Do BRAKE support the dualling of the A9?

[GPSHead]

I have been very impressed with the work of BRAKE, the completely bona fide road safety charity. I know that they have a sincere wish to reduce road casualties, and that that, rather than any other aim, is their top priority. They, and some posters to PH who support their sterling efforts, have assured us all that that is the case.

As many of you will know, there is currently a high-profile campaign to dual the A9 for the entire way between Perth and Inverness. It seems uncontroversial among reasonable people that such a measure would reduce road casualties on this busy route, by eliminating overtaking-related collisions and physically separating traffic travelling in opposite directions.

So I was keen to hear what the excellent road safety charity BRAKE had said in support of this badly needed improvement. But, do you know what? I can't seem to find any statement from BRAKE in favour of dualling the A9. That's a bit odd isn't it? I thought the whole reason they were a charity was because they wanted to improve road safety and save the poor innocent children? Yet here is a massive road safety improvement that they don't seem to really care about. Why could that be? What could possibly be the reason? Surely there isn't another factor which is more important to them (and their pals on PH) than saving people's lives? That would be pretty shabby wouldn't it?

[agtlaw]

GPSHead said:

I have been very impressed with the work of BRAKE,

Another wind up thread!

[TheEnd]

Since they don't say either way, there's nothing much to base opinions on.

[Starfighter]

You could always ask them.

I suspect there position will be yes, subject to a blanket 20mph limit due to kittens living along the route.

[streaky]

Starfighter said:

You could always ask them.

I suspect there position will be yes, subject to a blanket 20mph limit due to kittens living dying along the route.

Fixed that for you.

Streaky

[V8 Fettler]

I used to regularly visit Sutherland, stopped when the tax cameras appeared on the A9. It became an impossible drive in the small hours.

[barker22]

Could it be perhaps that the A9 is currently a single carriageway (60mph) and converting to dual would then up that limit to 70mph. BRAKE couldn't be seen dead supporting upping a limit.

[singlecoil]

GPSHead said:

I have been very impressed with the work of BRAKE, the completely bona fide road safety charity. I know that they have a sincere wish to reduce road casualties, and that that, rather than any other aim, is their top priority. They, and some posters to PH who support their sterling efforts, have assured us all that that is the case.

I'm not involved in any way with BRAKE, and I gather from what you say that you are familiar with their work, but I also gather that you are being sarcastic. If that is the case (forgive me if I am wrong) it would suggest you believe they have motives other than saving lives. What do you think those motives are?

[aw51 121565]

Supporting those who have been bereaved by road accidents is good and honourable work ; carrying out their apparent "mission" to the nth degree - leading to such actions as (for example) a knee-jerk reaction of lobbying (successfully ) for a speed camera where alleged high speed (there was insufficient evidence of excess speed to prosecute the driver...) was only one of the issues in a fatal accident involving an intoxicated teenage schoolgirl pedestrian who was killed late (after 10.30PM) on a weekday evening after playing in the road a couple of miles from home in front of an allegedly speeding car - is not so good or honourable .

[singlecoil]

aw51 121565 said:

Supporting those who have been bereaved by road accidents is good and honourable work ; carrying out their apparent "mission" to the nth degree - leading to such actions as (for example) a knee-jerk reaction of lobbying (successfully ) for a speed camera where alleged high speed (there was insufficient evidence of excess speed to prosecute the driver...) was only one of the issues in a fatal accident involving an intoxicated teenage schoolgirl pedestrian who was killed late (after 10.30PM) on a weekday evening after playing in the road a couple of miles from home in front of an allegedly speeding car - is not so good or honourable .

Any thoughts as to why they did that?

[GC8]

agtlaw said:

GPSHead said:

I have been very impressed with the work of BRAKE,

Another wind up thread!

Is that how you see it, really?

[Nigel Worc's]

barker22 said:

Could it be perhaps that the A9 is currently a single carriageway (60mph) and converting to dual would then up that limit to 70mph. BRAKE couldn't be seen dead supporting upping a limit.

I seem to recall that a few, if not all of the present dual sections on the A9 are signed 60mph.

[tvrgit]

Nigel Worc's said:

barker22 said:

Could it be perhaps that the A9 is currently a single carriageway (60mph) and converting to dual would then up that limit to 70mph. BRAKE couldn't be seen dead supporting upping a limit.

I seem to recall that a few, if not all of the present dual sections on the A9 are signed 60mph.

You recall wrongly. The single carriageway sections have special 60mph repeaters. There are none on the dual sections, so the default 70 applies (for cars)

[Nigel Worc's]

tvrgit said:

Nigel Worc's said:

barker22 said:

Could it be perhaps that the A9 is currently a single carriageway (60mph) and converting to dual would then up that limit to 70mph. BRAKE couldn't be seen dead supporting upping a limit.

I seem to recall that a few, if not all of the present dual sections on the A9 are signed 60mph.

You recall wrongly. The single carriageway sections have special 60mph repeaters. There are none on the dual sections, so the default 70 applies (for cars)

I remember there being some debate about it, when I posted after one trip up there.

There weren't any definate answers.

It is confusing signage, you never see NSL with numbered repeaters down here.

If I see a numbered sign, then that is the limit in my mind, it is not nsl anymore.

The jocks are the same with motorways, numbered 70 rather than nsl.

[tvrgit]

Nigel Worc's said:

I remember there being some debate about it, when I posted after one trip up there.

There weren't any definate answers.

There is now. 60 repeaters on single carriageway bits, 70 NSL applies on duals (although they are not separately signed).

Nigel Worc's said:

It is confusing signage, you never see NSL with numbered repeaters down here.

The 60 repeaters were installed because of the number of accidents involving foreign tourists who couldn't tell what the NSL sign meant. Judging by some of the posts on here, even among "enthusiasts", some of those foreigners may not have had to cross water to get here!

[Nigel Worc's]

tvrgit said:

Nigel Worc's said:

I remember there being some debate about it, when I posted after one trip up there.

There weren't any definate answers.

There is now. 60 repeaters on single carriageway bits, 70 NSL applies on duals (although they are not separately signed).

Nigel Worc's said:

It is confusing signage, you never see NSL with numbered repeaters down here.

The 60 repeaters were installed because of the number of accidents involving foreign tourists who couldn't tell what the NSL sign meant. Judging by some of the posts on here, even among "enthusiasts", some of those foreigners may not have had to cross water to get here!

They seem to manage well enough in England !

[Red Devil]

tvrgit said:

Nigel Worc's said:

I remember there being some debate about it, when I posted after one trip up there.

There weren't any definate answers.

There is now. 60 repeaters on single carriageway bits, 70 NSL applies on duals (although they are not separately signed).

Nigel Worc's said:

It is confusing signage, you never see NSL with numbered repeaters down here.

The 60 repeaters were installed because of the number of accidents involving foreign tourists who couldn't tell what the NSL sign meant. Judging by some of the posts on here, even among "enthusiasts", some of those foreigners may not have had to cross water to get here!

I know Google maps view is over 4 years out of date so things may have changed, but...

D/C ahead sign here. Followed within a very short distance by a 60mph sign here. The next sign is another 60mph one here. No NSL (or 70mph repeater) at the start of the D/C, so I would say that's even more confusing for those who expect to see a sign when the limit changes. In its absence, one could advance the argument that the entire section is 60 (despite the presence of a D/C). I don't think it helps tourists at all tbh (if that really was the motive).

[Corpulent Tosser]

Red Devil said:

I know Google maps view is over 4 years out of date so things may have changed, but...

D/C ahead sign here. Followed within a very short distance by a 60mph sign here. The next sign is another 60mph one here. No NSL (or 70mph repeater) at the start of the D/C, so I would say that's even more confusing for those who expect to see a sign when the limit changes. In its absence, one could advance the argument that the entire section is 60 (despite the presence of a D/C). I don't think it helps tourists at all tbh (if that really was the motive).

All these 60 signs are on single carriageway sections.

Isn't it the case that dual carriageways are 70 unless otherwise signed ?

I agree it could be confusing for foreigners but worst case is they would be travelling under the speed limit on the dual carriageway

[All that jazz]

GPSHead said:

I have been very impressed with the work of BRAKE

not-sure-if-serious-or-trolling.

[anonymous-user]

All that jazz said:

GPSHead said:

I have been very impressed with the work of BRAKE

not-sure-if-serious-or-trolling.

Neither, obviously. Help yourself to a free parrot!