Council bid to cut road injuries

Councillor Michael Clare with the new sign in Boldon

Speed-activated signs are to be installed at accident blackspots throughout South Tyneside.

The solar-powered signs are blank, but they detect if a motorist is speeding and will flash up the limit of the road to prompt them to slow down.

South Tyneside Council is putting up 27 signs in 19 accident hotspots to try to reduce casualties on the road.

The authority has received funding for from the Local Transport Plan and Northumbria Camera Partnership.

The signs will be installed next week and their performance monitored over the next 12 months.

Councillor Michael Clare, leader of the council's Neighbourhood Services, said: "Drivers travelling too fast run the risk not only of injuring themselves should they have an accident, but also innocent pedestrians.

"People have a right to be protected from such behaviour."

The first signs have already been erected in Dipe Lane in Boldon, Marsden Road in South Shields and Whitburn Road in Cleadon.