Speed/road-related Petitions

[Peter Ward]

When looking at the No.10 website with a view to creating a petition re the "6 points for speeding" debacle, I noticed there are many existing petitions that need our support. Therefore, I propose a thread where we can highlight these as we see them so we can take the appropriate action.

Here's some for starters:

Reduce the number of penalty points for minor speeding offences from 3 to 2: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Speeding-points/

Scrap the offence of "speeding": http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Speeding-Legal/

Scrap all existing and planned tolls, "road pricing" and so called "congestion charging": http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/notolls/

Reject any proposals to ban or restrict the use of older cars: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Classic-Cars/

Advance the 1972 cutoff date for Classic Vehicle Road Tax exemption by 10 years: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/ClassicRoadTax/

...etc

Should we create one against the 6-point idea?

[Bing o]

Peter Ward said:

When looking at the No.10 website with a view to creating a petition re the "6 points for speeding" debacle, I noticed there are many existing petitions that need our support. Therefore, I propose a thread where we can highlight these as we see them so we can take the appropriate action.

Here's some for starters:

Reduce the number of penalty points for minor speeding offences from 3 to 2: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Speeding-points/

Scrap the offence of "speeding": http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Speeding-Legal/

Scrap all existing and planned tolls, "road pricing" and so called "congestion charging": http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/notolls/

Reject any proposals to ban or restrict the use of older cars: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Classic-Cars/

Advance the 1972 cutoff date for Classic Vehicle Road Tax exemption by 10 years: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/ClassicRoadTax/

...etc

Should we create one against the 6-point idea?

Direct action Peter - email the here: [e-mail]

[bluepolarbear]

Peter Ward said:

Reduce the number of penalty points for minor speeding offences from 3 to 2: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Speeding-points/

Be careful on this one. The orginal Road Safety proposals had this in but the reality of the implemention would be that people would get 2pts where previously they would have got none.

[Lostusernamedamn]

Peter Ward said:

... I propose a thread where we can highlight these petitions as we see them so we can take the appropriate action.

Should we create one against the 6-point idea?

Good idea on both counts.

[Peter Ward]

bluepolarbear said:

Peter Ward said:

Reduce the number of penalty points for minor speeding offences from 3 to 2: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Speeding-points/

Be careful on this one. The orginal Road Safety proposals had this in but the reality of the implemention would be that people would get 2pts where previously they would have got none.

And you think that by keeping quiet we may preserve the "10%+2" rule? I doubt it. In Australia drivers can be done for speeds just above the limit, using police car-mounted cameras when the car is moving. I'm sure that as time goes on the limits will be enforced ever more closely to the posted limit -- if only to maintain revenue. I see that police are now being encouraged to prosecute smokers for "not being in control of their vehicle". The persecution will continue.

Therefore, IMHO if there's a way to get any aspect of the speeding penalty down to 2 points I think we should while we can.

[Peter Ward]

I see on the BBC website today there's an article about No. 10 petitions: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7086645.stm

I didn't realise it before, but any petition getting more than 200 signatures must receive a response. At least that means someone has to think about it! No do anything of course, but perhaps some of what they read actually sticks in their heads next time they have to make a law....

[Peter Ward]

I've just submitted a petition, called "sixpointrethink". Text as follows:

sixpointrethink said:

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to abandon the idea of giving 6 points for high-speed speeding until speed limits are reassessed

Submitted by Peter Ward – Deadline to sign up by: 11 May 2008

Category: Transport and infrastructure

More details:

6 points for 45mph in a 30 limit? Possibly a good idea, but only when the 30 limit is justified. How many 30 limits have been poorly applied, eg. on dual carriageways or out-of-town roads that are little more dangerous at 60 than 30?

As for 6 points for a little over 90 on a motorway, that is wrong. The Germans manage to achieve comparable road safety even on unrestricted Autobahns where 100+ is normal. Don't forget that the Government's own figures prove that only around 4% of accidents are caused by speeding of any sort, so the focus on high speeds seems more narrowly targeted even than the normal anti-speed hysteria.

So before you proceed to heap even further pain on otherwise law-abiding drivers, at least have the decency to perform a full assessment of speed limits, and have driving experts set them at sensible levels rather than allow local councillors and non-drivers to set ones that pander to the political agenda.

I'll post on here when I find out whether it's accepted, plus a direct link to it.

[Peter Ward]

I've now had it confirmed that my 6-points petition has been accepted:

No 10 website said:

Your petition has been approved by the Number 10 web team, and is now available on the Number 10 website at the following address:

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/sixpointrethink/

Your petition reads:

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to abandon the idea of giving 6 points for high-speed speeding until speed limits are reassessed

6 points for 45mph in a 30 limit? Possibly a good idea, but only when the 30 limit is justified. How many 30 limits have been poorly applied, eg. on dual carriageways or out-of-town roads that are little more dangerous at 60 than 30?

As for 6 points for a little over 90 on a motorway, that is wrong. The Germans manage to achieve comparable road safety even on unrestricted Autobahns where 100+ is normal. Don't forget that the Government's own figures prove that only around 4% of accidents are caused by speeding of any sort, so the focus on high speeds seems more narrowly targeted even than the normal anti-speed hysteria.

So before you proceed to heap even further pain on otherwise law-abiding drivers, at least have the decency to perform a full assessment of speed limits, and have driving experts set them at sensible levels rather than allow local councillors and non-drivers to set ones that pander to the political agenda.

Thanks for submitting your petition.

-- the ePetitions team

Please go sign it!

[cuneus]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7100831.s...

[Zumbruk]

I've more-or-less given up with those petitions. Every single one I've signed has merely prompted an email saying, in effect, "Nanny knows best. Don't worry your little head about it."

[fluffnik]

Zumbruk said:

I've more-or-less given up with those petitions. Every single one I've signed has merely prompted an email saying, in effect, "Nanny knows best. Don't worry your little head about it."

The more we sign them the more nanny knows we hate her, the more she wakes screaming in the night...

...and the more sleep PM and cabinet lose.