20 limit nonsense
Discussion
Given the vast majority need mobility as a necessary at what point do people start pushing back against the authorities’ obvious anti car agenda?
“ Recently, former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie took to X (formerly Twitter) to complain about being caught speeding in a 20mph zone, stating: “Just been nicked for a second time for doing more than 20mph in outer London while a mate of mine in north London faces losing his licence soon for running up 12pts for breaking that limit 4 times. There will be record driving disqualification going through the courts.
I feel his pain. On one stretch of the North Circular Road in the west of London I was caught out last summer by a sudden reduction in the speed limit to 30mph (from 40mph) and fined – even though the two-lane highway was clear, with not a pedestrian in sight.
I subsequently received a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) from the Metropolitan Police threatening me with points on my licence and a fine of £100, which made me feel like I’d committed a terrible crime. Yet, in reality, all I had done was drive at the same speed I’d driven on that stretch of road for 30 years – before the speed limit was arbitrarily dropped.”
https://archive.ph/fYMhQ
“ Recently, former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie took to X (formerly Twitter) to complain about being caught speeding in a 20mph zone, stating: “Just been nicked for a second time for doing more than 20mph in outer London while a mate of mine in north London faces losing his licence soon for running up 12pts for breaking that limit 4 times. There will be record driving disqualification going through the courts.
I feel his pain. On one stretch of the North Circular Road in the west of London I was caught out last summer by a sudden reduction in the speed limit to 30mph (from 40mph) and fined – even though the two-lane highway was clear, with not a pedestrian in sight.
I subsequently received a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) from the Metropolitan Police threatening me with points on my licence and a fine of £100, which made me feel like I’d committed a terrible crime. Yet, in reality, all I had done was drive at the same speed I’d driven on that stretch of road for 30 years – before the speed limit was arbitrarily dropped.”
https://archive.ph/fYMhQ
My village has a 20 limit.
Came home through there on Thursday evening following half a dozen cars or so. And the flashing from those grumpy faced signs almost gave me epilepsy.
Not a single car was doing 20.
As an aside when you get roads with 20/30/20 signs all along them it s because the local consultation on reducing speed limits was not unanimously supported.
It s mostly old people shouting at clouds and housewives with young kids who want the change.
Came home through there on Thursday evening following half a dozen cars or so. And the flashing from those grumpy faced signs almost gave me epilepsy.
Not a single car was doing 20.
As an aside when you get roads with 20/30/20 signs all along them it s because the local consultation on reducing speed limits was not unanimously supported.
It s mostly old people shouting at clouds and housewives with young kids who want the change.
Not even housewives tbh. Around schools limit was 20mph beforehand and Id like to believe either respected or camera was put in place.
Its a geriatric way to stick it to people who still drive. Apart from people who dont need to be anywhere, cyclists and these without cars; nobody supports the limit.
Its a geriatric way to stick it to people who still drive. Apart from people who dont need to be anywhere, cyclists and these without cars; nobody supports the limit.
I have just spent a few days up in Liverpool. 30mph is thankfully the normal limit.
How liberating that now feels
Returned home to London and came off the A316 (50 average) straight back into the blanket 20mph. Feck me! it's still so frustrating.
Also that limit brings you into more clashes with cyclists. I say this as someone who does use a bicycle from time to time.
Idiot drivers who overtake but refuse to break 20mph even for a few seconds to make the process far safer.
So we are stuck side by side for far too long.
How liberating that now feels
Returned home to London and came off the A316 (50 average) straight back into the blanket 20mph. Feck me! it's still so frustrating.
Also that limit brings you into more clashes with cyclists. I say this as someone who does use a bicycle from time to time.
Idiot drivers who overtake but refuse to break 20mph even for a few seconds to make the process far safer.
So we are stuck side by side for far too long.
Try living in Wales. There’s a section of DC near me with a 20 limit. I know people say ‘well, just stick to the limit and you’ll have nothing to worry about’, but it’s so frustrating.
I recall reading that an activity such as driving requires a balance of safety and stimulation, with a deficit of the latter bringing about poor concentration and a feeling of frustration. In other words, people are predisposed to seeking that safety / stimulation balance, as opposed to blatantly ignoring limits for no very good reason.
I recall reading that an activity such as driving requires a balance of safety and stimulation, with a deficit of the latter bringing about poor concentration and a feeling of frustration. In other words, people are predisposed to seeking that safety / stimulation balance, as opposed to blatantly ignoring limits for no very good reason.
Welcome to the modern world. 20mph speed limits so the council can say 'we made the roads safer' while allowing craters to form all over the place. Wind turbines so we can say were 'green' but no investing in the infrastructure to transport the energy to where it's needed or store the energy for when it's not windy. All these things make headlines so the council can boast about how great they are but in reality are a bit of a waste of money.
Round my neck of the woods the primary rationale for the 20mph limits are cyclist safety. Which is ironic as they council do nothing to address the cars parked in the cycle lanes, the pot holes littering them or the fact people don't cycle into town because their bike will get stolen
Round my neck of the woods the primary rationale for the 20mph limits are cyclist safety. Which is ironic as they council do nothing to address the cars parked in the cycle lanes, the pot holes littering them or the fact people don't cycle into town because their bike will get stolen
We need and indeed do have a 20 limit outside our local village primary school to protect the children.
It would of course help if more of the school run mums actually stopped speeding in the 20 limit.
It would also help if other school run mums stopped parking their SUVs on the double yellow lines and hatched areas right outside the school to drop their progeny off.
A once every six months 10 minute raid by 3 traffic wardens does the square root of bugger all to reduce the problem.
It would of course help if more of the school run mums actually stopped speeding in the 20 limit.
It would also help if other school run mums stopped parking their SUVs on the double yellow lines and hatched areas right outside the school to drop their progeny off.
A once every six months 10 minute raid by 3 traffic wardens does the square root of bugger all to reduce the problem.
Crudeoink said:
Welcome to the modern world. 20mph speed limits so the council can say 'we made the roads safer' while allowing craters to form all over the place. Wind turbines so we can say were 'green' but no investing in the infrastructure to transport the energy to where it's needed or store the energy for when it's not windy. All these things make headlines so the council can boast about how great they are but in reality are a bit of a waste of money.
Round our way we have a new "20mph zone". The limit is 30 past a primary school, then reverts to 20 just after it. Pass a few cul-de-sacs, turn left and then into a 30 again in time for passing the next primary and secondary schools. In most cases it is insane. Road deaths could be reduced to zero if they closed all the roads - though at the present rate of decline they'll be undriveable anyway.
This post does however remind me of something that would be funny if it wasn't true:
'
'Britain s roads are a masterclass in taking money and delivering vibes. You pay road tax (sorry, Vehicle Excise Duty, because renaming things fixes them), fuel duty, VAT on the fuel duty, council tax, and then a surprise mechanical bill every time your car falls into what used to be a pothole and is now a freshwater ecosystem.
Councils don t fix holes. They monitor them. You report one online, upload photos, coordinates, maybe a family portrait next to it, and get a polite email thanking you for your feedback while the hole continues its journey toward sentience. Repairs, when they happen, involve a cone, a shovel, and a substance best described as warm disappointment. The hole is fixed for six days, then returns larger, angrier, and clearly personal.
Speed cameras work flawlessly. Parking enforcement is instant. Cross a white line by a molecule and the system activates like NORAD. But ask for a flat, solid road? Steady on, budgets are tight. At this point, driving in Britain isn t transport. It s a pay-to-play endurance sport. So if someone s fishing carp out of a Kent pothole, don t laugh. That s not a joke. That s public infrastructure finally being used as intended.'
This post does however remind me of something that would be funny if it wasn't true:
'
'Britain s roads are a masterclass in taking money and delivering vibes. You pay road tax (sorry, Vehicle Excise Duty, because renaming things fixes them), fuel duty, VAT on the fuel duty, council tax, and then a surprise mechanical bill every time your car falls into what used to be a pothole and is now a freshwater ecosystem.
Councils don t fix holes. They monitor them. You report one online, upload photos, coordinates, maybe a family portrait next to it, and get a polite email thanking you for your feedback while the hole continues its journey toward sentience. Repairs, when they happen, involve a cone, a shovel, and a substance best described as warm disappointment. The hole is fixed for six days, then returns larger, angrier, and clearly personal.
Speed cameras work flawlessly. Parking enforcement is instant. Cross a white line by a molecule and the system activates like NORAD. But ask for a flat, solid road? Steady on, budgets are tight. At this point, driving in Britain isn t transport. It s a pay-to-play endurance sport. So if someone s fishing carp out of a Kent pothole, don t laugh. That s not a joke. That s public infrastructure finally being used as intended.'
A lot of the roads that I have ventured down this winter, from motorways to seaside towns have finally made me feel a bit happier about swapping my Alpine A110 for a Dacia Bigster.
Last February I drove the Alpine across France, Spain then on to Tenerife via boat.
I didn't see any bad roads in 3500 miles of driving until I returned to Folkestone.
Last February I drove the Alpine across France, Spain then on to Tenerife via boat.
I didn't see any bad roads in 3500 miles of driving until I returned to Folkestone.
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