Yet another ridiculous speed limit.

DT said:
In general we are becoming a country with too many rules and regulations.
Click to expand...
I agree, however, as long as there are idiots around who think they can do as they please regardless of the consequences then I'm afraid the rules and regulations will intensify.
 
The Coops said:
I like the traffic light system, going too fast, traffic lights change to red and camera fitted for those who don't stop, right speed green light, carry on, seen them a lot in Spain and there is one on the A75 towards Cairnryan no arguments no *go slowers* or lane blockers, get caught its down to you not frustrated by other road users. As with most things needs to be look at sensibly not a blanket ban, I could be wrong but the speed guns were calibrated to 30mph so no use at 20mph as not accurate.
Click to expand...
Agree totally in principle - except that some of the ones in France seem to be set wrong, so that an idiot going through way over the limit sets the light to red but gets through themselves before it turns red. Very frustrating!
 
Paul and Val said:
Dear Wino

Thank you for your lecture. Its always good to hear from perfect drivers.

Yes, I have been hit up the rear 7 times and only on the 6th time was my vehicle moving. On every other time I was stationary either in traffic or at lights.

The last time was on Fulham High Street and I watched the small van driver approaching at well below the speed limit but looking at a piece of paper in his left hand. He told me later he was looking at an invoice. He did look up at the last second and it was rather comical to see the look of horror on his face (which was probably far less than the look on mine). He never had chance to brake however and he hit me at what I would probably guess was 20 - 25mph. My brand new black C200 only ten days old was a sad wreck and it was the only time that I was hurt but luckily with nothing other than short term effects.

By the way in case in your suspicious little mind you think that I have been causing accidents in order to claim compensation, the last rear end was the only time I did so and I received a pay out of 1.500 Pounds.

I should also clarify my phrase about driving at high speed. The thing that the flat cap brigade don't realise, is that a good driver will adapt his speed to the conditions. I am a great believer in cruise control as a safety device, it allows full concentration without staring at the speedometer and can be changed at the flick of a button. I drive on cruise where possible but my foot is covering the brake all the time which slightly reduces reaction time.

On open safe roads it would normally be set to 88 - 92mph (an actual corrected speed of probably 84 - 88 mph) BUT that would constantly be turned down where there were junctions and other hazards (and before you have a heart attack, fairly obviously not in towns!). At other times in light traffic it could be higher.

The A1 was my normal arterial route initially and I knew at the time where the traffic Police would sit. By the way, always on the most open, least dangerous sections of road, never in the danger spots, but that did allow them to catch more motorists. I never found them interested in bad driving, just fast driving. Was I ever caught speeding? Oh yes, sadly. I don't think that I ever had less than 6 points on my licence but driving over 100.000 work miles a year it was an occupational hazard.

I saw I guess probably 6 serious accidents in my driving life. Only one of them had a real speeding element.

I got hit in the side when signalling and turning right quite correctly when a maniac on a motorcycle came up the outside at about 75mph in a 30mph zone. He went over the roof of my car and stopped rolling about 70 metres up the road. Apart from a motorcycle far shorter than it should have been and a huge dent in my Jenson Interceptor there was no damage apart from my nose being cut by flying glass.

Incidentally, the first comment from the attending Police Officer to the motorcyclist was, "I have seen some complete Wabbits in my time but you are the champions of champions. I shall call you King of the Wabbits". I rather like that I have to say.

The worst was driving out of Derby when an old smoky lorry changed lanes without looking and crushed an old style Mini against the Armco. The girl was badly hurt and it was shocking experience which I still think about from time to time. The girl would have had a tough life as she lost her right arm sadly.

A big multi-car pileup after a car cut across lanes and spun a Mondeo around the wrong way on an A1 roundabout. I was about the only car not to get hit but destroyed the front right wheel and tyre by deliberately running up the curb and off the road. The car behind me hit the car that had been in front of me.

I saw a girl get knocked down in a 50mph zone. The driver was superb by almost completely stopping despite the girl, who had a death wish running across two lanes of traffic with no warning and without looking. She was shocked and bruised but unhurt.

I saw an inattentive driver mow down a temporary traffic light and knock down a yellow vested worker. He was not hurt I think but the way the car was surrounded by his fellow workers meant that the driver may have been! The driver appeared to be looking but not seeing. He never even braked for the red light!

I saw a car come straight across a junction without looking and hit a passing Renault 5. Nobody hurt but both cars were absolute and complete writ-offs. The Renault was about 2 feet wide at the rear.

Actually a seventh accident has just come to mind. I saw a lorry blow a front right tyre and swerve across the dual carriageway and crush an Opel. The driver was hurt but not seriously. That was heading north out of Paris and the noise of the exploding tyre was more shocking than the accident.

Just running through them again in my mind only the first had speed as a main problem and it would not have mattered to the mad motorcyclist if the speed limit was 1mph.

'Speeding' is never a problem. Driving too fast for the road conditions is the problem. People who drive past schools at the 30mph posted limit when kids are running about are maniacs who should be locked up. There was a school in the next village to us in the UK. I saw a Police speed trap outside the school four times. Three times on a Sunday and once at 10 or 11 at night.

I rest my case. Oh and by the way Wino. I absolutely hate Formula 1 (but Top Gear is not too bad even if I don't watch it).

Have a safe and great day dear fellow road warriors.
Paul
Click to expand...
 
'Speeding' is never a problem.
Really? I think a close look at facts will contradict this. I think we are straying from your OP. You stated at some length that you did not like the idea of reducing speed limits and I respect your point of view, whilst disagreeing with it. Fortunately, the evidence is seriously stacked against you. Whilst you are possibly a sensible and cautious driver, others are not, therefore rules are needed and need updating to reflect changing habits. We cannot argue against the fact that where a speed limit is reduced lives are saved.
 
HKF said:
I might have listened to what you had to say if your post hadn't been so condescending and full of self-belief.

Oh, and it's been a long, long time since the term 'RTA' has been used in the professional environment. The official term is now 'RTC' (Road Traffic Collision). For your information, this is so as not to imply innocence or guilt to any party.
Click to expand...
Talking of condescending posts 😉😂👍

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Barti Ddu said:
I'm sorry, but to say that you are a "fast but sensible driver" who hasn't ever had an accident (except for the 7 rear end shunts) is really quite funny.

Maybe being hit from behind as you panic brake when you belatedly spot the speed camera?!

You've got to love a "road warrior".
Click to expand...
Please see my fuller comment .

You've got to love a person who jumps to conclusions.
 
Soycd said:
'Speeding' is never a problem.
Really? I think a close look at facts will contradict this. I think we are straying from your OP. You stated at some length that you did not like the idea of reducing speed limits and I respect your point of view, whilst disagreeing with it. Fortunately, the evidence is seriously stacked against you. Whilst you are possibly a sensible and cautious driver, others are not, therefore rules are needed and need updating to reflect changing habits. We cannot argue against the fact that where a speed limit is reduced lives are saved.
Click to expand...
If you are going to quote somebody please be honest enough to quote the full comment. What I actually wrote was -

'Speeding' is never a problem. Driving too fast for the road conditions is the problem.

If you don't understand that I can try and explain it again for you...................
 
Tigertom said:
Talking of condescending posts 😉😂👍
Click to expand...

Wink Reaction GIF
 
Soycd said:
I think the whole idea of these reductions is to prevent further problems or prevent them happening in the first place? The simple fact is there are way too many vehicles on roads these days and we have to accept that keeping all vehicles moving at a reasonable speed all the time is pretty much impossible. Anyway I'm in danger of straying away from the OP. I still can't think of a reasonable excuse for not reducing speed limits from 30mph to 20mph, nor have I seen a reasonable argument to support not reducing. I will however keep an open mind, but the evidence seems stacked in favour of a reduction.
Click to expand...

Agree with all this except the premise that "there are way too many vehicles on roads these days".
It could equally be argued that there is not enough road space for the vehicles that want to use them. And still more is taken away to give more space to empty buses and the occasional summer cyclist.

But, yeah, 20mph in resi areas and outside schools, I'd vote for.
 
Paul and Val said:
If you are going to quote somebody please be honest enough to quote the full comment. What I actually wrote was -

'Speeding' is never a problem. Driving too fast for the road conditions is the problem.

If you don't understand that I can try and explain it again for you...................
Click to expand...
Oh dear, clearly I made a mistake for which I apologise. I still maintain that you do not have any evidence to support the OP and as I mentioned the rules are there to protect people from others, unlike you, who drive recklessly. If you are delayed on your journey because of a lower speed limit that saves lives then you will have to live with that. Oh, and patronisation is not really needed is a grown up discussion.
 
DDJC said:
Agree with all this except the premise that "there are way too many vehicles on roads these days".
It could equally be argued that there is not enough road space for the vehicles that want to use them. And still more is taken away to give more space to empty buses and the occasional summer cyclist.

But, yeah, 20mph in resi areas and outside schools, I'd vote for.
Click to expand...
Ironically, if more folk used public transport and cycled, traffic pollution, congestion, expenditure on repairs and accidents numbers would be reduced.
 
joe and sue said:
Surely there are too many signs telling us what to do, hence people ignoring them, What ever happened to common sense and recognising risks, and driving accordingly ??
Click to expand...
I totally agree.(y)
 
jongood said:
So if the lawmakers have decided that a 30mph limit is appropriate for the situation, is it OK to be overidden by a politician?

The Highways Agency is responsible for determining speed limits on the trunk road network, and local traffic authorities are responsible for determining speed limits on the local road network.

In most cases they would have had the opportunity to set a lower limit but didnt.
Click to expand...
As the politicians are the lawmakers then of course it is.
 
I'm all for lower speed limits, I might be able to keep up with the traffic around me then. How you enforce the limits is key. I hate traffic calming measures. Annoy the t!ts off me, but not as much as people tearing down my road.
 
Soycd said:
I still can't think of a reasonable excuse for not reducing speed limits from 30mph to 20mph, nor have I seen a reasonable argument to support not reducing. I will however keep an open mind, but the evidence seems stacked in favour of a reduction.
Click to expand...
Take this same thought process and have vehicles going at 60mph or 50mph going into a 20mph zone and you're going to end up with the same congestion. The result, no gaps in the traffic for very long periods which means pedestrians can't safely cross the road and any vehicle turning right out of a junction can't get out. Frustration will cause more accidents.

Living in Mid-Wales as I do, over 90% of my driving is done in Mid- Wales, the road network is extremely poor and it can take forever to get around. No Motorways, very few dual carriageway miles, so journey times can be much longer than elsewhere in the UK.

In England, the government is spending countless £billions cutting journey times by 20 minutes with HS2. The Welsh government is at a stroke going to significantly increase journey times within Wales. The present Welsh government have been in power for more than 20 years and still have no plans to make a road which joins North Wales to South Wales. For such a small country the journey time for such a journey is ludicrous :madder:
 
Last edited:
Mattyjwr said:
Ironically, if more folk used public transport and cycled, traffic pollution, congestion, expenditure on repairs and accidents numbers would be reduced.
Click to expand...

You aren't wrong.

But, I have a snapped ligament in my knee and I hate dirty, smelly, noisy, packed, late, over-priced, infrequent, unreliable, public transport that starts nowhere near where you are, goes nowhere near where you need to be, on a route that goes everywhere and takes five times as long as a car, and with no luggage space.

Here in the sticks, we have an indifferent public transport. It is more practical to drive, so I do. I have to wonder whether those that live in cities, who advocate car free transport would recognise a cow from a tractor. They certainly have no ide at all about how life in the country works. A mate from Greater London was over recently and was most put out that no uber driver was available through his app, and that the last train had gone a hour earlier. And "No sorry Mick, today's bus went at midday. Next one is tomorrow".

Still, fine with me. I never go into cities any more, so perhaps they can stay out of the countryside?
 
Mattyjwr said:
My car (automatic) goes into 3rd gear at less than 20mph.

The British Medical journal links a report that there is a 8% reduction in NOx and PM10 for diesel cars at 20mph compared to 30mph.
Click to expand...
Very interesting. I stand corrected Sir.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
As an aside to this very interesting debate (on both sides) is the fact that the stupid (in my opinion) reduction to 80kmph from 90kmph limit here in France has actually meant an INCREASE in average speeds, but only by 0.3 kmph.
 
How much longer does it take to complete a journey when going 10kmh/mph slower?
 
PP Bear said:
some of those given a license struggle to read, let along fully understand speed or what the road signs actually mean.
Click to expand...
I will beg to differ on that paragraph of you post I have had dyslexia all my life struggle to read write in my early years.
I know lots of drivers HGV as well who have the problem's you state I have had one speeding infringement in over 36 years of driving my brother a HGV driver has never had a speeding infringement.
My son is one of the most compliant drivers I have ever know I and member of the institute of advanced drivers he certainly knows the difrance between 20 and 30 mph.
Bill
 
DumfriesDik said:
Amazing - this just appeared

www.bbc.co.uk

Speed limit to be lowered to 20mph in Wales

Wales will become the first UK nation to adopt a 20mph default limit speed in built-up areas.
www.bbc.co.uk
Click to expand...
Welcome to Wales. The lunatics are running the asylum. Other plans they have is lengthening the school day by an hour and cutting the Summer holidays for schools to 4 weeks. Think how hard it is going to be to book a holiday or time off work when you only have a 4 week window :doh: Idiots, no thought gone into it at all:madder:

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
DDJC said:
You aren't wrong.

But, I have a snapped ligament in my knee and I hate dirty, smelly, noisy, packed, late, over-priced, infrequent, unreliable, public transport that starts nowhere near where you are, goes nowhere near where you need to be, on a route that goes everywhere and takes five times as long as a car, and with no luggage space.

Here in the sticks, we have an indifferent public transport. It is more practical to drive, so I do. I have to wonder whether those that live in cities, who advocate car free transport would recognise a cow from a tractor. They certainly have no ide at all about how life in the country works. A mate from Greater London was over recently and was most put out that no uber driver was available through his app, and that the last train had gone a hour earlier. And "No sorry Mick, today's bus went at midday. Next one is tomorrow".

Still, fine with me. I never go into cities any more, so perhaps they can stay out of the countryside?
Click to expand...
Many road adjustments schemes are being applied where the demands are greatest. Public transport to remote areas and generally needs to be improved... This needs to be happening faster and not at the expense of improving private transport which will only expand to fill the increased capacity.

Ironically as well, speeding and accident rates plus deaths in the countryside are far higher than many people consider.
 
Wee Bold Davy said:
Take this same thought process and have vehicles going at 60mph or 50mph going into a 20mph zone and you're going to end up with the same congestion. The result, no gaps in the traffic for very long periods which means pedestrians can't safely cross the road
Click to expand...
Here's a wild and wacky idea. Maybe they could put in a few zebra crossings :)
 
Yorick said:
Here's a wild and wacky idea. Maybe they could put in a few zebra crossings :)
Click to expand...
And traffic lights at junctions. They won't do that, it requires thought ...... and spending money, neither of which they are capable of , well not wisely:whistle2:

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Join us

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Back
Top