M62 road works, why is the site speed limit 11mph?

[pjdow]

As the title. I drive the M62 quite often and keep noticing that the speed limit for the workers is 11mph.

Why 11, and not 10, or 9?

seems odd!

[bigfatnick]

i wondered that, then i figured maybe a lot of speedo's dont register till 10mph

[RJP001]

Maybe that's how quick the average worker can leg it to avoid being flattened by an 8 wheeler.

[davepoth]

It's not even a sensible number in kph - 17.7ish.

[dnb]

Very close to 5 metres per second.

[DanielC4GP]

I thought it was because everyone has gotten used to seeing 10 everywhere and now ignore it compared to when a odd number like 11 is used.

I don't know why 9 isn't used and 11 is instead but like someone said it might have to do with some speedos not registering below 10.

[12gauge]

Ha, i just did a AA Speedwatch awareness thingy (for an SP30 instead of points) and according to the speed buff lecturer guy 11mph is the highest speed which you definetly, certainly, absolutely wont kill any pedestrians. Apparently.

So its probably health and safety taking some lab report theory a little to literally.

[Gafferjim]

Nah! They'll have too many sticky "1's" when they make up the signs.

[kazste]

At work in our car park speed limit is 10.5 mph to try and make you remember it. I would say its a stupid idea but I guess this post shows I'm at least aware of it.

[Toaster Pilot]

kazste said:

At work in our car park speed limit is 10.5 mph to try and make you remember it. I would say its a stupid idea but I guess this post shows I'm at least aware of it.

Do you work for a power company?

[McSam]

Gafferjim said:

Nah! They'll have too many sticky "1's" when they make up the signs.

This is almost certainly it, don't want to waste numbers they could ordinarily use elsewhere on something relatively trivial. 1s don't really get used at all. So there you go!

[busta]

12gauge said:

Ha, i just did a AA Speedwatch awareness thingy (for an SP30 instead of points) and according to the speed buff lecturer guy 11mph is the highest speed which you definetly, certainly, absolutely wont kill any pedestrians. Apparently.

So its probably health and safety taking some lab report theory a little to literally.

That sounds like a challenge if ever I heard one!

I'm pretty sure running over someone, done properly, could kill them regardless of how slow you do it.

[Chrisw666]

I think the fella who chose the speed limit was a frustrated rocker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbVKWCpNFhY

[busta]

McSam said:

This is almost certainly it, don't want to waste numbers they could ordinarily use elsewhere on something relatively trivial. 1s don't really get used at all. So there you go!

Surely they'd just buy more 0s and less 1s? I mean, just because they are numbers, you don't have to buy a set of 0-9 each every time!

If that where the case, surely we'd see road signs saying vqzqzxxvvqxqzxqvvxzzzq, for example.

[P I Staker]

12gauge said:

Ha, i just did a AA Speedwatch awareness thingy (for an SP30 instead of points) and according to the speed buff lecturer guy 11mph is the highest speed which you definetly, certainly, absolutely wont kill any pedestrians. Apparently.

So its probably health and safety taking some lab report theory a little to literally.

I could kill a pedestrian at 11mph, I'm sure of it.

[McSam]

busta said:

McSam said:

This is almost certainly it, don't want to waste numbers they could ordinarily use elsewhere on something relatively trivial. 1s don't really get used at all. So there you go!

Surely they'd just buy more 0s and less 1s? I mean, just because they are numbers, you don't have to buy a set of 0-9 each every time!

If that where the case, surely we'd see road signs saying vqzqzxxvvqxqzxqvvxzzzq, for example.

I know, and I'm sure they do, but that doesn't mean you can't end up with a few lying around - or perhaps they only had 1s thanks to some daft but not implausible admin failure!

And setting an 11mph speed limit is at least still applicable and sensible. Whereas that sign wouldn't work even in Wales

[Akerslake]

Through the powers of google I have found two magical (probably wrong) facts:

11mph is the average impact speed for hitting pedestrians.

A study found that aspeed limit of less than 11mph, 100% of cars stop for a pedestrian, one of 15mph only 28% stop for a pedestrian (for Pedestrian crossings).

[kazste]

Toaster Pilot said:

Do you work for a power company?

Yes, is this .5 limit mainly used in this industry or are you good at guessing?

[Toaster Pilot]

kazste said:

Yes, is this .5 limit mainly used in this industry or are you good at guessing?

Judging by your location I've worked there in the past that's all

Was going to post the same.

[wst]

McSam said:

Gafferjim said:

Nah! They'll have too many sticky "1's" when they make up the signs.

This is almost certainly it, don't want to waste numbers they could ordinarily use elsewhere on something relatively trivial. 1s don't really get used at all. So there you go!

They don't even need to waste numbers. Duct tape would be perfect for it.