SPEED LIMIT MADNESS
Discussion
My daily drive to work is 10 miles - rural and semi-rural, not inner city. In that distance there are 17 (yes seventeen) different speed limits ranging from 20 to 70. What's more, they keep changing them - 60s are made 40s, 30s are made 20s etc. Every few months I have to learn a new patch.
There's enough to concentrate on in rush-hour driving without accelerating and braking every few hundred yards (if you don't get to somewhere near the limit, dozens of cars overtake you, only to slam brakes on as they hit the next limit).
This seems crazy, and an unfair and unnecessary burden on drivers' concentration. I expect that there are worse examples than mine - any offers?
There's enough to concentrate on in rush-hour driving without accelerating and braking every few hundred yards (if you don't get to somewhere near the limit, dozens of cars overtake you, only to slam brakes on as they hit the next limit).
This seems crazy, and an unfair and unnecessary burden on drivers' concentration. I expect that there are worse examples than mine - any offers?
Most of the time the worst ones for me are the 30 limits at villages which then get extended well out into completely rural areas. Or even worse, two villages which are a mile or two apart with both their 30 limits joined up! Needless to say, that speed limits in the centres of villages are respected less and less each day.
However to me, the very worst speed limit cut i've seen is the A523/A52 Leek to Derby. With the exception of the villages on the way, the whole road has been cut from NSL to 50 and we're talking nearly 30 miles long!
Then even worse on the way near Ashbourne (I think) theres a straight 3 lane single carriage way bit which still has a 50 limit 
Goodness knows what the point is/reason for reductions like that. I mean they might as well have asked the government to lower the national limit for single carriageways to 50 - would've saved them nicely on all those repeater signs
>> Edited by countryboy on Thursday 18th May 19:22
However to me, the very worst speed limit cut i've seen is the A523/A52 Leek to Derby. With the exception of the villages on the way, the whole road has been cut from NSL to 50 and we're talking nearly 30 miles long!
Then even worse on the way near Ashbourne (I think) theres a straight 3 lane single carriage way bit which still has a 50 limit Goodness knows what the point is/reason for reductions like that. I mean they might as well have asked the government to lower the national limit for single carriageways to 50 - would've saved them nicely on all those repeater signs
>> Edited by countryboy on Thursday 18th May 19:22
Some more questionable limits:
A610 west of M1 J26 40mph used to be NSL DC
A50 Meir tunnel - 40mph
A508 on the way to Northampton where it crosses the A14 - couple of miles between 2 villages - 40 limit!
A sizable proportion of the British motorway network
Stupid limits on some roads reduce the effectiveness of speed limits where they are needed.
A610 west of M1 J26 40mph used to be NSL DC
A50 Meir tunnel - 40mph
A508 on the way to Northampton where it crosses the A14 - couple of miles between 2 villages - 40 limit!
A sizable proportion of the British motorway network
Stupid limits on some roads reduce the effectiveness of speed limits where they are needed.
Try the A140 (Suffolk section) ; seemingly random 50/40/30 limits, including some open D2. Drove up there today for the first time in ages at about 7:30 ; god awful ; dread to think what it's like when it's busy.
I think all the claimed improvements are because traffic is taking alternative routes (hence the refusal to measure KSI/Miles driven).
I think it's a model for New Labour's "policy".
I think all the claimed improvements are because traffic is taking alternative routes (hence the refusal to measure KSI/Miles driven).
I think it's a model for New Labour's "policy".
Yep, the A140 is s**te.. I opposed the speed limit reduction, was thanked for my concern, but advised after "careful consideration" the limit would be reduced.... Now when I drive it, people are overtaking when they really shouldn't, mainly because some of the other parts of the road that they used to do 60 along are now 40 limits.
bluespanner said:
A50 Meir tunnel - 40mph
No one does this, 60+ is the norm.
I was going to post this too. I usually leave the cruise set to the same speed as the rest of the road though (~55). No reason fo rthe reduction and a very difficult spot to safely enforce the limit...
The limits on the A140 are just garbage - unfortunately it is between my and my parents so have to do it regularly. As mentioned above - it is too stupid to be respected by most.
Also the A12 and the A13 out of the City in London. Both 2 or 3 lanes, no access to pedestrians, and limits are 40mph no the A13 and 40-50 on the A12. The vast majority travel 10mph - 20mph above the posted limits anyway.
Also the A12 and the A13 out of the City in London. Both 2 or 3 lanes, no access to pedestrians, and limits are 40mph no the A13 and 40-50 on the A12. The vast majority travel 10mph - 20mph above the posted limits anyway.
autismuk said:
Try the A140 (Suffolk section) ; seemingly random 50/40/30 limits, including some open D2. Drove up there today for the first time in ages at about 7:30 ; god awful ; dread to think what it's like when it's busy.
I think all the claimed improvements are because traffic is taking alternative routes (hence the refusal to measure KSI/Miles driven).
I think it's a model for New Labour's "policy".
the claimed improvements seem to be a bit short on truth (do they mention 2 junctions that have had long overdue design improvements - very handy for them the last death occured just after they announced how succesful it has been and that the various crashes that required the road to be closed for hours led to no ksi statistics.
i drive it daily and i can tell you speeds haven't dropped significantly regardless of the posted limit
iaint said:
A50 Meir tunnel - 40mph
No one does this, 60+ is the norm.
I was going to post this too. I usually leave the cruise set to the same speed as the rest of the road though (~55). No reason fo rthe reduction and a very difficult spot to safely enforce the limit...
I always have visions of some dodgy scamera bloke pointing a dodgyscope over that wall on the tunnel parapets. Mind you don't think they could get the van close enough and would be too much effort for the lazy git to set the gear up outside and point it at the traffic!!
do a lot of driving, was down the south coast area and went thru some village at 30, then the last 50 yards went at around 35-40, got a marked squad car immediatly on my tail, so as he seemed very interested, stuck it on cruise control at 39 mph for the next 5-10 miles as that was what the speed limit mostly was.
Gave him a chance to overtake in a 50 mph speed limit and all I saw was a flash and him overtaking me at a good 70-80 mph on country roads, nice to see the plod adhere to the law themselves
Gave him a chance to overtake in a 50 mph speed limit and all I saw was a flash and him overtaking me at a good 70-80 mph on country roads, nice to see the plod adhere to the law themselves
BigBob said:
But, the revenues must be collected somewhere, and that's what it's really about.
Of course it's not. There are much better ways of collecting fines off people.
Not many that can be automated to the same extent though
BB
...and from people going about their daily business and from people of all classes (in fact from those fully registered, bona fide and least likely to offend in any other way).
alphadog said:
A50 Meir tunnel - 40mph
No one does this, 60+ is the norm.
I was going to post this too. I usually leave the cruise set to the same speed as the rest of the road though (~55). No reason fo rthe reduction and a very difficult spot to safely enforce the limit...
I always have visions of some dodgy scamera bloke pointing a dodgyscope over that wall on the tunnel parapets. Mind you don't think they could get the van close enough and would be too much effort for the lazy git to set the gear up outside and point it at the traffic!!
when its not flooded
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