RE: Who sets the limits?
Thursday 4th July 2002
Who sets the limits?
ABD call for changes to system to prevent numpty councils setting ludicrous limits
Discussion
Couple of years ago I worked for a company who's carpark entrance was on a semi-blind corner or a 40mph limited busy-ish single-carriageway road.
A very high number of 'near misses' and the odd actual 'coming together' resulted in the company writing to the council suggesting that the speed limit be reduced to 30mph.
The reply stated that actually - under the 'guidelines' to which the council must adhere - the road should in fact by a 50mph limit and that any attempt to reduce the limit would probably cause someone to complain and have it set to 50mph! Furthermore - at 50mph they'd be obliged to fit a 'no right turn' sign on the carpark entrance - meaning a 2 mile detour which, at peaktimes, is a 40 minute long traffic queue!!
So, I've no idea what 'guidelines' they were referring to (but evidently some exist) but it seems that complaining about a speed limit can result in it being set 'more suitably' - well perhaps...
It's time we started writing letters methinks?
TTFN
JP
A very high number of 'near misses' and the odd actual 'coming together' resulted in the company writing to the council suggesting that the speed limit be reduced to 30mph.
The reply stated that actually - under the 'guidelines' to which the council must adhere - the road should in fact by a 50mph limit and that any attempt to reduce the limit would probably cause someone to complain and have it set to 50mph! Furthermore - at 50mph they'd be obliged to fit a 'no right turn' sign on the carpark entrance - meaning a 2 mile detour which, at peaktimes, is a 40 minute long traffic queue!!
So, I've no idea what 'guidelines' they were referring to (but evidently some exist) but it seems that complaining about a speed limit can result in it being set 'more suitably' - well perhaps...
It's time we started writing letters methinks?
TTFN
JP
As I mentioned on another thread, Warwickshire are introducing 20mph limits in villages NOW. A farce.
Did a round trip yesterday Rugby to Cambridge. A14 was terrible (jacknifed lorry) and the trip there took 2 hours. Went the "long" way back, down A428 to Bedford and up the M1. The contrast in speed limits from county to county was marked.
It is ridiculous that the character of roads can change from one county to another, just because of that authorities attitude to "speeding". Its about time the setting of speed limits was taken out of the hands of local authorities where limits are set by interfering busybodies who have no expertise or qualification.
Limits ought to be set according to a strict set of rules - rules, not guidelines. Why should we have some villages on a particular road with a 50mph (NSL) limit, and then because you have crossed a county border the next village on the same road posted at 20mph? We need sensible limits, set consistantly, and monitored by cameras at accident blackspots.
>> Edited by philshort on Thursday 4th July 14:25
Did a round trip yesterday Rugby to Cambridge. A14 was terrible (jacknifed lorry) and the trip there took 2 hours. Went the "long" way back, down A428 to Bedford and up the M1. The contrast in speed limits from county to county was marked.
It is ridiculous that the character of roads can change from one county to another, just because of that authorities attitude to "speeding". Its about time the setting of speed limits was taken out of the hands of local authorities where limits are set by interfering busybodies who have no expertise or qualification.
Limits ought to be set according to a strict set of rules - rules, not guidelines. Why should we have some villages on a particular road with a 50mph (NSL) limit, and then because you have crossed a county border the next village on the same road posted at 20mph? We need sensible limits, set consistantly, and monitored by cameras at accident blackspots.
>> Edited by philshort on Thursday 4th July 14:25
On a stretch or road near my house, the council have imposed speed limits that CHANGES 3 TIMES in the space of a 1/4 mile (from 30 > 60 > 30 >60). You can see each of the lollpop posts in line!! The majority of (mostly numpty) drivers are never sure what speed to be driving at and now they have inrtroduced a speed camera....
Guidelines are produced by the Department of Transport, or whatever they get called for this week. These relate to traffic flow etc, usually checked by those clumsy big cables across the road, failing which a minibus full of day release students from the local college.
Consultation is carried out with the local emergency services by the council roads department who then advice councillors what the limit should be.
Consultation is carried out with the local emergency services by the council roads department who then advice councillors what the limit should be.
I'm also worried about the number of NSL roads that are now being reduced to 50mph limits. I live in the Peak District and some of the best driving roads have been reduced to 50, even though most of them are good quality A roads with great visibility. I think its a plan by council bores to try and disuade bikers (of which I am one) from the Peak District, and encourage the proliferation of caravan towing pensioners.
I live in the Peak District and some of the best roads previously NSL have been reduced to 50mph. This is a ridiculous knee jerk reaction to the occassional inevitable road accidents that will never be stopped no matter what the speed limit is. Spped limits in towns and villages are essential and I try to adhere to them at all times. 50mph on a perfect country road with no houses, pedestrians, etc. It's just plain ridiculous, and turns many law abiding drivers into law breakers. I'm sick of the nanny state and I'm rapidly losing my respect for the police and the law.
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