Hopes that permanent speed signs could make a ‘big difference’

PERMANENT vehicle activated road signs reminding drivers of the speed limit are set to be installed in Voe, Scalloway and Bixter.

Shetland Islands Council’s roads manager Neil Hutcheson added that permanent signs could also be installed on the approaches to Brae towards the end of the summer.

They would effectively be a permanent, wired in version of the ‘smiley face’ type signs which tell drivers when they are going over the limit.

Speaking at a meeting of Shetland’s community safety and resilience board on Thursday, Hutcheson said using permanent ones is essentially a trial, but “we are hopeful they’ll make a big difference”.

Temporary battery powered signs have been in place recently at locations in areas such as Brae and Lerwick.

Funding for the permanent signs is coming from Transport Scotland, but SSEN is sponsoring the ones planned for Brae.

The new signs are set to be installed on the A968 in Voe, the A970 in Voe, Mill Brae in Scalloway and on the A971 in Bixter.

A report to members of the board said the proposed sites are either “associated with newly reduced speed limits or existing reduced limits where concerns have been expressed regarding excessive vehicle speeds”.