More speed limit lunacy
Discussion
Recently there was an accident when unfortunately a young lad on a bicycle died. I have just read about it in the local paper. The incident occured in an NSL just past a bridge with poor visibility of the junction that follows.
In the report, they say the driver was doing about 45-50 MPH before the crash. You can tell what's coming.... They have gone all bleeding heart and called for the limit to be lowered.
WHAT? How on earth will that help? The driver had already used his judgement to slow on this particular junction, although apparently not enough, so how will lowering the limit help. Surely a sign saying hidden junction, SLOW. would be more appropriate, but oh no, it's the red flag brigade out again.
When did common sense go out of fashion, I must have had a Dallas moment and missed something important
In the report, they say the driver was doing about 45-50 MPH before the crash. You can tell what's coming.... They have gone all bleeding heart and called for the limit to be lowered.
WHAT? How on earth will that help? The driver had already used his judgement to slow on this particular junction, although apparently not enough, so how will lowering the limit help. Surely a sign saying hidden junction, SLOW. would be more appropriate, but oh no, it's the red flag brigade out again.
When did common sense go out of fashion, I must have had a Dallas moment and missed something important
A young lad was killed in my home town early in December in a 30 limit.
Somebody of course subsequently wrote to the paper saying that those who campaign against speed cameras should take note and he went on to demand more widespread use of them.
I took little pleasure in having the following response published.
Dear Sirs
You published a letter on December 13th from a Mr. Partington in which he referred to the tragic accident that recently occurred on Wenlock Road. In his letter he suggests that those who are against so called safety cameras and those opposing reasonable measures to restrain motorists should take note.
I would like to point out that this dreadful event occurred on a road littered with speed camera signs and only yards away from a position frequented by a mobile speed camera van.
This reaction is typical of the simplistic, short-sighted and very dangerous affliction in this country that encourages people to focus on speed, speed, and speed whilst ignoring other proven road safety strategies! Commentators act as judge, jury and executioner not only putting the fault blindly and instantly at the door of the motorist but also believing that a collision is magically eliminated if speed cameras are present.
Intelligent people who truly care about road safety should be calling for a pedestrian crossing in Wenlock Road, renewed road safety education for all road users, and the return of the public information advertisements that used to promote road safety issues at peak viewing times.
We all want fewer deaths and injuries on the roads but the answer does not lie in speed cameras. The objective should be to educate all road users to avoid accident situations in the first place and, where necessary, to introduce pedestrian facilities.
"Reg"
Take every opportunity to put them right!! I could have been more scathing about the effectiveness of the "Safety" camera partnership but thought it inappropriate to use such tactics.
>> Edited by regmolehusband on Saturday 12th February 14:51
Somebody of course subsequently wrote to the paper saying that those who campaign against speed cameras should take note and he went on to demand more widespread use of them.
I took little pleasure in having the following response published.
Dear Sirs
You published a letter on December 13th from a Mr. Partington in which he referred to the tragic accident that recently occurred on Wenlock Road. In his letter he suggests that those who are against so called safety cameras and those opposing reasonable measures to restrain motorists should take note.
I would like to point out that this dreadful event occurred on a road littered with speed camera signs and only yards away from a position frequented by a mobile speed camera van.
This reaction is typical of the simplistic, short-sighted and very dangerous affliction in this country that encourages people to focus on speed, speed, and speed whilst ignoring other proven road safety strategies! Commentators act as judge, jury and executioner not only putting the fault blindly and instantly at the door of the motorist but also believing that a collision is magically eliminated if speed cameras are present.
Intelligent people who truly care about road safety should be calling for a pedestrian crossing in Wenlock Road, renewed road safety education for all road users, and the return of the public information advertisements that used to promote road safety issues at peak viewing times.
We all want fewer deaths and injuries on the roads but the answer does not lie in speed cameras. The objective should be to educate all road users to avoid accident situations in the first place and, where necessary, to introduce pedestrian facilities.
"Reg"
Take every opportunity to put them right!! I could have been more scathing about the effectiveness of the "Safety" camera partnership but thought it inappropriate to use such tactics.
>> Edited by regmolehusband on Saturday 12th February 14:51
regmolehusband said:
A young lad was killed in my home town early in December in a 30 limit.
Somebody of course subsequently wrote to the paper saying that those who campaign against speed cameras should take note and he went on to demand more widespread use of them.
I took little pleasure in having the following response published.
Dear Sirs
You published a letter on December 13th from a Mr. Partington in which he referred to the tragic accident that recently occurred on Wenlock Road. In his letter he suggests that those who are against so called safety cameras and those opposing reasonable measures to restrain motorists should take note.
I would like to point out that this dreadful event occurred on a road littered with speed camera signs and only yards away from a position frequented by a mobile speed camera van.
This reaction is typical of the simplistic, short-sighted and very dangerous affliction in this country that encourages people to focus on speed, speed, and speed whilst ignoring other proven road safety strategies! Commentators act as judge, jury and executioner not only putting the fault blindly and instantly at the door of the motorist but also believing that a collision is magically eliminated if speed cameras are present.
Intelligent people who truly care about road safety should be calling for a pedestrian crossing in Wenlock Road, renewed road safety education for all road users, and the return of the public information advertisements that used to promote road safety issues at peak viewing times.
We all want fewer deaths and injuries on the roads but the answer does not lie in speed cameras. The objective should be to educate all road users to avoid accident situations in the first place and, where necessary, to introduce pedestrian facilities.
"Reg"
Take every opportunity to put them right!! I could have been more scathing about the effectiveness of the "Safety" camera partnership but thought it inappropriate to use such tactics.
>> Edited by regmolehusband on Saturday 12th February 14:51
Excellent letter Reg.....
BliarOut said:
Recently there was an accident when unfortunately a young lad on a bicycle died. I have just read about it in the local paper. The incident occured in an NSL just past a bridge with poor visibility of the junction that follows.
In the report, they say the driver was doing about 45-50 MPH before the crash. You can tell what's coming.... They have gone all bleeding heart and called for the limit to be lowered.
WHAT? How on earth will that help? The driver had already used his judgement to slow on this particular junction, although apparently not enough, so how will lowering the limit help. Surely a sign saying hidden junction, SLOW. would be more appropriate, but oh no, it's the red flag brigade out again.
When did common sense go out of fashion, I must have had a Dallas moment and missed something important
I asked our local highways engineer to place warning signs at a local crossroads which sees lots of accidents because of limited visibility in both directions.
Look right, nothing coming, look left, nothing coming, look right again; there is a car right by your offside headlight......
Signs refused. Why?
"We don't want to frighten people"
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