Over zealous speed limits. Can they be challenged?

[flanagaj]

I live in North Dorset, Blandford to be precise and a local road from Blandford to Shaftesbury which has always been a 60mph suddenly turns into a 50mph. So I contacted the local council and received the reply below.

"The speed limit was brought in following consultation carried out on the A350/C13 Route Strategy in the Summer of 2017 and raised by key stakeholders including Parish Councils and local members. This consultation dealt with a number of aspects along the route including gateways and junction improvements but through this consultation there was overwhelming support towards speed limit changes on the A350 between villages and a long section of the C13. This will provide consistency on both routes between Blandford and Shaftesbury. The start point from the south is a at point prior to the dips and bends and leading to Spread Eagle Hill where traffic was travelling at close to 50mph.



Firstly, the speed limit then went through primary consultation with members, parishes and Dorset Police who had no objections. Following this the legal process of 21 days public notice was carried out where there were no objections to the proposals.


We have not completed the repeater signs which will be put up hopefully in the next 2 weeks."

Now my issue here is that this road should be a 60mph. It is no different to any other 60 mph road in the area and it just stinks that it could become a 50 mph just because of a few individuals with an obvious vested interest felt it should. When these changes are proposed is there an independent body who looks at it from the motorists point of view so as to stop over zealous speed limits being imposed.

I want to challenge it, but not sure where to start?

[Saleen836]

I always take the Higher Shaftesbury Road, never noticed the speed limit

[flanagaj]

Well that's my take on it too now, but it's bloody infuriating they can just impose a 50 mph without and real need for one.

[helix402]

50 is the new 60. These reduced limits have become very common in Somerset and are now seeping across the border to Dorset.

They are the new trend for some reason. Afraid I can’t help on ideas for challenging them.

[LordBretSinclair]

flanagaj said:

I want to challenge it, but not sure where to start?

Dorset Council Council as the Highway Authority should have a policy (agreed and approved by Members) on setting speed limits within the County. Ask for a copy of this under Freedom of Information and see whether the new limit conforms to their own policy.

Under FOI I would also ask for data on the number of recorded Road Traffic Collisions on this stretch of road in the last 3 years, including the causation factors for these collisions to ascertain if there is an excessive speed problem..

Edited to add - just found their policy here:-
https://www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/roads-highways-mai...

Edited by LordBretSinclair on Friday 3rd August 17:35

Edited by LordBretSinclair on Friday 3rd August 17:37

Edited by LordBretSinclair on Friday 3rd August 17:46

[Yertis]

Saleen836 said:

I always take the Higher Shaftesbury Road, never noticed the speed limit

I think the limits have been dropped on that road too, but if you've not noticed that's probably of no consequence

[bad company]

Might be worth asking these guys for advice. They used to have a pack to use when objecting to speed limit reductions. I managed to stop a proposed 20 limit through my village.

http://www.abd.org.uk