Staffs MP campaigning for 60mph limits on dual carriageways
Discussion
I despair when I read this article. The A38 through Staffordshire is a Roman Road. No dodgy bends, well surfaced, well lit.
It's a busy road, so 60 mph is the norm in rush hour, but it is as safe as some Motorways at 70 mph when the traffic is light.
http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/Burton-s-MP-bid-reduce...
Sadly, this MP, Andrew Griffiths, is rather good at headline grabbing rather than delivering anything....but I fear this campaign may be the start of more restrictions on NSL roads. If there's any users of this road that agree with me, then please add your support in the Burton Mail comments section.
It's a busy road, so 60 mph is the norm in rush hour, but it is as safe as some Motorways at 70 mph when the traffic is light.
http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/Burton-s-MP-bid-reduce...
Sadly, this MP, Andrew Griffiths, is rather good at headline grabbing rather than delivering anything....but I fear this campaign may be the start of more restrictions on NSL roads. If there's any users of this road that agree with me, then please add your support in the Burton Mail comments section.
dual carriageways are not created equal.
there are some dual carriageways which are are all grade seperated junctions or roundabouts and if they had continuous hard shoulders would probably be deemed of motorway standard apart from the fact they are mainly two lanes per carriageway rather than 3 +
whne you start having 'flat' right turns with right hand exit slips and then crossing the opposing traffic it all becomes rather different ( which was one of the key points in the aborted Mick Ferguson case about the at that time unimproved A1 around Grantham)
there are some dual carriageways which are are all grade seperated junctions or roundabouts and if they had continuous hard shoulders would probably be deemed of motorway standard apart from the fact they are mainly two lanes per carriageway rather than 3 +
whne you start having 'flat' right turns with right hand exit slips and then crossing the opposing traffic it all becomes rather different ( which was one of the key points in the aborted Mick Ferguson case about the at that time unimproved A1 around Grantham)
For some reason, the A38 through Staffordshire is an accident hotspot
A couple of years ago, average speed cameras were installed on the short stretch between Lichfield and Sutton Coldfield and the limit dropped to 60mph. Almost immediately, the accidents (and, incidentally, the traffic jams) have dropped considerably
By comparison, the adjacent stretch from Lichfield towards Derby is often mentioned on the local traffic news as being closed or restricted due to an "incident"
The problem is partly down to traffic volumes - its very busy during peak hours - too many commuters trying too hard to make progress, with too little space - most accidents are rear end shunts, followed closely by side-swipes due to lack of observation
Although the 60mph feels painful when driving it (I do it twice a day), it is at least moving, which is more than can be said for the majority of A roads in the region at 7:30am. For some reason, when the limit was 70, it was a constant process of getting up to 70(ish) and then back down to 40 as everyone bunched up. Now, its just a constant 55-60 (apart from the hugely entertaining occurrences when someone sails through half the stretch at 70+ then remembers the definition of "average" and spends the next mile at 30mph....)
FWIW, I think the A38 is a prime candidate for managed speed limits - probably 50 - 60 during peak hours and 70 at other times
A couple of years ago, average speed cameras were installed on the short stretch between Lichfield and Sutton Coldfield and the limit dropped to 60mph. Almost immediately, the accidents (and, incidentally, the traffic jams) have dropped considerably
By comparison, the adjacent stretch from Lichfield towards Derby is often mentioned on the local traffic news as being closed or restricted due to an "incident"
The problem is partly down to traffic volumes - its very busy during peak hours - too many commuters trying too hard to make progress, with too little space - most accidents are rear end shunts, followed closely by side-swipes due to lack of observation
Although the 60mph feels painful when driving it (I do it twice a day), it is at least moving, which is more than can be said for the majority of A roads in the region at 7:30am. For some reason, when the limit was 70, it was a constant process of getting up to 70(ish) and then back down to 40 as everyone bunched up. Now, its just a constant 55-60 (apart from the hugely entertaining occurrences when someone sails through half the stretch at 70+ then remembers the definition of "average" and spends the next mile at 30mph....)
FWIW, I think the A38 is a prime candidate for managed speed limits - probably 50 - 60 during peak hours and 70 at other times
Jon1967x said:
A38 from Lichfield up to Derby? Often closed due to accidents, lots of awkward junctions on it without motorway grade slip roads, and undulations. I also thought it had lower limits in patches. I'm not one for widespread lowering if limits but I can see why this road is a candidate
Agree completely. Use some of that stretch everyday and it was not clearly not designed for the volume or type of traffic that now uses it - especially around Fradley with the huge distribution depots & manufacturing sites that have sprung there in the last few years. Constant lorries coming in and out all day, every day. Toyota at the A50 junction is also a major source of the traffic volume. Horrible to join and exit in places as the slip roads are so short and shallow.
60mph limit around Burton but it's not widely observed which causes problems too.
But catch it with limited traffic and it can be a most pleasant drive.
If that's the criteria that is being used, we may as well downgrade all DCs to a lower limit because all of those that I regularly use are identical. It's the nature of them. Look at A46 Leics, A19 Durham, A1 Northum'd, A74 Dumfries, A55 N. Wales etc., etc.
And while you're at it, why not downgrade SCs to 50 so that there is a speed differential between them.
Are we all becoming infected with the 'Speed Kills' mantra?
And while you're at it, why not downgrade SCs to 50 so that there is a speed differential between them.
Are we all becoming infected with the 'Speed Kills' mantra?
Sorry, beaten to it several times lol.
I'm local to the M50, and I believe there aren't many accidents directly related to the junctions, but if you aren't local you really do need to see some of them, I'm amazed they were approved back then, let alone allowed to exist today, they really are that awful.
I also use the A38 from the M1 down towards Brum from time to time (when I don't want to use the M42, or can't as they've closed it at night to do something), and in the same vein as I'm surprised by the M50, I am surprised that sections of that run are still signed at NSL these days when people sort of expect the speed limit to tell them what is safe.
I'm local to the M50, and I believe there aren't many accidents directly related to the junctions, but if you aren't local you really do need to see some of them, I'm amazed they were approved back then, let alone allowed to exist today, they really are that awful.
I also use the A38 from the M1 down towards Brum from time to time (when I don't want to use the M42, or can't as they've closed it at night to do something), and in the same vein as I'm surprised by the M50, I am surprised that sections of that run are still signed at NSL these days when people sort of expect the speed limit to tell them what is safe.
littleredrooster said:
Are we all becoming infected with the 'Speed Kills' mantra?
Nigel_O said:
For some reason, the A38 through Staffordshire is an accident hotspot
A couple of years ago, average speed cameras were installed on the short stretch between Lichfield and Sutton Coldfield and the limit dropped to 60mph. Almost immediately, the accidents (and, incidentally, the traffic jams) have dropped considerably
Maybe, just maybe, speed does matter? A couple of years ago, average speed cameras were installed on the short stretch between Lichfield and Sutton Coldfield and the limit dropped to 60mph. Almost immediately, the accidents (and, incidentally, the traffic jams) have dropped considerably
MrTrilby said:
Maybe, just maybe, speed does matter?
IF you come into contact with something else, then it most certainly does.I wonder if lowering the speed limits does actually reduce the number of collisions, or just the severity of them ?
Edited by Nigel Worc's on Tuesday 7th October 10:45
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