Review of Speed Limits

[nickg]

ITS GOT TO BE CLARKSON!!!!!

Jeremy is our saviour.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

The A6144(M) near me, which for many years was a SCL 70mph road, has been dropped to 50mph.

The reason? The average speed (mean) of traffic was just under 50mph, and DoT guidelines allow them to reset the speed limit within a certain perecentage range of the mean speed. Therefore a perfectly safe 70mph road was dropped not to 60mph (as its no longer a motorway), but 50mph.

They didn't mention the vast majority of road users who incorrectly believed the road to be 40mph (as thats the speed limit of the road that it leads to). Or the HGV freight that uses it.

The effect is that generally, traffic moves slightly faster. But not I, I now move at the same speed - 70mph. Theres only one place the vans can park, I know where it is, and they won't be getting me soon.

 

[BTB 500]

The A6144(M) near me, which for many years was a SCL 70mph road, has been dropped to 50mph.

The reason? The average speed (mean) of traffic was just under 50mph, and DoT guidelines allow them to reset the speed limit within a certain perecentage range of the mean speed. Therefore a perfectly safe 70mph road was dropped not to 60mph (as its no longer a motorway), but 50mph.

They didn't mention the vast majority of road users who incorrectly believed the road to be 40mph (as thats the speed limit of the road that it leads to). Or the HGV freight that uses it.

The effect is that generally, traffic moves slightly faster. But not I, I now move at the same speed - 70mph. Theres only one place the vans can park, I know where it is, and they won't be getting me soon.

Interesting, maybe that's how they did exactly the same thing on the dual carriageways either side of the M25 J11 roundabout near me. There are hardly any unrestricted roads left any more.

 

[Shude]

The average speed (mean) of traffic was just under 50mph, and DoT guidelines allow them to reset the speed limit within a certain perecentage range of the mean speed.

Is this measured using those temporary strips/cables you sometimes see across the road? I make sure I'm always doing exactly the speed limit going over them, I was led to believe that they're used to measure average speeds and traffic flow so new camera locations or speed limits can be assessed.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Yes, they did it with the rubber strips.

What pains me is that they saw the mean speed (from memory about 48mph) and said "right, lets make the limit 50mph". So basically criminalising almost 50% of the people using that road.

The road was designed for 70mph. Cyclists, pedestrians, and horses - all still banned from using it.

20mph drop in speed limit with no clear purpose. Oh and the same week the limit dropped, there were scameravans monitoring it.

 

[Dryce]

Despite popular misconception we have absolutely loads of land - only 6% of UK land is classed as 'built environment' - we should aim to consume, say, another 1% for new motorways and important new dual carriage ways.

The problem with that 6% bit is that it kind of gets distorted between
the significantly more than 6% in areas such as the SE and various
extended conurbations the considerably less than 6% in the wilds of
Scotland.

Basically the bulk of the unused 94% (or whatever) isn't where the
people are.

 

[NormanB]

You are absolutely correct and while there is clearly insufficent land for such motorway schemes within connurbations you find within remarkably (and suprisingly short distances) from them, plenty of 'marginal agricultural land' to pour some concrete. This marginal is even more marginal when you consider water supply problems to irrigate in the parched south east.

It just needs vision, determination and unequivicoal boldness to champion through to achievement.

 

[Swiss Toni]

It just needs vision, determination and unequivicoal boldness to champion through to achievement.

And lots of beer.

Don't forget beer.

 

[Dryce]

It just needs vision, determination and unequivicoal boldness to champion through to achievement.

The boldest solution would be to develop the economy and country
such that the population spread more. This would also help address
infrastructure issues such as pressure on airports, water supply,
as well as roads.

Fly over the southern part of England on a dark clear evening and
there isn't a lot of area that's not lit up with interconnected urban
and suburban sprawl. This only really diminishes after Manchester
as you head north.

 

[blassberg]

but we need someone to take that to the masses

The country needs an enema!

ITS GOT TO BE CLARKSON!!!!!

I'm not sure which point nickg thinks CLARKSON was the answer to - but probably fits both.

We need to vote for individual ministers not parties.

So Clarkson for Roads.
Stringfellow for Leisure and Amenities.
Daley Thompson for Sport.
etc etc