New speed limit guidance now live

[saaby93]

Here it is
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...

Paragraph 27 is going to be the interesting one

dft said:

The underlying principles
27. The aim of speed management policies should be to achieve a safe distribution of speeds consistent with the speed limit that reflects the function of the road and the road environment. This should imply a mean speed appropriate to the prevailing road environment, and all vehicles moving at speeds below or at the posted speed limit, while having regard to the traffic conditions.

Speed limits might have to go up a bit otherwise Paragraph 26 comes into play

dft said:

26. Where there is poor compliance with an existing speed limit on a road or stretch of road the reasons for the non-compliance should be examined before a solution is sought. If the speed limit is set too low for no clear reason and the risk of collisions is low, then it may be appropriate to increase the limit. If the existing limit is in place for a good reason, solutions may include engineering measures or changes to the road environment to ensure it better matches the speed limit, or local education and publicity. Enforcement may also be appropriate, but should be considered only after the other measures and jointly with the police force.

There's also an installable tool
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/speed-l...

Useful?

[Noesph]

Umm, making things slower, but no word about the 80mph motorway limit anymore

Local councils are pedestrianizing all the high streets around here, then charge quite a bit for parking that's not really that near by, then wonder why the high street is dying

[saaby93]

Noesph said:

Umm, making things slower,

only if they have millions to spend on speed humps

Read it again

dft said:

and all vehicles moving at speeds below or at the posted speed limit,

Is the way to make all that happen change vehicle speeds or the speed limit on the post?

Edited by saaby93 on Monday 21st January 17:06

[inman999]

It actually looks very considered and reasonable, just hope the police and local authorities adhere to it now.

[KiaOra]

dft said:

26. Where there is poor compliance with an existing speed limit on a road or stretch of road the reasons for the non-compliance should be examined before a solution is sought. If the speed limit is set too low for no clear reason and the risk of collisions is low, then it may be appropriate to increase the limit. If the existing limit is in place for a good reason, solutions may include engineering measures or changes to the road environment to ensure it better matches the speed limit, or local education and publicity. Enforcement may also be appropriate, but should be considered only after the other measures and jointly with the police force.

Unfortunately, I can see this being vague enough so that it ends up meaning "the council will come up with a 'good' reason"

i.e "Environmental (climate change) reasons" and general "'cos we are the Council and we know best", even without any KSI backup, leading to more chicanes, speed humps and general spoiling of sight-lines to achieve the speeds they wanted, rather than the speeds which are appropriate.

[bp1000]

They can do what they like to keep traffic flowing in the towns just dont touch the beloved welsh and derbyshire country roads.

[anonymous-user]

SO are they going to re-enstate the national speed limit on my local dual carriageway bypass? Built in 1986, and designated with a 60mph limit, it was great, a nice fast, safe way of bypassing the town centre. Last year, a pedestrian was killed crossing it (they were trying to cross a busy dual carriageway by jumping over the crash barriers, both at the sides of the carriageways and in the central reservation!) Immediate knee jerk reaction was to put a 40mph limit on it?

So, for 26 years, 60mph was considered to be a sensible speed, and now suddenly, it's 40mph? So, i tell you what, when the limits are sensible, i'll not exceed them............ ;-)

[Dr Jekyll]

saaby93 said:

...Speed limits might have to go up a bit otherwise Paragraph 26 comes into play....

[saaby93]

^^^Maybe I could do a double act with Dr Jekyll

Max_Torque said:

SO are they going to re-enstate the national speed limit on my local dual carriageway bypass? Built in 1986, and designated with a 60mph limit, it was great, a nice fast, safe way of bypassing the town centre.

why wasnt it 70mph if a DC?
What youre highlighting is the difference between what the Dft says and what goes on in your local authority

[mudster]

saaby93 said:

What youre highlighting is the difference between what the Dft says and what goes on in your local authority

Indeed. DfT guidance indicates 40mph (or possibly 50mph) would be more suitable. Default appears to be 30mph with better quality roads being 40mph. The best dual carriageways/bypasses etc. can go up to 50mph in "exceptional circumstances"

Section 6 of DfT Guidance said:

Roads suitable for a 40 mph limit are generally higher quality suburban roads or those on the outskirts of urban areas where there is little development. Usually, the movement of motor vehicles is the primary function.

In exceptional circumstances, 50 mph limits can be implemented on special roads and dual carriageways, radial routes or bypasses where the road environment and characteristics allow this speed to be achieved safely.

[saaby93]

mudster said:

saaby93 said:

What youre highlighting is the difference between what the Dft says and what goes on in your local authority

Indeed. DfT guidance indicates 40mph (or possibly 50mph) would be more suitable. Default appears to be 30mph with better quality roads being 40mph. The best dual carriageways/bypasses etc. can go up to 50mph in "exceptional circumstances"

Section 6 of DfT Guidance said:

Roads suitable for a 40 mph limit are generally higher quality suburban roads or those on the outskirts of urban areas where there is little development. Usually, the movement of motor vehicles is the primary function.

In exceptional circumstances, 50 mph limits can be implemented on special roads and dual carriageways, radial routes or bypasses where the road environment and characteristics allow this speed to be achieved safely.

Section 6 is for urban roads
It says in summary

dft said:

50 On dual carriageway ring or radial routes or bypasses that have become partially built up, with little or no roadside development.

i.e a bypass with development not too far away and the odd house next to it
with as above the aim of all traffic travelling at or below the speed limit

As soon as it becomes rural - open fields either side, it's NSL
with as above the aim of all traffic travelling at or below the speed limit

[Galveston]

The previous guidance (I think it was called "Setting local speed limits", circa 2006) was similarly sensible but almost universally ignored.

[gt500nick]

blah blah blah more speed limit nannies, lets just ban cars and live in a world of rainbows and unicorns.

[jinkster]

As the UK is now in Europe, surely we should follow the European guidelines on speed in towns, cities, motorways....ahem, German Speeds