Another car hits the bollards in Watford town centre

Several vehicles have been lifted by the new bollards in Clarendon Road, Watford, since the barrier was introduced in November.

On Monday, one car, which was following a bus, just made it through before a following second car was not so lucky. Police have confirmed they have been called to three collisions with the bollards this month.

We know of a bus crashing on January 21, a Volkswagen hitting them on January 25, and a Honda striking them on January 15, as well as Monday’s incident.

This bus was left stranded on January 21

Four days after the bus incident, this car was struck by the moving bollards

Frustratingly for the council, rule-breaking car drivers are trying their luck by dodging through the bollards into the high street – even though only buses and authorised vehicles are permitted.

Watford Borough Council is adamant there is enough signage to warn drivers they shouldn’t be driving down there. Further barriers are not being considered either. 

When a collision does happen, it has a knock-on effect on bus passengers waiting in the high street.

The council has confirmed the automatic bollards work on ANPR system. A series of number plates of buses and emergency vehicles have been collected so when those vehicles approach, the bollards will move down.

The bollards can be manually lowered by a CCTV operator if a permitted vehicle approaches the bollards but the number plate has not been registered.

No car number plates are on the system which means every car that has hit a bollard has to have been tailgating a vehicle. The bollards only allow time for one vehicle at a time.

When a vehicle is involved in a collision with a bollard, it can leave buses stacked up and passengers in the high street stranded. It has also caused police to attend – time which could be spent tackling other jobs elsewhere.

The council says it has pedestrian signs, no entry signs, and ‘signs that say rising bollards ahead’ and is urging drivers to obey the signs. Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor has reiterated tailgating drivers are acting “dangerously”.

He said: “There are number of deterrents in place to ensure cars do no enter the zone, including the bollards themselves.

“The very small number of people who are tailgating buses to get past the bollards are acting illegally and extremely dangerously. Not only will they damage their own vehicle and potentially injure themselves, they can also be prosecuted by the police.

 “These measures have already significantly reduced the number of cars using the town centre as a cut through, which means it is now a much safer and more pleasant environment for people who are walking or riding.

“All bus franchises have been told about these changes and have provided their drivers with training. We’ve also reminded them of the importance of this this week.”