches or crash into deer and write their cars off. Eight or nine drivers a year hit deer and four cars ended up in the ditch last year”, he added.
Chris Siddall, the Essex county councillor who chairs the local highways panel, told the BBC he understood the concerns and recommended the speed limit to be cut down to 40mph. He said: “It's really important that speed limits feel right for the motorist. If people feel the speed limit isn't correct, they'll ignore it. Forty miles per hour does feel a reasonable speed to drive along that section of road.”
Mr Porter found the bird box online for £40 (JOHN McLELLAN)
The accident blackspot had already caused four cars to lose control (JOHN McLELLAN)An Essex Highways spokesman said: “Following any fatal collision on the Essex highway network, the Road Safety Engineering team will conduct a full investigation on behalf of the highway authority at the location of the collision. As part of our investigation, a full review of the highway and surrounding environment is undertaken to consider any potential highway-related contributory factors in the causation of the collision.
“We also review the previous ten years' collision data within proximity to the incident location. This review is key to determine if there is a historic incidence of collisions. If a clear collision pattern or trend emerges in relation to these collisions, which can be treated by engineering measures, a 'remedial scheme' can be put forward to the Local Highways Panel for design and construction funding.
“Additionally, any local safety concerns can be raised with the local Essex County Councillor who can also bring the issue to the attention of the Local Highways Panel. The Local Highways Panel will then review the evidence provided and can look into potential solutions to the concerns raised.” The Mirror has contacted Braintree District Council for a comment.