Speed Indicator Device

Sevenoaks Town Council has a Speed Indicator Device which is moved between three locations within Sevenoaks Town.

The purpose of this device is to reinforce the 30mph speed limit on roads near schools which had been identified by the Town Councillors of the 2019-2023 electoral period to be especially prone to speeding. After much debate by the Planning Committee on which roads to prioritise - with the limit allowed being three - the following roads were selected:

Bradbourne Vale Road near the entrance to the riding school
St Johns Hill near Holly Bush Lane
Brittains Lane near Beaconfields

These locations are shown on the maps below, indicated with an "X".

Bradbourne Vale Road - facing South, affecting North-bound traffic travelling towards Knole Academy

St Johns Hill - bidirectional

Brittains Lane - bidirectional

The following timetable shows the scheduled location for Sevenoaks Town Council's Speed Indicator Device:

St Johns Hill near Holly Bush Lane SOUTH (affecting North-bound traffic)

18^th December 2024 – 12^th February 2025

Brittains Lane by Beaconfields facing NORTH (affecting South-bound traffic)

12^th February 2025 – 8^th April 2025

Brittains Lane by Beaconfields facing SOUTH (affecting North-bound traffic)

8^th April 2025 – 4^th June 2025

Bradbourne Vale Road facing WEST (affecting East-bound traffic)

4^th June 2025 – 30^th July 2025

St Johns Hill near Holly Bush Lane NORTH (affecting South-bound traffic)

30^th July 2025 – 24^th September 2025

St Johns Hill near Holly Bush Lane SOUTH (affecting North-bound traffic)

24^th September 2025 – 19^th November 2025

Brittains Lane by Beaconfields facing NORTH (affecting South-bound traffic)

19^th November 2025 – 14^th January 2026

Brittains Lane by Beaconfields facing SOUTH (affecting North-bound traffic)

14^th January 2026 – 11^th March 2026

Bradbourne Vale Road facing WEST (affecting East-bound traffic)

11^th March 2026 – 6^th May 2026

The above locations were publicly consulted on between March 2022 and April 2022, and after a 77% positive consultation response the equipment was subsequently ordered in June 2022. Following installation of the SID posts and receipt of the equipment, the device has since been operational since 28th February 2023.

The St Johns Hill and Brittains Lane locations were successfully installed as bi-directional, meaning that the SID can be turned around to face the other direction after the initial 8 weeks facing one direction. Bradbourne Vale Road however is operational only facing West, due to the site not being viable for Eastern facing infrastructure. This leaves the SID with five scheduled different placements between three locations.

The equipment will remain in each of its five placements for 8 weeks each before being moved to its next location. This is in order to comply with traffic sign regulations, and also has the added benefit of limiting the effects of "sign blindness". Also known as "inattentive blindness", this can occur when a driver sees the same traffic signs everyday, and therefore stops being as aware of and adhering to them.

More information about the public consultation, which was held between 9th March 2022-20th April 2022, including method of consultation and responses received and can be found via this link.