50 limits in West Lothian
Discussion
They're popping up f
king everywhere. In utterly ridiculous places, too. Complete and utter lack of anything resembling rational thought from the authorities responsible.
Examples - A706 (I think) between Bo'ness and Linlithgow. Has been NSL since nineteen-canteen. It's got a few long straight parts and a couple of right-left chicanes for which most people slow down to 35-40mph. 60mph is perfectly safe on the open stretches, and a 50 is utterly ridiculous anywhere else. I totally fail to understand what difference the 10 mph reduction in limit will make to anything. I might be forced to write a strongly worded letter if I ever see a scamera on the straight. I might even send it.
Further example - whatever the road between Threemiletown and Uphall is. 60 is perfectly appropriate on a good day on the long open stretch, but there's a blind summit and a couple of tight bends where 50 is too fast. So a 50 limit does fk all.
And don't get me started on the double white lines for a 3 mile stretch of the A706 from Linlithgow to Torphichen. Utter lunacy to make us wait behind, for example, bicycles travelling at 11mph.
Think of the amount of money spent painting pointless and possibly dangerous lines, and erecting wky 50mph signs, when there are thousands of potholes on the roads about there to be filled in. Beggars belief.
To also think that some moron thinks they're doing a good job of something too.
I hope it's not just me that's a bit miffed... I don't even pay council tax in West Lothian!
king everywhere. In utterly ridiculous places, too. Complete and utter lack of anything resembling rational thought from the authorities responsible.Examples - A706 (I think) between Bo'ness and Linlithgow. Has been NSL since nineteen-canteen. It's got a few long straight parts and a couple of right-left chicanes for which most people slow down to 35-40mph. 60mph is perfectly safe on the open stretches, and a 50 is utterly ridiculous anywhere else. I totally fail to understand what difference the 10 mph reduction in limit will make to anything. I might be forced to write a strongly worded letter if I ever see a scamera on the straight. I might even send it.
Further example - whatever the road between Threemiletown and Uphall is. 60 is perfectly appropriate on a good day on the long open stretch, but there's a blind summit and a couple of tight bends where 50 is too fast. So a 50 limit does f
k all.And don't get me started on the double white lines for a 3 mile stretch of the A706 from Linlithgow to Torphichen. Utter lunacy to make us wait behind, for example, bicycles travelling at 11mph.
Think of the amount of money spent painting pointless and possibly dangerous lines, and erecting w
ky 50mph signs, when there are thousands of potholes on the roads about there to be filled in. Beggars belief.To also think that some moron thinks they're doing a good job of something too.
I hope it's not just me that's a bit miffed... I don't even pay council tax in West Lothian!
Thats annoying, I do like going out those roads if this carries on where esle do I go.
Fife is already a hotspot. Falkirk, well thats just a cruise at the local car park with corsa's with big exhaust pipes that still sound like a mouse farting in a pipe.
Glencoe it looks like. Saying that we need to have Glencoe run on here. Haven't had one in ages!
But anyways. I have noticed a few more even creeping into the Falkirk area. Its taking the biscuit. If passing your test was harder and road offences where stricter then people would take care driving on the roads and we wouldn't have to change the speed limit. This limit was brought in when car's did like crashing and people didn't wear seatbelts. Why do we have to slow even more down.
Fife is already a hotspot. Falkirk, well thats just a cruise at the local car park with corsa's with big exhaust pipes that still sound like a mouse farting in a pipe.
Glencoe it looks like. Saying that we need to have Glencoe run on here. Haven't had one in ages!
But anyways. I have noticed a few more even creeping into the Falkirk area. Its taking the biscuit. If passing your test was harder and road offences where stricter then people would take care driving on the roads and we wouldn't have to change the speed limit. This limit was brought in when car's did like crashing and people didn't wear seatbelts. Why do we have to slow even more down.
simoid said:
And don't get me started on the double white lines for a 3 mile stretch of the A706 from Linlithgow to Torphichen. Utter lunacy to make us wait behind, for example, bicycles travelling at 11mph.
You might want to look into that one further.IIRC you can pass a particularly slow moving vehicle, like a bike or tractor on double whites if it is safe to do so.
OlberJ said:
simoid said:
And don't get me started on the double white lines for a 3 mile stretch of the A706 from Linlithgow to Torphichen. Utter lunacy to make us wait behind, for example, bicycles travelling at 11mph.
You might want to look into that one further.IIRC you can pass a particularly slow moving vehicle, like a bike or tractor on double whites if it is safe to do so.
Highway Code said:
129
Double white lines where the line nearest you is solid. This means you MUST NOT cross or straddle it unless it is safe and you need to enter adjoining premises or a side road. You may cross the line if necessary, provided the road is clear, to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10 mph (16 km/h) or less.
Laws RTA 1988 sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10 & 26
I read that as you MUST NOT cross or straddle the line to overtake an 11mph cyclist, I think my interpretation is correct...Double white lines where the line nearest you is solid. This means you MUST NOT cross or straddle it unless it is safe and you need to enter adjoining premises or a side road. You may cross the line if necessary, provided the road is clear, to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10 mph (16 km/h) or less.
Laws RTA 1988 sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10 & 26
simoid said:
They're popping up fking everywhere. In utterly ridiculous places, too. Complete and utter lack of anything resembling rational thought from the authorities responsible.
I live in WL and it seems to be some sort of obsession they have. I could probably count on the fingers of one hand, the number of 60 limits left. There was a fatal on one of the few remaining 60s the other week there, I expect that to be toned down to a 50 soon, as that's what the limit is on the roads linked to it. I'm sure they've also stuck a 50 on the road from Blackburn to West Calder at the same time as the Linlithgow road. Speaking of those double white lines you mention, I had a motorbike overtake me and three other cars on that section the other week. king everywhere. In utterly ridiculous places, too. Complete and utter lack of anything resembling rational thought from the authorities responsible.Another obsession they have is speedbumps. Fair enough in some residential streets, but on main roads with no apparent problems or accident records? They moved the 30 limit closer to the Heatherfield roundabout and installed ridiculous big speed tables outside the speedway track in Armadale. There really is no need for them at all, as the houses next to the main road were there for a good 10-15 years previous to them being installed. I spoke to an ambulance driver about them recently and he said it's very uncomfortable going over them, especially if they're in a hurry, as they can't straddle them.
IainW said:
I'm sure they've also stuck a 50 on the road from Blackburn to West Calder
The one from Blackburn cross up to the freeport/stoneyburn lights, then on past the coachworks place at Addiewell then eventually under the rail bridge before the RBS at West Calder? Hope not, love that road!oobster said:
The one from Blackburn cross up to the freeport/stoneyburn lights, then on past the coachworks place at Addiewell then eventually under the rail bridge before the RBS at West Calder? Hope not, love that road!
Yes that road. I'm sure it was in the Courier a few months back about the public consultation. Not sure if it's gone through yet as I haven't been on it for a while. I used to go on it a lot when going to work. Love the section from Blackburn to the Freeport/Stoneyburn lights, it's like a rollercoaster. Speaking of Stoneyburn, how many speedbumps from those lights to the lights at the Longridge end?!I'm surprised the A71 from West Calder to Breich hasn't been knocked down to a 40 or a 50, especially at the junction for Addiewell. The number of times I had the number 26 bus pull out on me from there going along doing 60! That was another one of my work routes.
Edit: It was last year it was announced. Making the Lang Whang a 50 too! http://gfx.finditinscotland.co.uk/upl/5/223459375....
Edited by IainW on Wednesday 29th May 00:35
IainW said:
oobster said:
The one from Blackburn cross up to the freeport/stoneyburn lights, then on past the coachworks place at Addiewell then eventually under the rail bridge before the RBS at West Calder? Hope not, love that road!
Yes that road. I'm sure it was in the Courier a few months back about the public consultation. Not sure if it's gone through yet as I haven't been on it for a while. I used to go on it a lot when going to work. Love the section from Blackburn to the Freeport/Stoneyburn lights, it's like a rollercoaster. Speaking of Stoneyburn, how many speedbumps from those lights to the lights at the Longridge end?![/footnote]
Shenanigans said:
Was more talking about the area just entering South Queensferry, just after the entrance to Dundas gold club i think.
Yeah, I know. Until 6 months ago the 30 didn't start until considerably further down the road. There is no need for the 30 zone before you've even crossed the bridge over the A90, it wasn't a built-up area then and it isn't one now. Papa Hotel said:
Yeah, I know. Until 6 months ago the 30 didn't start until considerably further down the road. There is no need for the 30 zone before you've even crossed the bridge over the A90, it wasn't a built-up area then and it isn't one now.
Ah yeah Understandable with there being a bus stop there...but honestly...how often do people get off there?West Lothian Council don't have any new publications on the matter since the Speed Limit Review and Strategy of 2009. I believe this outlines plans across a 10 year period. However, the suggestions it contains seem to be incongruous with what I have seen on roads around here. However, it does suggest a reason for the seemingly widespread reduction to 50mph limits:
In accordance with the guidance set out in Circular 1/2006, the rural road network in West Lothian has been divided into upper and lower tier roads. Upper tier roads are those with a primarily through function where mobility is important, typically Class A and B roads, whilst, lower tier roads are those with a primarily local or access function, typically Class C and Unclassified roads. In West Lothian the national speed limits will be the norm on rural roads. However, where accident rates exceed the thresholds specified in Circular 1/2006 lower speed limits will be considered. The accident rates for upper and lower tier roads are as follows:
Upper Tier – threshold of 35 injury accidents per 100 million vehicle kilometres.
Lower Tier – threshold of 60 injury accidents per 100 million vehicle kilometres.
The accident rate is a trigger for intervention, indicating that speed management measures may be required on a particular section of road. In accordance with the guidelines, accident remedial measures and alternative speed management options will always be considered in detail before the introduction of a lower speed limit. Circular 1/2006 states quite clearly:
“speed limits should not be used to attempt to solve the problem of isolated hazards, such as a single road junction or reduced visibility such as a bend”. (but they are)
For both Upper and Lower tier roads, 30 mph will be the norm in villages.
This is all well and good, but it has got to the stage were it is not the 'norm' now to have NSL on rural roads.
See Appendix 2 and 3 of this document:
http://www.westlothian.gov.uk/media/downloaddoc/17...
There is your 'reason' for this.
In accordance with the guidance set out in Circular 1/2006, the rural road network in West Lothian has been divided into upper and lower tier roads. Upper tier roads are those with a primarily through function where mobility is important, typically Class A and B roads, whilst, lower tier roads are those with a primarily local or access function, typically Class C and Unclassified roads. In West Lothian the national speed limits will be the norm on rural roads. However, where accident rates exceed the thresholds specified in Circular 1/2006 lower speed limits will be considered. The accident rates for upper and lower tier roads are as follows:
Upper Tier – threshold of 35 injury accidents per 100 million vehicle kilometres.
Lower Tier – threshold of 60 injury accidents per 100 million vehicle kilometres.
The accident rate is a trigger for intervention, indicating that speed management measures may be required on a particular section of road. In accordance with the guidelines, accident remedial measures and alternative speed management options will always be considered in detail before the introduction of a lower speed limit. Circular 1/2006 states quite clearly:
“speed limits should not be used to attempt to solve the problem of isolated hazards, such as a single road junction or reduced visibility such as a bend”. (but they are)
For both Upper and Lower tier roads, 30 mph will be the norm in villages.
This is all well and good, but it has got to the stage were it is not the 'norm' now to have NSL on rural roads.
See Appendix 2 and 3 of this document:
http://www.westlothian.gov.uk/media/downloaddoc/17...
There is your 'reason' for this.
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