Hertfordshire Speed management strategy
Discussion
Consultation on Speed management strategy (basically speed limit lowering)
www.hertsdirect.org/roadtrans/hh/info/speedmanagementstrategy/
www.hertsdirect.org/roadtrans/hh/info/speedmanagementstrategy/
V8 Archie said:
Thus far I've only read the cover page, but from what I see I think PHers should support this initiative.
There is enough acknowledgement of the usually omitted facts to suggest that Hertfordshire is trying to deal with a real problem in a sensible manner.
Well done, Herts!
We've already got Gatsos and speed bumps all over Watford, and they've mentioned setting up of these community speed watch things too, so I wouldn't be too quick to praise. Also, if you go to the "press" bit on the Herts Direct scam website, they have ONE article "shattering the speed camera myths" - usual rubbish sadly.
Just had a proper read of that link and a few issues raise themselves :-
If they're admitting speeding was only a factor in 7% of accidents, why do we actually NEED a dedicated speed management policy? Surely a dedicated road policing policy would be better? There are cameras popping up all over the place round here, yet their own website admits that speeding (as opposed to speed per se) is only causing 7% of the accidents, so logically the cameras are totally ineffective 93% of the time! What an astounding waste of time and money. Not to mention the public relations disaster. I find it interesting that 44% of vehicles surveyed were found to be breaking 30 limits, yet only 7% of accidents are caused by speeding. Surely a disparity?
Also, as someone who regularly has to do battle with Watford's bus lanes, I nearly choked when I read the following...
They could start by ripping up the ill conceived "Green route" on the A412, taking out the bus priority traffic lights that were showing red to general traffic when I walked past a set at 1:30am this morning (and which buses ignore anyway) and sorting out the shambles outside Watford Junction...
If they're admitting speeding was only a factor in 7% of accidents, why do we actually NEED a dedicated speed management policy? Surely a dedicated road policing policy would be better? There are cameras popping up all over the place round here, yet their own website admits that speeding (as opposed to speed per se) is only causing 7% of the accidents, so logically the cameras are totally ineffective 93% of the time! What an astounding waste of time and money. Not to mention the public relations disaster. I find it interesting that 44% of vehicles surveyed were found to be breaking 30 limits, yet only 7% of accidents are caused by speeding. Surely a disparity?
Also, as someone who regularly has to do battle with Watford's bus lanes, I nearly choked when I read the following...
Hertsdirect said:
A speed management strategy would therefore have to balance the need to ensure satisfactory flows of traffic on principal roads
They could start by ripping up the ill conceived "Green route" on the A412, taking out the bus priority traffic lights that were showing red to general traffic when I walked past a set at 1:30am this morning (and which buses ignore anyway) and sorting out the shambles outside Watford Junction...
hornet said:
Just had a proper read of that link and a few issues raise themselves :-
If they're admitting speeding was only a factor in 7% of accidents, why do we actually NEED a dedicated speed management policy? ...I find it interesting that 44% of vehicles surveyed were found to be breaking 30 limits, yet only 7% of accidents are caused by speeding. Surely a disparity?
Well what a surprise!
7% cause as an excuse for the traffic "management" but 44% chance of revenue. That's why!
Where do these stats come from:
"Speeding was a factor in 7% of accidents, nearly 20% of fatal accidents and 11.5% of serious accidents."
Whether they're right or not -- and I do get a feeling that they might be real ones given the ".5%" -- they're way off the official "one third".
So are Herts Police authorised to publish figures which are so far away from "the truth" that the Government has been pushing for so long? Or is this a maverick view from an unauthorised police source?
What's going on?
"Speeding was a factor in 7% of accidents, nearly 20% of fatal accidents and 11.5% of serious accidents."
Whether they're right or not -- and I do get a feeling that they might be real ones given the ".5%" -- they're way off the official "one third".
So are Herts Police authorised to publish figures which are so far away from "the truth" that the Government has been pushing for so long? Or is this a maverick view from an unauthorised police source?
What's going on?
Not a maverick view, as the Hertsdirect.org is the official County Council site as far as I'm aware.
Something else I noted - with regard vehicle activated signs, they say that too many would lessen their impact and people would just ignore them. That exact same argument can be used with regards wholsesale limit reductions and even the whole "Speed Kills" policy. We're now at the point where we're so saturated with campaigns telling us to slow down that I seriously doubt many people pay the slightest bit of attention. Just look at the mobile phone law change - posters all over the place, TV ad campaigns, repeated police warnings yet nobody is paying the slightest notice. The zealousness of the delivery is diluting any gravity the original message ever had.
Something else I noted - with regard vehicle activated signs, they say that too many would lessen their impact and people would just ignore them. That exact same argument can be used with regards wholsesale limit reductions and even the whole "Speed Kills" policy. We're now at the point where we're so saturated with campaigns telling us to slow down that I seriously doubt many people pay the slightest bit of attention. Just look at the mobile phone law change - posters all over the place, TV ad campaigns, repeated police warnings yet nobody is paying the slightest notice. The zealousness of the delivery is diluting any gravity the original message ever had.
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