Tories to allow councils to set speed limits.

[B Huey]

The Tories are going to allow councils to set their own speed limits under new proposals by the Dept. of Transport.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/9399135/Q...

I'm guessing that this won't be good news for the keen driver.

[Lost_BMW]

Headline on one paper I saw this morning said 40mph blanket speed limit on rural roads to come, also that a 40mph limit on "quiet stretches" could be set with signs at either end (for miles?) to save the cost of more signs marking variable limits.

Most of the derestricted roads I grew up with in the country - often where you might see one more vehicle every few miles - have now been chopped back through 60mph to 50mph and now we face a constant dawdle everywhere. JHC!

To protect idiots who shouldn't even have a license from their own ineptitude, and of course being dutifully ignored by the more reckless examples of Darwinism who have the greatest tendency to throw themselves into the hedgerow in the first place. Nanny state par excellence.

[B Huey]

Our local area is a 20mph limit, not an issue in itself but the huge speed humps the council fitted to keep speeds down are a major pain in the arse.

[Riley Blue]

B Huey said:

The Tories are going to allow councils to set their own speed limits under new proposals by the Dept. of Transport.

You write that as if it's news. It isn't, only the proposed 40mph rural limit is news. Councils have been dicking about with speed limits for decades.

[B Huey]

Riley Blue said:

You write that as if it's news.

Not just me. Telegraph, Daily Mail, Sky News.

[jbi]

40mph rural limit?

good grief

[Jasandjules]

IN some respects quite handy, because we can quickly and easily vote the councils out?!?!

[Riley Blue]

B Huey said:

Riley Blue said:

You write that as if it's news.

Not just me. Telegraph, Daily Mail, Sky News.

The 'news' bit is the 40mph proposal, not who sets them. It's always been councils.

[Mojocvh]

English councils are to be given more freedom to introduce 20mph speed limits under proposals to improve road safety.

No changes are planned to the national speed limits of 30mph on street-lit roads, 60mph on single carriageway roads and 70mph on dual carriageways and motorways.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18840110

[Blackpuddin]

Govt spokesidiot defending this on R4 Today this morn was appallingly stupid.

[Einion Yrth]

It will prove impossible to police and will therefore be largely ignored. Mind you: how's that "end to the war on the motorist" going, chaps?

[Einion Yrth]

B Huey said:

It's not about enforcement, more about stuck behind traffic bimbling along at 40mph and getting irate at people who attempt to overtake.

So pretty much the same as now then.

[roachcoach]

I guess we'll see more 'safety' vans on roads like this then:

Linky

That yellow van was a camera van the other day. If that road went to 40...wheeeee deficit cleared in....a fortnight?

[Steve Zodiac]

As always with Governments, try to work out the real reason for introducing new 'initatives'
Less damage to cars at 20mph when they hit the massive potholes everywhere, less claims for compensation and less urgency to carry out essential road resurfacing perhaps?

[Teppic]

Mojocvh said:

English councils are to be given more freedom to introduce 20mph speed limits under proposals to improve road safety.

No changes are planned to the national speed limits of 30mph on street-lit roads, 60mph on single carriageway roads and 70mph on dual carriageways and motorways.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18840110

You're right in that the actual limits as defined in law will remain 30, 60 and 70mph respectively. However, it will now be much easier for councils to decide which single carrigeway roads will be designated NSL or not. Watch as a lot of those lovely laminated Road Traffic Regulation notices start getting cable tied to the NSL signposts...

[barky]

a major factor to consider on narrower rural roads is inappropriately slow drivers doing town speeds on the open road & those more used to wider roads going into panic mode when anything bigger than a car is approaching from other direction & slamming on brakes .... how can lowering speed limit help with this real danger .. cars going TOO SLOW for conditions?

[elster]

York have already started working on this and the whole of York will be 20mph, as it will apply to any residential street. They can all be classed as residential.

[WhoseGeneration]

Tories finally lost my vote in any election.

[smegmore]

The existing speed limits are outdated without reducing them any more. They were brought in when cars had skinny cross-ply tyres and drum brakes all round. It needs a complete rethink especially on NSL limits and dual carriageways, will that happen? Like fk it will. This gubmint will kow-tow to the lentilistas as usual.

[dandarez]

WhoseGeneration said:

Tories finally lost my vote in any election.

What did you expect, the Tories to 'end Labour's war on the motorist' as they 'said' they would?

Anyway, don't worry, any new low limits like 20 won't work.
We have the evidence here!
2009 - Oxfordshire County Council introduced their bloody stupid and naive 20 mph limit.

UPDATE - 2012
'Police have not issued a single ticket for breaking the 20 mph limit in Oxford since Oxfordshire County Council spent almost £250,000 imposing the scheme in September 2009.'

County Council cabinet member for transport has ruled out expanding the scheme into other towns in Oxfordshire.

Quarter of a million quid, for zilch!

This country. God help.