A34 interchange to A4130 speed limit plan raises concerns

The claim has been made in response to proposals by Oxfordshire County Council to reduce the speed limit of Steventon Hill and the A4130 to the Milton Interchange at the A34 from 40mph to 30mph.

Responding to a consultation, Thames Valley Police said that installing just road signs of the new speed limit is “unlikely” to achieve compliance from motorists who have been driving at 40mph for years there.

In documents published online ahead of a formal decision being made, police also suggested there was potential for speed cameras to be installed on the two stretches of road.

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The documents said: “Thames Valley Police note that if a speed limit is perceived as unrealistically low and widely ignored, it can reduce overall safety, undermine respect for speed limits, and disproportionately criminalise drivers.

The A4130 from the Milton Interchange (Image: Google Maps)

“They also emphasise that police enforcement resources are limited and that there should be no expectation of routine enforcement where limits are set without supportive road design measures.

“Furthermore, there is extensive concern from other residents about the proposed reduction to 30mph, with many respondents also considering it excessively low for the character and function of the A4130 and Steventon Hill.

“Concerns include the rural or non‑residential nature of the road, the absence of frontage development, and the historic operation of the route at higher speeds.

“Some have highlighted that 40mph has historically worked well and that lowering limits will unnecessarily slow traffic, increase frustration and undermine respect for speed limits generally.”

A file image of a speed camera

Other proposals being put forward include a new bus lane on the A4130 eastbound between its junctions with the Steventon Hill and the A34 Milton Interchange near Didcot.

The plans also include new restrictions blocking westbound drivers from making a U-turn on the A413 at the Milton Interchange at its signalised junctions with Trenchard Avenue and the Steventon Hill.

Despite the concerns from the police, a consultation carried out by the council found that, of the 70 respondents, more people supported the speed limit reductions than opposed.

Oxfordshire Liveable Streets, supporting the proposals, said in a statement: “Given there is no cycling infrastructure here, and this is the main cycle route between Steventon and Didcot, this should also be reduced to 30mph.

“The carriageway here is wide and in places has central hatching, which encourages higher speeds.

“Consideration should be given to removing the centre line and putting in a southbound (uphill) cycle lane – or even a bus lane where width allows.”