Keeping traffic flowing
Discussion
Is there anyone in this country actually tasked with keeping up traffic speeds to the benefit of the economy and general productivity?
It seems like every speed limit reduction is justified by "it'll only add another few minutes to drivers' journeys -- and think of the children", but there are now so many "few minutes" added.... well you know what I'm saying.
The cost savings of reduced speed limits are touted as £150k for an accident, £1m for a death, etc. But do you hear anyone give the cost savings of raising speed limits? I don't, but there must be figures showing improved productivity, etc?
So who is responsible for keeping us all moving? Everything else in the world gets faster on the basis that it's an improvement, but driving has to get slower.
<edited to fix typos>
>>> Edited by Peter Ward on Monday 13th October 10:12
It seems like every speed limit reduction is justified by "it'll only add another few minutes to drivers' journeys -- and think of the children", but there are now so many "few minutes" added.... well you know what I'm saying.
The cost savings of reduced speed limits are touted as £150k for an accident, £1m for a death, etc. But do you hear anyone give the cost savings of raising speed limits? I don't, but there must be figures showing improved productivity, etc?
So who is responsible for keeping us all moving? Everything else in the world gets faster on the basis that it's an improvement, but driving has to get slower.
<edited to fix typos>
>>> Edited by Peter Ward on Monday 13th October 10:12
tonyrec said:
The main priority of Trafpols is the free flow of traffic.......
Tonyrec, with all due regard to the winking smiley I, and possibly several others here, find that very hard to believe. Living and working as I do near the Shropshire/Wales border, TrafPlod are very rarely to be seen, except when lurking in side roads adjacent to 40mph speed limit signs, or attending major, by which I mean serious injury RTA's.
They are never at hand when other possibly less dramatic but equally serious congestion-causing incidents occur, such as traffic-light failures, illegal parking, vehicle breakdowns, fallen trees etc. etc.
Could you please enlighten me at least on the criteria on which the Traffic Police would consider an incident worthy of their attendance in order to keep the traffic moving?
Different forces obviously have different priorities and Casualty reduction is obviuosly one of them.
When i joined the unit, and as far as im aware....we still deal with all breakdowns,accidents you name it, on what we call 'Fast Roads'(speed limit of 40mph or more).Even down to a plank of wood....sadly these things need to be dealt with when we could quite easily spend ALL of our time hiding behind bushes etc etc.
I cant speak on behalf of other Force policies only the one that has employed me for the last 20years.
BTW. the wink has nothing at all to do with it!!!!!!!
>> Edited by tonyrec on Saturday 11th October 20:29
When i joined the unit, and as far as im aware....we still deal with all breakdowns,accidents you name it, on what we call 'Fast Roads'(speed limit of 40mph or more).Even down to a plank of wood....sadly these things need to be dealt with when we could quite easily spend ALL of our time hiding behind bushes etc etc.
I cant speak on behalf of other Force policies only the one that has employed me for the last 20years.
BTW. the wink has nothing at all to do with it!!!!!!!
>> Edited by tonyrec on Saturday 11th October 20:29
I accept the fact that, as it stands at the moment, different forces may have their own priorities, and that you can only comment on your own experience.
But do you think that there could be a more general concensus on priorities between forces across the country? Given that the speed camera movement has gained such universal acceptance, do you feel it would be reasonable for the public also to expect a more consistent level of policing from region to region?
The areas in which I live and work are covered respectively by West Mercia and Dyfed/Powys. Their priorities may be vastly different from those of, say Greater Manchester, or Northumbria (whatever), yet, as a motorist I could easily find myself unwittingly at variance with their particular policies on traffic policing.
'Reduction of casualties' sounds good, but doesn't actually define anything which could be nationally understood.
P.S. If this is a hijack, sorry.
But do you think that there could be a more general concensus on priorities between forces across the country? Given that the speed camera movement has gained such universal acceptance, do you feel it would be reasonable for the public also to expect a more consistent level of policing from region to region?
The areas in which I live and work are covered respectively by West Mercia and Dyfed/Powys. Their priorities may be vastly different from those of, say Greater Manchester, or Northumbria (whatever), yet, as a motorist I could easily find myself unwittingly at variance with their particular policies on traffic policing.
'Reduction of casualties' sounds good, but doesn't actually define anything which could be nationally understood.
P.S. If this is a hijack, sorry.
The main problem here is that in essence we are talking about 2 different things.
Traffic Police are concerned with any incidents on main arterial routes that may impede the traffic flow, especially during rush hour,and certainly not through the siting of Cameras to moderate the passing traffic flow.
As you will see from my threads, im not at the front of the queue when it comes to supporting Speed Cameras and Camera Vans.
All Traffic Police are 'singing from the same hymn sheet'and the same principles of Policing apply everywhere.
Reduction of Casualties is not all about Speed Cameras and prosecution, its about more important things like Driver Education and awareness.
Drivers must understand that the Police do not make the laws or design the speed limits, we merely enforce them as well as other laws of the road and people who choose to speed, contravene traffic signs etc will be dealt with as a result.
In short, if you take a chance and get caught then you have no one else to blame for your actions but yourself.
>> Edited by tonyrec on Saturday 11th October 22:42
Traffic Police are concerned with any incidents on main arterial routes that may impede the traffic flow, especially during rush hour,and certainly not through the siting of Cameras to moderate the passing traffic flow.
As you will see from my threads, im not at the front of the queue when it comes to supporting Speed Cameras and Camera Vans.
All Traffic Police are 'singing from the same hymn sheet'and the same principles of Policing apply everywhere.
Reduction of Casualties is not all about Speed Cameras and prosecution, its about more important things like Driver Education and awareness.
Drivers must understand that the Police do not make the laws or design the speed limits, we merely enforce them as well as other laws of the road and people who choose to speed, contravene traffic signs etc will be dealt with as a result.
In short, if you take a chance and get caught then you have no one else to blame for your actions but yourself.
>> Edited by tonyrec on Saturday 11th October 22:42
james_j said:
I have never seem any road layout change, addition of road signs, changes in speed limits and so on that improve traffic flow.
But i bet you have seen Trafpol at an Accident scene doing their damdest to clear the scene and open up the road again............."to assist the freeflow of traffic nonetheless.
james_j said:
What I see everywhere I drive, are attempts by local authorities to impede smooth traffic flow.
I have never seem any road layout change, addition of road signs, changes in speed limits and so on that improve traffic flow.
I have to agree. Not an accusation against BiBs but against those who design the roads. Always an increase in white and red paint plus lower limits, less lanes, more distraction.
sqwib said:
But do you think that there could be a more general concensus on priorities between forces across the country?
Be careful what you wish for. I'm sure I'll be corrected if I'm wrong, but I believe one of the purposes of the Association of Chief Police Officers is to harmonise certain policies across forces. The reason for my warning is that, last time I checked, the ACPO Road Safety spokesperson was one Mr Dick Brunstrom.
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