Prop speedhumps - got nowhere
Prop speedhumps - got nowhere
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Discussion

Byff

Original Poster:

4,427 posts

289 months

Monday 27th January 2003
quotequote all
There were proposed speedhumps for a main road past a school - Safe routes to school.

I've complained that it is a main road - delays to emergency services - risk of grounding my car, etc and got a letter back saying they were designed as per DOT's standards and my objection is being dismissed.

Wrote back saying the DOT recommends that grounding should be thought of when schemes are introduced and my car is at risk of grounding. I'll be using these letters for back up if my car is damaged, in court - as I've given them advance warning. I even offered to meet them half way and withdraw my objection if the humps are reduced to 50mm.

Council wrote back saying the humps are going to be 75mm like it or not.


What else can I do? It's like talking to a brick wall!

deltaf

1,384 posts

285 months

Monday 27th January 2003
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Get the Jcb out M8!

Eric Mc

125,357 posts

293 months

Monday 27th January 2003
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On one of our local roads some humps WERE removed. When I asked why, I was told (by a local councillor)they had been placed outside councillors' houses and that these councillors had objected to the noise the humps caused. Hence their removal.

No wonder people get disillusioned with politicians.

Byff

Original Poster:

4,427 posts

289 months

Monday 27th January 2003
quotequote all
I was thinking of raising a petition. Don't reckon it'll stand for much, probably just get dismissed aswell.

Basil Brush

5,590 posts

291 months

Monday 27th January 2003
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Is there not a rule that local councils are not allowed to reduce speed limits themselves? If you could prove that you cannot drive along the road at the designated speed limit without causing damage to your vehicle, you could show that the council were effectively reducing the speed limit.

>> Edited by Basil Brush on Monday 27th January 14:56

Byff

Original Poster:

4,427 posts

289 months

Monday 27th January 2003
quotequote all
They've hit back with the 85%rule

The speed for the road in question was 38mph so the police have been out with thier laser gun - caught a few out but speeds are still too high so this is the next step

RichB

56,063 posts

312 months

Monday 27th January 2003
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Two rules of driving:- 1) when you approach an idiot with his/her fog/driving lights on flash them and 2) sound your horn whenever you go over a road-hump! The residents will soon get pissed off! Rich...

TheLemming

4,319 posts

293 months

Monday 27th January 2003
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Byff said: They've hit back with the 85%rule

The speed for the road in question was 38mph so the police have been out with thier laser gun - caught a few out but speeds are still too high so this is the next step


What was the 85% rule? I dont seem to recall that one.

incorrigible

13,668 posts

289 months

Monday 27th January 2003
quotequote all
It's a shame that it takes something like speed bumps to get people to drive past a school at 30 ish

Rich, your horn idea is bs the only residents who have the power to get rid of speed bumps would be councillors and they get them remove FOC anyway

alan_driver

1,281 posts

285 months

Monday 27th January 2003
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Sorry for been stupid, but what does DOT stand for?

SGirl

7,924 posts

289 months

Monday 27th January 2003
quotequote all
Department of Transport IIRC.

TheLemming

4,319 posts

293 months

Monday 27th January 2003
quotequote all

incorrigible said: It's a shame that it takes something like speed bumps to get people to drive past a school at 30 ish

Rich, your horn idea is bs the only residents who have the power to get rid of speed bumps would be councillors and they get them remove FOC anyway


Just read in the local paper that they are proposing lowering the limits around the schools here to 20 mph.

The problem with a lowered limit around a school is that its active 24/7 and the only times there is any increased pedestrian traffic is first thing in the morning and at 3:30 when they all go home.

For the other 22 hours of the day its pointless. If Im driving past a school at kicking out time, or there is a large group of young kids walking down the road then I slow down to about 20 - no matter what the limit. Otherwise I will drive as the conditions dictate.

incorrigible

13,668 posts

289 months

Monday 27th January 2003
quotequote all
Absolutely, there should be variable rigidly enforced limits

But Mr and Mrs Numpty would say "that's too confusing" or "what I'm meant to read road signs every journey"

or even "I'm in a (insert appropriate car here) it's very safe I can go as fast as I want"

incorrigible

13,668 posts

289 months

Monday 27th January 2003
quotequote all

TheLemming said: If Im driving past a school at kicking out time, or there is a large group of young kids walking down the road then I slow down to about 20 - no matter what the limit. Otherwise I will drive as the conditions dictate.
Of course, but what do you about the winkers that don't. That's what I was trying to say

agent006

12,058 posts

292 months

Monday 27th January 2003
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Stick a 50 quid note in with your next letter, should get you a bit further. Appears to work with the planning departments.

dimmadan

703 posts

291 months

Monday 27th January 2003
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best bet is to badger your local and county councillors (pref County), they are the ones that voice your opinions and concerns infront of the highway engineers. Badge badger badger could do the trick..Petition will be taken more notice of and has to be logged by democratic services if you have more than 100 signatures. I assume residents have been consulted on this. otherwise more complaining in order.
Speed humps can be between 50-100mm as I happened to be reading the 93 Regs today in fact.

dimmadan

703 posts

291 months

Monday 27th January 2003
quotequote all

Byff said: They've hit back with the 85%rule

The speed for the road in question was 38mph so the police have been out with thier laser gun - caught a few out but speeds are still too high so this is the next step


what they mean is the 85% ile speed, as in 85% of cars are averaging 38mph, in a 30 mph zone.

Byff

Original Poster:

4,427 posts

289 months

Monday 27th January 2003
quotequote all

dimmadan said:

Byff said: They've hit back with the 85%rule

The speed for the road in question was 38mph so the police have been out with thier laser gun - caught a few out but speeds are still too high so this is the next step


what they mean is the 85% ile speed, as in 85% of cars are averaging 38mph, in a 30 mph zone.


Thats the bugger!

On a badgering note, I've noticed the letter says that its the intention of the council to monitor the performance of the scheme, so I've formally requested all the relevent speed survey and accident statistics for the two roads mentioned, as its in my right to demand such data in the freedom of information act for information held by a public office.

For them to monitor the performance, they must have taken base line data, otherwise how would they know the scheme is making a difference.

I do hope they havn't forgot that simple fact and if they have, I'll be waiting with a big fcuk off axe to administer my own type of survey on their equipment.

dimmadan

703 posts

291 months

Monday 27th January 2003
quotequote all
I'm not sure if they need to back up their scheme if it part of the 'safer routes to school' work, as that is the justification. Normally justification is required for any highways scheme.you'll prob get the last three years worth of accident stats. If you're lucky they'll send you the whole cost benefit analysis report. follow up work will involve monitoring accident data and feedback from resident and public. Some traffic calming measures have shown to increase pollution ,humps-accelerating and decelerating etc.
Push the 50mm issue...via your county councillor, explain your vehicle will not be able to negotiate etc (i assume it wont)

nonegreen

7,803 posts

298 months

Monday 27th January 2003
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alan_driver said: Sorry for been stupid, but what does DOT stand for?


Er Dicks or Twats? Not sure if this is about gender or disposision.