A580 - 40 mph speed limit , bad signs and frustrated drivers
Discussion
I intended posting this up to let locals know about this change - but ended up reading the site to find out a bit more about what you are like.
Anyway - bit of history about the East Lancs -A580. In the late 70s they upped the speed limit by 10 mph from 50 mph to 60 mph from Ellenbrook to Irlams o' The Height. From this point - the A6 became a 50 mph limit - enforced by the second highest earning camera in Greater Manchester per the MEN paper. The road was re-engineeered and they removed the central barrier. This led to pedestrian collisions as people then started crossing the busy carriageway. They have also developped the area by rebuilding 2 secondary schools close by. So - the road has been downgraded back to 40 mph.
And it's a bit of a mess! Because:
1. Drivers feel this is a "60 mph" still and still try to drive at that speed!
2. Signs along the A 580 are small repeaters - and locals appear to be "sign blind to them" as they have been used to a faster road for so long.
3. Signs at Moorside Road and other junctions consist of a very small yellow oblong - which can be missed as they are alongside yellow oblong signs informing us of property developments in the area.
Lots of locals have penned letters to the local press expressing the points I have put above.
I am posting this just to let people who live locally - and especially those who used to live locally and may visit relatives occasionally - know that this limit has changed - and to be careful as there are a couple of mobile vans working this route now.
Hope this is of help to you.
Best wishes
Genny xx
Anyway - bit of history about the East Lancs -A580. In the late 70s they upped the speed limit by 10 mph from 50 mph to 60 mph from Ellenbrook to Irlams o' The Height. From this point - the A6 became a 50 mph limit - enforced by the second highest earning camera in Greater Manchester per the MEN paper. The road was re-engineeered and they removed the central barrier. This led to pedestrian collisions as people then started crossing the busy carriageway. They have also developped the area by rebuilding 2 secondary schools close by. So - the road has been downgraded back to 40 mph.
And it's a bit of a mess! Because:
1. Drivers feel this is a "60 mph" still and still try to drive at that speed!
2. Signs along the A 580 are small repeaters - and locals appear to be "sign blind to them" as they have been used to a faster road for so long.
3. Signs at Moorside Road and other junctions consist of a very small yellow oblong - which can be missed as they are alongside yellow oblong signs informing us of property developments in the area.
Lots of locals have penned letters to the local press expressing the points I have put above.
I am posting this just to let people who live locally - and especially those who used to live locally and may visit relatives occasionally - know that this limit has changed - and to be careful as there are a couple of mobile vans working this route now.
Hope this is of help to you.
Best wishes
Genny xx
i use the a580 everyday and have done for the past 10 years. its ridiculuous to drop the limit to 40.... apparently the reason being a child got killed crossing it.... surely the question should be why is a child crossing a dual carriage way at a non designated crossing point?
people still drive at 50 regardless of the reduction.
people still drive at 50 regardless of the reduction.
It sounds like people are ignoring the new limit because the limit should have stayed at 60. Most people will continue to drive at the speed they feel safe. As speed is irrelevant, and driving skill is the key issue in accidents it is best drivers look out of the clear bit at the front rathe than down at their speedometer.
That way, they can spot the silly tax camera mobile vans ahead of time, slow to the unreasonable 40 and then increase to the safe 60 immediately after then van.
That way, they can spot the silly tax camera mobile vans ahead of time, slow to the unreasonable 40 and then increase to the safe 60 immediately after then van.
RacerMDR said:
It sounds like people are ignoring the new limit because the limit should have stayed at 60. Most people will continue to drive at the speed they feel safe. As speed is irrelevant, and driving skill is the key issue in accidents it is best drivers look out of the clear bit at the front rathe than down at their speedometer.
That way, they can spot the silly tax camera mobile vans ahead of time, slow to the unreasonable 40 and then increase to the safe 60 immediately after then van.
i see this EVERY day!That way, they can spot the silly tax camera mobile vans ahead of time, slow to the unreasonable 40 and then increase to the safe 60 immediately after then van.
It's crazy at 40....
Even crazier what they did outside Salford university.. Just creating a bottleneck that was never there.
Cycling along the A57 near Irlam today I could see small 40mph signs (covered up for the time being) near Makro where its a dual carriageway. Seems this will be going the same way at the A580.
Even crazier what they did outside Salford university.. Just creating a bottleneck that was never there.
Cycling along the A57 near Irlam today I could see small 40mph signs (covered up for the time being) near Makro where its a dual carriageway. Seems this will be going the same way at the A580.
There was talk about dropping the A57 at Makro down to 30 mph and they had even considered making the A580 30 mph along the stretch I opened this thread about. Basically, I think they have created danger where non actually existed by setting such a low speed limit. (Per Salford Advertiser newspaper).
Nasty little Smart car with a big camera at Ellenbrook the other morning.
Interesting case involved a jogger who crossed the A580 at the pedestrian point near the M61 junction. He was killed by a car overtaking another one at 57 mph. This was just after the stretch had been marked down from 60 mph to 50 mph. The driver faced no charges (speeding apart) because the investigating policeman told the court that "it would have been impossible to see the pedestrian at that point because of the road layout!" So perhaps they need to re-construct the road or move the crossing point to somewhere safer then?
Someone mentioned the Bridgewater Way near the Manchester United ground. There are black boards which warn of ANPR/texting/seatbelts and match day delays. There is a red camera light by the Harry Ramsden restaurant as you head down to Manchester. There have been mobile speed vans near those garages within the last month as I have seen them!
Nasty little Smart car with a big camera at Ellenbrook the other morning.
Interesting case involved a jogger who crossed the A580 at the pedestrian point near the M61 junction. He was killed by a car overtaking another one at 57 mph. This was just after the stretch had been marked down from 60 mph to 50 mph. The driver faced no charges (speeding apart) because the investigating policeman told the court that "it would have been impossible to see the pedestrian at that point because of the road layout!" So perhaps they need to re-construct the road or move the crossing point to somewhere safer then?
Someone mentioned the Bridgewater Way near the Manchester United ground. There are black boards which warn of ANPR/texting/seatbelts and match day delays. There is a red camera light by the Harry Ramsden restaurant as you head down to Manchester. There have been mobile speed vans near those garages within the last month as I have seen them!
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