Bromley Residents Take Speeding Crisis Into Their Own Hands
Frustrated residents of Siward Road and Godwin Road in Bromley have escalated their long-standing battle against speeding motorists by purchasing their own speed gun and submitting over 1,000 recordings to the Metropolitan Police. Despite years of complaints and documented dangers, including eight accidents between 2024 and 2025, locals feel their pleas for safer streets are falling on deaf ears.
A Neighborhood Under Siege
The issue first gained traction in 2019 when residents, led by husband and wife Susannah and Donald Miller, approached Bromley Council. Their efforts resulted in a 30mph speed-activated sign, but data shows one in four drivers still trigger it. The wide, straight nature of these roads makes them a popular cut-through, encouraging excessive speeds that endanger children, elderly residents, pets, and pedestrians.
Becky Candy, a Godwin Road resident, emphasized the risks: “We’ve got lots of kids on both our roads, and animals and elderly people as well as crossings and blind spots. All it takes is one person out there and it’s a serious accident.” The Millers described living there as a “nightmare,” prompting their decision to buy a speed gun in 2024 for concrete evidence.
Shocking Data Reveals Widespread Problem
After six hours of concentrated study, residents found that 40% of recorded cars exceeded 30mph, with 12% going over 40mph. The most alarming capture was a vehicle hitting 75mph. Susannah Miller expressed disbelief: “One in ten people driving above 40 mph in a 30 zone. It’s just sort of unimaginable really, but it talks to the wider problem that we’ve got with people not seeing speeding as a real crime.”
She advocates for making speeding socially unacceptable, akin to drink-driving. Donald Miller has personally submitted all 1,000+ reports, often during school pick-up and drop-off times when children are most vulnerable.
Residents Propose Solutions Amid Bureaucratic Deadlock
The community has clear requests for traffic calming measures:
- Narrowing the road
- Installing planters or chicanes
- Adding road paint
- Erecting signs alerting to elderly and young children
However, they face a frustrating catch-22. Bromley Council insists speeding enforcement is a police matter, while the Met Police states physical interventions fall under council responsibility. This bureaucratic stalemate leaves residents feeling abandoned.
Official Responses Highlight Funding and Priority Challenges
Bromley Council cites limited funding and prioritization based on accident data. Councillor Nicholas Bennett, executive councillor for transport, highways and road safety, explained: “Bromley is London's largest borough with 547 miles of road... We have a tried and tested process for assessing collision blackspots.” He noted no recorded injury collisions on these roads in the three years to June 2025, directing focus elsewhere.
The council highlights previous actions: a mini-roundabout at Siward and Woldham Roads junction and the speed-activated sign. Bennett added that speed camera installation depends on Transport for London and police allocations, with no new cameras for Bromley in years.
A Met Police spokesperson acknowledged concerns: “We appreciate the concern that speeding causes and continue to work across our local area to tackle the issue.” They mentioned regular enforcement checks, new speed guns, and trained officers, but reiterated that physical measures are the council’s domain.
Community Determination Persists
Despite official hurdles, Bromley residents remain determined. Their citizen-led data collection has exposed a systemic issue affecting urban neighborhoods across London. As speeding continues unchecked, they vow to keep pressuring authorities until meaningful changes ensure their streets are safe for all.
