RE: Speed Limits Still not Respected
Friday 13th June 2003
Speed Limits Still not Respected
Widespread flouting of speed limits in the UK
Discussion
... and how many of those 30mph and 40mph limit roads used in the survey were previously 50mph or 60mph limits?
With the dumbing-down of speed limits of late it comes as no surprise that people feel that a higher speed is appropriate and safe for some stretches of road. Why have many roads become more dangerous over the past two or three years and therefore warranted a speed limit reduction? Oh, I'm sorry - I do actually know the answer to this: because it is more difficult to generate revenue with the higher limits in place.
Sorry - rant over - feel better now.
NURSE, NURSE! 
With the dumbing-down of speed limits of late it comes as no surprise that people feel that a higher speed is appropriate and safe for some stretches of road. Why have many roads become more dangerous over the past two or three years and therefore warranted a speed limit reduction? Oh, I'm sorry - I do actually know the answer to this: because it is more difficult to generate revenue with the higher limits in place.
Sorry - rant over - feel better now.
NURSE, NURSE! Sorry plotless don't agree with the arbitary fine.
a) because certianly in my area there are lots of stupid limits eg 40mph barriered dual carriageways (I kid you not)
b) the government would simply lower all limits to increase revenue. Like they have done on so many 50mph that used to be national limit country roads.
IMHO all speed limits should be advisory only. With cameras operating on time switches in truely dangerous situations eg 20mph outside schools at certain time of the day. This is not hard to do and would bring a lot more respect back to the police/government.
I have seen some places that have variable speed limits outside schools where the signs change
I truely believe that this type of policing and having compulsory training courses (paid by the fines) instead of points and money going into govt. coffers is the way forward.
a) because certianly in my area there are lots of stupid limits eg 40mph barriered dual carriageways (I kid you not)
b) the government would simply lower all limits to increase revenue. Like they have done on so many 50mph that used to be national limit country roads.
IMHO all speed limits should be advisory only. With cameras operating on time switches in truely dangerous situations eg 20mph outside schools at certain time of the day. This is not hard to do and would bring a lot more respect back to the police/government.
I have seen some places that have variable speed limits outside schools where the signs change
I truely believe that this type of policing and having compulsory training courses (paid by the fines) instead of points and money going into govt. coffers is the way forward.
Fair enough, completely agree, what I should have said initially was that was all based on a sensible and pallatable and indeed hypothetical speed limit assignation.
What irks me is that when you are in an obviously urban area, large number of hazards, schools, side roads, bus stops, being on a bin round etc is that if you bowl through there at 45 you get the same fine and points allocation as someone doing 80 on a motorway.
To me there is absolutely no sense in that at all.
What irks me is that when you are in an obviously urban area, large number of hazards, schools, side roads, bus stops, being on a bin round etc is that if you bowl through there at 45 you get the same fine and points allocation as someone doing 80 on a motorway.
To me there is absolutely no sense in that at all.
JC is in the ball with this one as usual. Another problem with expanding the 30 and 40mph limits into the previous NSL roads for no good reason is the entire limit is then brought into disrepute even where the limit may be appropriate for a short section of rthe road, such as in the middle of a village.
meddling money grabbing w@nkers.
DAZ
meddling money grabbing w@nkers.
DAZ
What irks me is that when you are in an obviously urban area, large number of hazards, schools, side roads, bus stops, being on a bin round etc is that if you bowl through there at 45 you get the same fine and points allocation as someone doing 80 on a motorway.
To me there is absolutely no sense in that at all.
wholeheartedly agree It is plainly obvious that ANY reliance on fine-related revenue to fund, for example GATSO's or providing Police resources, is removed and that all fines go straight to the treasury.
It is clear to me that councils, police authorities, scamera partneships and the numpty-likes of Tfl and Red Ken do not have the ability to operate these schemes without diverting the agenda away from safety and towards revenue generation.
It is clear to me that councils, police authorities, scamera partneships and the numpty-likes of Tfl and Red Ken do not have the ability to operate these schemes without diverting the agenda away from safety and towards revenue generation.
What's the old saying, if three people tell you you look sick, lie down?
Still, no matter that the majority don't agree with speed limits, we must pander to the vocal minority who want everyone to slow down. That's democracy, innit? Anything else would be mob rule of course. Anarchy. :wheresthattongueincheekicon:
For starters lets have speed limits set by people whith no vested financial interest. Then lets have them enforced by people with, yes, no vested financial interest. Maybe then they will be shown some respect.
Still, no matter that the majority don't agree with speed limits, we must pander to the vocal minority who want everyone to slow down. That's democracy, innit? Anything else would be mob rule of course. Anarchy. :wheresthattongueincheekicon:
For starters lets have speed limits set by people whith no vested financial interest. Then lets have them enforced by people with, yes, no vested financial interest. Maybe then they will be shown some respect.
spnracing said:
That's total crap, of the 41% who don't speed in 30's - i bet that most of them were stuck in traffic.
Eh?
"The sites were selected so that speeds were not seriously constrained by either road layout or traffic congestion.
Where did they find such roads? On the moon?
There's no chance that such a small % of drivers would do 30 in a 30 given an empty road with no layout constraints. Even the slowest old duffer will go over 30 if the road is downhill.
plotloss said: ...but how exactly are speed limits ascertained?
Anyone know? BiB, Magistrates, Town Councillors?
The local Tory town Councillors in my neck of the woods stated that they would change a local 40 limit to a 30 as part of their manifesto. They got elected (not by me) and hey presto; nice new 30 limit appears on said road. I don't know if that answers the question though.
Kooper, it depends where the limit is. On my route into work there's a 30 that's surrounded by houses and I don't go over 30 at all. In fact, I very rarely break 30 limits at all these days.
40s are often so stupid that you can't help speeding, while 60s, dual carriageways and motorways are fair game, providing it's not raining or foggy.
If the majority of people just stuck to the in-town 30 limits - in the knocking-down-a-child areas - there might be a bit less flak from the 'Speed Kills' tw*ts.
Sorry, didn't mean to get on a soap box.
40s are often so stupid that you can't help speeding, while 60s, dual carriageways and motorways are fair game, providing it's not raining or foggy.
If the majority of people just stuck to the in-town 30 limits - in the knocking-down-a-child areas - there might be a bit less flak from the 'Speed Kills' tw*ts.
Sorry, didn't mean to get on a soap box.
Councils were originally setting limits according to the 85th percentile rule - i.e. only the top 15% of speeds measured were too fast, the evidence showing that people do actually have a brain (contrary to the muppet's in power beliefs') and do a reasonable safe speed. Now, they are set to what level the council *want* them at. Hence, a 60 near me (the old A130) with feck all on both sides for large distances is now being made a 40 - "to improve the environment and safety". Really. My fat fecking *rse that's the reason. The bloke I spoke to at the council even said to me it's being done to discourage people using the road.
GRRRRRR!!!!
GRRRRRR!!!!
Sorry, in my haste to rant I forgot what I was going to say!
www.abd.org.uk/speedobj.htm
shows you how they *should* be set. How they're actually set is for political reasons and nothing else.
Fact.
www.abd.org.uk/speedobj.htm
shows you how they *should* be set. How they're actually set is for political reasons and nothing else.
Fact.
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff