Traffic-calming causes drivers to take other risks
Discussion
Always thought it quite absurd to make the roads more dangerous in an 'attempt' to improve safety 
www.manchesteronline.co.uk/news/s/123/123346_trafficcalming_causes_drivers_to_take_other_risks.html
Traffic-calming causes drivers to take other risks
DRIVERS are defying traffic-calming initiatives by speeding up and taking risks to make up for "lost" time, a survey out today shows.
Two in three drivers say their response to road safety measures is to flout the Highway Code elsewhere, the poll by the Autoglass company found.
After being forced to slow down by traffic-calming schemes, 84% of drivers break the speed limit, 72% drive aggressively, 71% jump amber lights (71%) and two in three cut up another motorist or use rat runs.
As a result, one in 12 said they had had an accident of some sort and 25% had had a near-miss.
Four in five drivers feel inconvenienced by road safety schemes, while 57% are irritated and 31% say they cause them stress.
Annoying
More than two in five drivers reckon traffic-calming measures are as annoying as being burgled or robbed, while nearly half (48%) liken them to having their car broken into.
But 35% feel safer because of them and one in five says they feel protected.
In justifying their risky responses, drivers claim that road safety measures add 17 minutes to a typical journey.
Autoglass managing director Nigel Doggett, said: "The effectiveness of traffic- calming measures in improving safety at danger spots has been clearly proven but it seems they are having an adverse effect on drivers' behaviour elsewhere.
"This suggests that more needs to be done to ensure that drivers understand that road safety measures are genuinely working to keep them safe, not to inconvenience them. They certainly must not be seen as a justification for risk-taking elsewhere."
www.manchesteronline.co.uk/news/s/123/123346_trafficcalming_causes_drivers_to_take_other_risks.html
Traffic-calming causes drivers to take other risks
DRIVERS are defying traffic-calming initiatives by speeding up and taking risks to make up for "lost" time, a survey out today shows.
Two in three drivers say their response to road safety measures is to flout the Highway Code elsewhere, the poll by the Autoglass company found.
After being forced to slow down by traffic-calming schemes, 84% of drivers break the speed limit, 72% drive aggressively, 71% jump amber lights (71%) and two in three cut up another motorist or use rat runs.
As a result, one in 12 said they had had an accident of some sort and 25% had had a near-miss.
Four in five drivers feel inconvenienced by road safety schemes, while 57% are irritated and 31% say they cause them stress.
Annoying
More than two in five drivers reckon traffic-calming measures are as annoying as being burgled or robbed, while nearly half (48%) liken them to having their car broken into.
But 35% feel safer because of them and one in five says they feel protected.
In justifying their risky responses, drivers claim that road safety measures add 17 minutes to a typical journey.
Autoglass managing director Nigel Doggett, said: "The effectiveness of traffic- calming measures in improving safety at danger spots has been clearly proven but it seems they are having an adverse effect on drivers' behaviour elsewhere.
"This suggests that more needs to be done to ensure that drivers understand that road safety measures are genuinely working to keep them safe, not to inconvenience them. They certainly must not be seen as a justification for risk-taking elsewhere."
Also;
http://icsurreyonline.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0400crawley/tm_objectid=14401842&method=full&siteid=50101&headline=bus-drivers-find-humps-a-pain-in-the-neck-name_page.html
Bus drivers find humps a pain in the neck Jul 7 2004
AIRPORT bus drivers are being signed off sick because new speed humps are giving them neck ache.
AirLinks at Gatwick Airport operates a shuttle service from the staff car park in Perimeter Road South to the north and south terminals.
The 27 speed humps were installed in April and drivers say they have made their lives a misery.
Richard Symonds from Ifield, is a Gatwick driver.
"I know one of my colleagues has been off sick," he said.
"A lot of people are very angry. There is a lot of anger there. They {BAA} have not listened at all to the people who use the road."
Another driver, who did not want to be named, said: "We have all filled in industrial accident forms. I was at the doctor's last Tuesday and he said he would sign me off there and then. I said I would leave it a bit but he said don't leave it too long."
"There are 27 humps going down the road and 27 coming back. We go down the road three times an hour. We work 10 hours a day. That works out at about 1,600 bumps a day.
"The pain runs from behind my shoulders into my neck."
The road is privately owned by BAA. The speed humps which are located in the middle of each lane were brought in to replace concrete chicanes which were removed in January.
The speed humps comply with industry standards and are 75mm high with a minimum gap between each one of 80 metres, reducing the speed of traffic to 13.7mph.
The drivers say they have even seen motorists driving down the middle of the road in a bid to avoid the humps.
Louise Ash, general manager of Gatwick's transport team First and Last Impressions, said: "The new-style barriers were introduced following a thorough examination by independent traffic consultants to determine the most suitable way of reducing the risk of speeding drivers.
"I must stress that we take all feedback seriously and the safety of all airport users is of paramount importance to us. We will continue to monitor the situation closely."
A spokesman for BAA confirmed the situation was being monitored to establish why cars were being driven in the middle of the road.
http://icsurreyonline.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0400crawley/tm_objectid=14401842&method=full&siteid=50101&headline=bus-drivers-find-humps-a-pain-in-the-neck-name_page.html
Bus drivers find humps a pain in the neck Jul 7 2004
AIRPORT bus drivers are being signed off sick because new speed humps are giving them neck ache.
AirLinks at Gatwick Airport operates a shuttle service from the staff car park in Perimeter Road South to the north and south terminals.
The 27 speed humps were installed in April and drivers say they have made their lives a misery.
Richard Symonds from Ifield, is a Gatwick driver.
"I know one of my colleagues has been off sick," he said.
"A lot of people are very angry. There is a lot of anger there. They {BAA} have not listened at all to the people who use the road."
Another driver, who did not want to be named, said: "We have all filled in industrial accident forms. I was at the doctor's last Tuesday and he said he would sign me off there and then. I said I would leave it a bit but he said don't leave it too long."
"There are 27 humps going down the road and 27 coming back. We go down the road three times an hour. We work 10 hours a day. That works out at about 1,600 bumps a day.
"The pain runs from behind my shoulders into my neck."
The road is privately owned by BAA. The speed humps which are located in the middle of each lane were brought in to replace concrete chicanes which were removed in January.
The speed humps comply with industry standards and are 75mm high with a minimum gap between each one of 80 metres, reducing the speed of traffic to 13.7mph.
The drivers say they have even seen motorists driving down the middle of the road in a bid to avoid the humps.
Louise Ash, general manager of Gatwick's transport team First and Last Impressions, said: "The new-style barriers were introduced following a thorough examination by independent traffic consultants to determine the most suitable way of reducing the risk of speeding drivers.
"I must stress that we take all feedback seriously and the safety of all airport users is of paramount importance to us. We will continue to monitor the situation closely."
A spokesman for BAA confirmed the situation was being monitored to establish why cars were being driven in the middle of the road.
There's some near me through a little village and I make sure that I make enough noise as I can, accelerating and braking. Usually very early in the morning.
The limit is 30 and above 15 mph you would damage the car, so I try to reach 30 between them. They'll wish they never campaigned for them.
The limit is 30 and above 15 mph you would damage the car, so I try to reach 30 between them. They'll wish they never campaigned for them.
jacko lah said:
There's some near me through a little village and I make sure that I make enough noise as I can, accelerating and braking. Usually very early in the morning.
The limit is 30 and above 15 mph you would damage the car, so I try to reach 30 between them. They'll wish they never campaigned for them.
Couldn't agree more with your actions.
Such schemes do nothing but really p155 me off.
As if drivers who want to enjoy driving don't have enough to create irritation like cost of fuel, badly maintained roads, incompetent drivers, without added inconveniences dreamt up my incompenent council officials and paid for by the taxpayer.
jacko lah said:
There's some near me through a little village and I make sure that I make enough noise as I can, accelerating and braking. Usually very early in the morning.
The limit is 30 and above 15 mph you would damage the car, so I try to reach 30 between them. They'll wish they never campaigned for them.
My Ginetta G4 (which I've now sold) was unable to get onto 99% of trackdays because it was so loud. I loved going for 7.00am Sunday drives up and down my local rat runs in first gear, accelerating and braking as hard as possible between these bloody speed bumps.
cazzo said:Well duh! Do they really need to monitor the road to find out? Looks like someone is making a job for themselves.
http://icsurreyonline.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0400crawley/tm_objectid=14401842&method=full&siteid=50101&headline=bus-drivers-find-humps-a-pain-in-the-neck-name_page.html
A spokesman for BAA confirmed the situation was being monitored to establish why cars were being driven in the middle of the road.
dontlift said:1600 humps per day? I don't blame them!
AIRPORT bus drivers are being signed off sick because new speed humps are giving them neck ache.
More Like Airport Bus drivers find new scam not to go to work - they are as bad as they baggage handlers.
I would try to get BAA on working conditions (or lack thereof).
Incidentally, does anyone here have a Range Rover or similar? Do you find that speed humps don't make a blind bit of difference to your journey?
I've got an old 325 and find that speed humps at 50mph allow the suspension to do the work. Anything less than 30 means the suspension passes the shock straight through the chassis to the occupants. Hmm, so in this scenario, speed humps make you go faster. Erm, right.
B
I've got an old 325 and find that speed humps at 50mph allow the suspension to do the work. Anything less than 30 means the suspension passes the shock straight through the chassis to the occupants. Hmm, so in this scenario, speed humps make you go faster. Erm, right.
B
There is one extract in the above article that shows how ridiculous some press reporting of statistics can become.
Given the overall thrust of the article, what is one expected to make of: "two in three [motorists] cut up another motorist or use rat runs"? Coupling these two "actions" makes a mockery of the entire reporting.
Streaky
Given the overall thrust of the article, what is one expected to make of: "two in three [motorists] cut up another motorist or use rat runs"? Coupling these two "actions" makes a mockery of the entire reporting.
Streaky
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