Objecting to Oxon lower limits
Discussion
As somebody who's almost had an accident today due to Oxon's absurd speed limits, count me in!
Following a fool on the B481 between Watlington and Reading. He sped along nicely at 50mph in the NSL sections, but stuck to 25mph in the 30 limits - which are mainly through the countryside.
When we reached the nice straight section just south of the A4130, I went for it - and he decided to stop me overtaking by flooring it...so I had to abort or risk a head on
Eventually overtook him in a 30 section - nice one Oxon CC!
Following a fool on the B481 between Watlington and Reading. He sped along nicely at 50mph in the NSL sections, but stuck to 25mph in the 30 limits - which are mainly through the countryside.
When we reached the nice straight section just south of the A4130, I went for it - and he decided to stop me overtaking by flooring it...so I had to abort or risk a head on
Eventually overtook him in a 30 section - nice one Oxon CC!
I've never heard such utter "end of the world is.." type rot!!
Personally I find it easier to "speed" in 2005 than ever before and I've held a driving licence since 1988.
There are way fewer police actually on the highways and byways and the two times I've been caught with speed camera devices I've explained how my friend from overseas was driving and all was well again.
Now that isn't to say I drive dangerously just going about my driving in the style that I choose.
Sadly reasoned debate doesn't work in the UK - and the only way to express your opinion is every 4 years with your vote, and you don't have to wait too long for that chance.
Personally I find it easier to "speed" in 2005 than ever before and I've held a driving licence since 1988.
There are way fewer police actually on the highways and byways and the two times I've been caught with speed camera devices I've explained how my friend from overseas was driving and all was well again.
Now that isn't to say I drive dangerously just going about my driving in the style that I choose.
Sadly reasoned debate doesn't work in the UK - and the only way to express your opinion is every 4 years with your vote, and you don't have to wait too long for that chance.
The discussion isn't about acting illegally - or lying to the police.
It's about stopping the state nannying and imposition of unreasonably low speed limits for which OCC is becoming infamous.
Nothing is done to improve the standard of the roads - yet hundreds of thousands of pounds are wasted on totally pointless 'bicycle lanes' which no-one uses and the right to inflict random speed limits at will has been handed to local parish councils...
The main Oxonian roads (A40, A34, A44) are all hoplessly congested and of insufficient capacity to cope with the volume of traffic using them. So many drivers seek by-road alternatives - and as a result are branded 'rat-runners'. Even these alternatives are being blocked with more and more 'calming' measures to encourage people back onto the routes with proven insufficient capacity..
Oh - of course. We're all supposed to use public transport, are't we? Well, most of us simply don't have the time or inclination for that.
It's about stopping the state nannying and imposition of unreasonably low speed limits for which OCC is becoming infamous.
Nothing is done to improve the standard of the roads - yet hundreds of thousands of pounds are wasted on totally pointless 'bicycle lanes' which no-one uses and the right to inflict random speed limits at will has been handed to local parish councils...
The main Oxonian roads (A40, A34, A44) are all hoplessly congested and of insufficient capacity to cope with the volume of traffic using them. So many drivers seek by-road alternatives - and as a result are branded 'rat-runners'. Even these alternatives are being blocked with more and more 'calming' measures to encourage people back onto the routes with proven insufficient capacity..
Oh - of course. We're all supposed to use public transport, are't we? Well, most of us simply don't have the time or inclination for that.
Nick - You have no argument from me and I largely agree with your views.
But everything you have just highlighted above has little to do with lower speed limits.
However I think you have to understand where your energies are best spent. Preaching to the converted few dozen people reading this has actually (it seems) damaged your credibility amoung the council that actually has the power to make real change.
Sadly mate to make a real difference your only hope is to become a member of the council. Ranting on pistonheads is only ever going to be a rant.
All I was saying is recognise that and in the meantime I'll keep lying, keep getting away with it as the flowery language of today has tied this country up in knots.
But everything you have just highlighted above has little to do with lower speed limits.
However I think you have to understand where your energies are best spent. Preaching to the converted few dozen people reading this has actually (it seems) damaged your credibility amoung the council that actually has the power to make real change.
Sadly mate to make a real difference your only hope is to become a member of the council. Ranting on pistonheads is only ever going to be a rant.
All I was saying is recognise that and in the meantime I'll keep lying, keep getting away with it as the flowery language of today has tied this country up in knots.
Just to add another story about OCC's anti-car stance.
Reading is badly congested due to 2 reasons - 1) There are only 2 bridges across the Thames and 2) The council's inability to manage it's road system sensibly.
In order to remove problem 1) the council have been trying since the 1930's to build a 3rd bridge. This would be somewhere around the end of the A329(m)/A3290 at Thames Valley Park (Microsoftland). However - the problem is that the land for the bridge would fall within 3 councils - Reading, Wokingham and OCC. Reading and Wokingham are all for it - OCC have blocked this bridge since the 30's with arguments about how their road system can't cope.
Even Prescott is now pushing for this bridge - but OCC won't have any of it. Meanwhile the gridlock in Reading gets worse
Reading is badly congested due to 2 reasons - 1) There are only 2 bridges across the Thames and 2) The council's inability to manage it's road system sensibly.
In order to remove problem 1) the council have been trying since the 1930's to build a 3rd bridge. This would be somewhere around the end of the A329(m)/A3290 at Thames Valley Park (Microsoftland). However - the problem is that the land for the bridge would fall within 3 councils - Reading, Wokingham and OCC. Reading and Wokingham are all for it - OCC have blocked this bridge since the 30's with arguments about how their road system can't cope.
Even Prescott is now pushing for this bridge - but OCC won't have any of it. Meanwhile the gridlock in Reading gets worse
I'm already working with the council on a range of committees - even though I hate committees with a vengeance and a passion, but I'm hopelessly, hopelessly outnumbered and drivers/riders have precisely NO support.
Please, anyone who wants to - get involved.
Of course, no-one will. Hey ho.
Please, anyone who wants to - get involved.
Of course, no-one will. Hey ho.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/4173865.stm
Residents' row over 50mph limits
Campaigning resident say plans to introduce new 50mph limits on five of Oxfordshire's busiest roads to cut the number of crashes are inappropriate.
Parts of the A44, A361, A415 and A4421 have been singled out by the county council, which believes the proposals will reduce accidents in rural areas.
But residents claim the move will lead to a rise in the number of crashes. Campaigner Mark McArthur-Christie fears those who adhere to the new limits will be tailgated by frustrated drivers.
The named routes
A44 Chipping Norton to County Boundary
A361 Williamscot Hill to County Boundary
A415 Kingston Bagpuize to Ducklington
A4421 Bicester to Finmere
B4044 Botley to Eynsham
Mr McArthur-Christie added: "It is true that these roads have a history of accidents, but speeding is not the problem.
"The council is pursuing a hard-line stance of blanket speed limits, no matter what objections are put in their way.
"This results in limits which are clearly inappropriate."
David Palmer, a local company director, said: "Official figures show time and time again that knee-jerk speed limits of this sort don't, and won't, cure the problem."
A county council spokesman said: "They are placed as casualty reduction measures.
"Monitoring of existing sites gives us confidence that the proposals will reduce accidents - especially when supported by additional visual calming measures such as more frequent 50mph reminder signs, coloured surfacing and road markings.
"All the limits currently proposed will be supported by extra calming measures."
Residents' row over 50mph limits
Campaigning resident say plans to introduce new 50mph limits on five of Oxfordshire's busiest roads to cut the number of crashes are inappropriate.
Parts of the A44, A361, A415 and A4421 have been singled out by the county council, which believes the proposals will reduce accidents in rural areas.
But residents claim the move will lead to a rise in the number of crashes. Campaigner Mark McArthur-Christie fears those who adhere to the new limits will be tailgated by frustrated drivers.
The named routes
A44 Chipping Norton to County Boundary
A361 Williamscot Hill to County Boundary
A415 Kingston Bagpuize to Ducklington
A4421 Bicester to Finmere
B4044 Botley to Eynsham
Mr McArthur-Christie added: "It is true that these roads have a history of accidents, but speeding is not the problem.
"The council is pursuing a hard-line stance of blanket speed limits, no matter what objections are put in their way.
"This results in limits which are clearly inappropriate."
David Palmer, a local company director, said: "Official figures show time and time again that knee-jerk speed limits of this sort don't, and won't, cure the problem."
A county council spokesman said: "They are placed as casualty reduction measures.
"Monitoring of existing sites gives us confidence that the proposals will reduce accidents - especially when supported by additional visual calming measures such as more frequent 50mph reminder signs, coloured surfacing and road markings.
"All the limits currently proposed will be supported by extra calming measures."
Shame no one will take any notice and side with the 'we know best' councilors 
When OCC are doing so much to stop us driving at more than walking speed through all the rest of the county, I don't understand what possessed them to raise the speed limit at the B4009/M40 junction (where the Oxford tube stops near Watlington), at the same time as making space for more badly parked cars on the verge. Its like increasing the speed limit through a car park at rush hour! Couldn't they build a proper car park away from the road, like they do abroad?
Pete
Pete
An Oxfordshire County Council spokesman (which in this case means idiot) is reported to have said:
"All the limits currently proposed will be supported by extra calming measures."
When are these clowns going to realise that what we need is driver calming rather than large sums of money being spent on 'traffic calming'?
The amount of money being wasted by these spendthrifts is a disgrace, and in many cases I do not see that it is helping to improve safety.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
>> Edited by TripleS on Tuesday 18th January 13:23
"All the limits currently proposed will be supported by extra calming measures."
When are these clowns going to realise that what we need is driver calming rather than large sums of money being spent on 'traffic calming'?
The amount of money being wasted by these spendthrifts is a disgrace, and in many cases I do not see that it is helping to improve safety.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
>> Edited by TripleS on Tuesday 18th January 13:23
2 letters in last night's Oxford Mail opposing the histrionics of that female district councillor who is making all the noise.
But why do the oh-so-dangerous bends near Cokethorpe Park not just have some 'Maximum Speed Advisory' signs? Cheaper and less unpopular to put up those rather than the nanny-state blanket limit OCC are intending. Advise rather than dictate? No - that'd never be accepted by our wonderful leaders.....
GET WRITING NOW! OCC are due to meet on the 20th; unless there is substantial opposition this wretched limit will soon become fact.
But why do the oh-so-dangerous bends near Cokethorpe Park not just have some 'Maximum Speed Advisory' signs? Cheaper and less unpopular to put up those rather than the nanny-state blanket limit OCC are intending. Advise rather than dictate? No - that'd never be accepted by our wonderful leaders.....
GET WRITING NOW! OCC are due to meet on the 20th; unless there is substantial opposition this wretched limit will soon become fact.
Drove down the A423 from Southam to Banbury today - it's a trunk route but interestingly the moment you cross in to OCC the white lines become faded and the tarmac full of potholes.
Later on I was subjected to the normal crawlers doing 25mph along the B481
PS thanks for the posting above about the parked cars at Watlington - I never understood why they were there!!!
Later on I was subjected to the normal crawlers doing 25mph along the B481
PS thanks for the posting above about the parked cars at Watlington - I never understood why they were there!!!
Entering this late, but I was struck by one statement in the response quoted by nickwilcock, namely: "Monitoring of 50 mph speed limits in Oxfordshire indicates, contrary to the views of the objectors, that such limits, especially when supported by additional calming, can be shown to reduce accidents.""
Read that carefully. What is says is that the monitoring of 'such limits' can be shown to reduce accidents - i.e. by careful selection of (also known as fiddling) the figures. Now, if it had said, "... is shown to reduce ..." it would have been a different matter.
Of course, the original writer might have been as ignorant of English usage as he/she was (is) of the tenuous relationship between the statistics and the claims.
Streaky
Read that carefully. What is says is that the monitoring of 'such limits' can be shown to reduce accidents - i.e. by careful selection of (also known as fiddling) the figures. Now, if it had said, "... is shown to reduce ..." it would have been a different matter.
Of course, the original writer might have been as ignorant of English usage as he/she was (is) of the tenuous relationship between the statistics and the claims.
Streaky
Perhaps you should be using be perusing this,
www.abd.org.uk/jjleeming.htm
The consequences of putting speed limits on roads are covered.
One example cites a village clamouring for a 40 limit where it was an NSL. The result? average speeds went up on the road.
>> Edited by telecat on Tuesday 20th September 14:32
www.abd.org.uk/jjleeming.htm
The consequences of putting speed limits on roads are covered.
One example cites a village clamouring for a 40 limit where it was an NSL. The result? average speeds went up on the road.
>> Edited by telecat on Tuesday 20th September 14:32
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff