Tuesday 12th February 2002

Rural Roads Targeted

Transport Minister Sally Keeble today urged Local Authorities to take action to reduce the levels of death and injury caused by accidents on rural roads.

Speaking at the Institute of Highways and Transportation Seminar on Rural Speed Management, Sally Keeble said: "Speed is killing and injuring too many people in the countryside. In 2000, 189 people were killed on the motorways in Britain compared to 1,806 fatalities on rural, non built-up roads."

"The Government is committed to curbing road casualties in the countryside. We've had considerable success in making streets safer in our towns and cities, but so far, rural areas have not kept pace with their urban counterparts in making their roads safer."

Links: www.iht.org

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[CarZee]

There are some extremely disturbing elements in what this organisation reports.. have a look at this link:

www.iht.org/publications/public.asp?page=65

Observe such gems of wisdom as:

quote:Despite being controversial, variable speed limiters on all vehicles will be needed. (Recommendation 66).

and this one:

quote:Changing drivers' attitudes to speed is a major priority. Following changes in attitudes a reduction in the national speed limit on single carriageway roads should be introduced. (Recommendation 64).

Worried? Hmm.. looks like this is another organisation of cow-towing pseudo-liberal-vegetablists who need some vitriol spewing in their direction..

[PetrolTed]

They'll win in the end. They'll beat us with the 'speed' stick so hard that we'll all go live abroad, be banned or give in and drive Nissan Micras...

[SMiles]

bet they don't mention anything about farmers having to make sure fences are correnctly in place to prevent accident where animals stray into the road. This has caused several accidents that I know of personally. Of course had the driver not been moving at the time then the accident would have been avoided - speed related you see.

Also on the subject - bet they don't mention the number of accidents caused by wild animals straying into the roads. eg foxes. This will now start to happen on an increasing basis and also encroach into the edges of the cities as hunting is banned. So this issue may come closer to the city dwellers hearts when I'm sure they will get right upset that little Fifi was found maimed by a fox. Don't get me started on how the city folk come and tell us how to live our lives in the country. Something they have no idea about, and incidentally I would dream of legislating about how they live their lives without consulting them first.

Sorry - rant.

[mr_tony]

quote:They'll win in the end. They'll beat us with the 'speed' stick so hard that we'll all go live abroad, be banned or give in and drive Nissan Micras

Never had you down as a quitter Ted

Besides if the government want to target rural roads like they have city ones, then their 'tax' revenue will drop substantially.

(no of people caught per year - cost of camera install and maintenance) will never be viable on most rural roads as the traffic levels are too low.

Unless they go off on one about speed and ignore the cost, which of course they won't. (surely )

[plotloss]

quote:
They'll win in the end. They'll beat us with the 'speed' stick so hard that we'll all go live abroad, be banned or give in and drive Nissan Micras...

..and when they do win, and businesses start failing because everything is moving at a snails pace all over the country they will wonder whats going on.

Matt.

[CarZee]

quote:They'll win in the end. They'll beat us with the 'speed' stick so hard that we'll all go live abroad, be banned or give in and drive Nissan Micras...

Oh Ted, I can't help but feel you're right.. it's bloody dismal..

What to do ? Well I have noticed my blood pressure dropping when I stay off your site

I actually think (hope,pray etc) that once a critical mass is achieved in terms of number of people banned, there'll be a monumental backlash against the whole speeding/speed-camera issue.. expecially once, as we know will happen, there are 3x as many cameras and no reduction in KSIs is forthcoming.

In the meantime we need to keep plugging away, writing to the government, the police, the papers, persuading people to join the ABD etc etc..

Right, I'm off to shout at some people, send some argumentative emails.. then do some donuts in the company carpark..

[PetrolTed]

quote:Right, I'm off to shout at some people, send some argumentative emails.. then do some donuts in the company carpark..

That's brought me back to my senses!

[Jason F]

quote:
They'll win in the end. They'll beat us with the 'speed' stick so hard that we'll all go live abroad, be banned or give in and drive Nissan Micras...

Actually got a reply back from Essex County Council after my little Tirade against Speed Cameras (He still insisted on calling them safety cameras though) and he stated that Essex will not be placing speed cameras on NSL A and B roads, only 30/40mph limits. How long that lasts I know not.

I am convinced there are FAR more people who speed than don't, and as such we are a Majority, and Democracy means that we will win, not the Lentil Eaters.

Anyhow, it won't be too long before we have all had our cars nicked.

[CarZee]

quote:Anyhow, it won't be too long before we have all had our cars nicked.

Yep - that's where my plan for running an A-Reg Sierra with a 4litre V8 and primered bodywork comes in

[hertsbiker]

Well, I've just been thrashing 106bhp around, and never went over 130, honest !

Just gotta fix my Geodesy on the beast now, and we're all set.

Seriously, we *are* going to suffer if this happens, they *will* win in the end, but putting up a fight will delay it hopefully until we're all too old to care.

Cheer up lads !

Carl

[mr_tony]

Personally in the long term I think that this 'war' on speeding seems about as likely to be successful as the 'war' on drugs.

However the 'moral' argument regarding speeding the politicians regard as carrying kudos, so they continue to fight it, despite knowing its an impossible target in order to appear 'right on'.

[englishman in LA]

Reasons to move to the US.

1. 5th ammendment means no speed cameras
2. Cops have to follow you on freeways to get you for speeding. Provided you watch your mirrors your fine.
3. Gas is cheap
4. They pay tou more over here.

Reasons to stay in the UK.

1. No TVR or Lotus Elise over here at the moment.
2. Montana got rid of their no speed limit areas.
3. freeway regularly go at 20 mph and are still dangerous.
4. 10 days vacation a year.
5. Americans.

[plotloss]

They dont neccesarily have to follow you, at least not in all states.

I racked up 11 points in as many months by getting zapped by laser traps.

I found on the whole that they have a much worse attitude to speeding in the US than in the UK (if thats possible!)

Matt.

[CarZee]

quote:1. 5th ammendment means no speed cameras

I'm not sure I believe this as an 'Ultimate Truth' any more... see www.pistonheads.net/gassing/topic.asp?t=6288&f=10&h=0 - this thread seems to indicate that they have TruVelo type cameras in some US States..

Can anyone clarify this?

quote:I found on the whole that they have a much worse attitude to speeding in the US than in the UK (if thats possible!)

Here's where I get into generalisations and get told off by someone who's just sitting at the sidelines waiting for me to say something that "they wouldn't print in the Guardian"

Mainstream US Media seem to be even more bent on sensationalism, emotional manipulation and fatuous rhetoric than the media here. Whether their stand predicates or influences the governmental and social attitudes is open for debate.

I think that the US political system, similar to here, is obsessed with 'being seen to do right' rather than doing what is actually in the best interest of the country. Often, 'being seen to do right' means taking action which will meet with the approval of a public who's appreciation of the deeper issues is simplistic to say the least.

The simplistic view is one which the media are largely responsible for purveying, though admittedly they merely satisfy a demand from an unenlightened public.

In all, I stand by my previously expounded opinions about the moral and social bankruptcy of America (elsewhere in these boards) and will avoid ever visiting the place irrespective of their speeding laws or any other thread of their judicial position.

Oh, and 10 days a year Annual Leave ?? Pah - 3rd world sweatshop, mate! I could get 20-25 as an employee here as you'll be aware, but one of the reasons I'm a contractor is cos I like to have at least 42 days...

[nonegreen]

The case for rural roads to be left alone is not helped by certain Bike and car magazines publishing the best roads to drive on. This results in every ego maniac on wheels turning up and expecting to be very quick. The "cat and Fiddle" (location witheld for fear of being hypcritical) has been home to some of the best bikers in the world for more than 30 years. Now a few expert housewives have installed a 40 limit. (Ooooh Doris they go ever sofast down here y' know). This happened because six bikers were killed before easter a couple of years ago. They got killed because they just showed up and crashed cos magazine said it was a good place to go. Madness! Keep trap shut!

Conversely the good thing about rural roads is that in the more remote spots the complete removal and destruction of the cameras will be easily achieved. Shotguns and paint guns can be used and the enforcability is much reduced. I can't imagine cameras lasting long in the Welsh vallies, the boys will sort it.

[nubbin]

Make a bit of noise everyone. Go out and check whether all speed cameras are at accident blackspots, Write to your council and ask for the evidence. Then go out and find all the signs that say "speed cameras", and see if theyr're within 1Km of the actual camera site. If not they are illegal now, so write to the council and protest. It is possible to make a difference, using the governments own guidelines to do so. Don't give up!! Don't let the bastards grind you down. This country has been the most innovative in history, and we're being dumbed down to a shallow, selfish, grey little pile of shit, by NIMBY's and axe-grinding saddo's who dislike everything, and therefore think everything should be banned. "Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war..." etc. etc. Ahem.....

[nonegreen]

Nubbin I agree with your post but I am not a f@cking christian.

[hertsbiker]

quote:
Nubbin I agree with your post but I am not a f@cking christian.

{cryptic}
I have an interesting book written by a gent called "Anton Szandor LaVey"... very interesting reading.
{/cryptic}

[CarZee]

That bloke's a quality nutter, Carl

[nonegreen]

quote:
That bloke's a quality nutter, Carl

Do you mean me or "Anton Szandor LaVey" ?