RE: Slow Down Luv
Thursday 12th February 2004
Slow Down Luv
New campaign from Think!
The Department for Transport is launching a new poster campaign today in conjunction with "Safety Camera Partnerships" around the country.
The new posters are part of the "Think!" campaign and are intended to educate motorists about the correct speed limits on different road types. The first of these posters will remind drivers that, unless otherwise signed, the speed limit on street lit roads in built up areas is always 30mph.
To back up the campaign, the DfT commissioned a survey on passenger's attitudes to speed. The study shows:
- 24 per cent have felt angered by their "significant other's" (don't you just hate that term!) speeding, which they think is 'irresponsible and stupid';
- 20 per cent are scared, and concerned that they and the driver could be killed or injured;
- 14 per cent worried about the safety of other road users.
- 25 per cent admit to pressing on an imaginary foot brake; and
- only one per cent wanted their partners to drive faster.
As David Jamieson, Minister for Transport warbled: "We know that two thirds of all accidents in which people are killed or injured happen on built-up roads, and speed plays a part in a great many of these crashes. Sticking to the speed limit makes the roads safer for everyone ."
"I'm pleased that there will be a national poster campaign to remind people of the speed limits. Knowing and sticking to them will improve road safety and reduce the number of people who are caught by speed cameras. "
The DfT press release even makes the curious claim: "And speeding increases the likelihood of an accident as well - an average car travelling at 35 mph will need an extra 21 feet (or six metres) more to stop, than one travelling at 30 mph."
Polishing off the release is some advice for motorings:
- Make sure you know the limit on the road you are using - missing the sign is no excuse.
- Look for the signs - if there are none but there are street lights, the speed limit is 30mph, and that includes dual carriageways.
- Keep glancing at your speedometer at regular intervals throughout your journey - regular checks will not affect your concentration.
- Remember that speed limits are a maximum, not a recommendation. In some conditions the safe speed will be less than the limit - amend your speed accordingly.
- Built up areas can be especially unpredictable; children or animals might run into the road, or a car might pull out in front of you - stay alert and check your speed.
- Remember that it is every driver's responsibility to know the speed limits and remain within them at all times.
Links
Discussion
Reminds me of conversation with ADI instructor down my local. Apparently, when driving past trees - you have to watch out for the squirrel who will leap through the open sunroof, and "Britain in Bloom" towns - it will be watch out for the hanging basket which will appear suddenly and from nowhere in front of you!
The DfT said:
To back up the campaign, the DfT commissioned a survey on passenger's attitudes to speed. The study shows:
- 10% of the passengers questioned could actually drive.
- 100% of those that could drive were numpties
- 100% of these statistics were probably total rubbish.
The DfT press release even makes the curious claim: "And speeding increases the likelihood of an accident as well - an average car travelling at 35 mph will need an extra 21 feet (or six metres) more to stop, than one travelling at 30 mph."
Polishing off the release is some advice for motorings:
- You're being duped
- We're still pedalling the same tired old bul
hit
- This approach hasn't worked before, it won't work now.
There. Much more like it.
the article said:
* Make sure you know the limit on the road you are using - missing the sign is no excuse.
* Look for the signs - if there are none but there are street lights, the speed limit is 30mph, and that includes dual carriageways.
* Keep glancing at your speedometer at regular intervals throughout your journey - regular checks will not affect your concentration.
* Remember that speed limits are a maximum, not a recommendation. In some conditions the safe speed will be less than the limit - amend your speed accordingly.
* Built up areas can be especially unpredictable; children or animals might run into the road, or a car might pull out in front of you - stay alert and check your speed.
* Remember that it is every driver's responsibility to know the speed limits and remain within them at all times.
Can't see anything wrong with this advice. Sorry.
Numpties break speed limits because they have observation so poor that they don't know what they are.
If you can't maintain good observation and know what your speed is you shouldn't be on the road.
More skilled drivers break speed limits - when they choose to do so.
All drivers even the most skilled have the odd lapse, mind. I'm not perfect. And no-one else reading this site is either. That's why I'm thinking about countermeasures...
And yes - I'd have liked a more positive message about keeping an eye out for hazards (more important than anything else) but the rest of the advice is NOT BAD PER SE...
>> Edited by Don on Thursday 12th February 11:59
Don, I think! the thing is that its all a bit bloody patronising. It assumes the reader is a total wit who has no observational skills to speak of and is not the slightest bit aware of their surroundings.
Reading it reminded me of that Billy Connoly sketch taking the piss out of weathermen.
<points at UK map>"This is the country, where you live"
<points at white fluffy object>"And this is a wee cloud"
Education for the sub normal. Are we supposed to be grateful or something? Lessons in the bleedin' obvious, I'd say.
wit who has no observational skills to speak of and is not the slightest bit aware of their surroundings. Reading it reminded me of that Billy Connoly sketch taking the piss out of weathermen.
<points at UK map>"This is the country, where you live"
<points at white fluffy object>"And this is a wee cloud"
Education for the sub normal. Are we supposed to be grateful or something? Lessons in the bleedin' obvious, I'd say.
Billy Connoly. Could hear his voice in my head (or heed) as I read that! I guess going on the driving skills of a lot of the people on our roads they need to be taught in this manner.
Its patronising to people here since we are conscious of our driving.
A lot of roads uses dont think about there driving as its not really a factor of their lives.
The problem with the whole speeding approach is that they play with the wrong feelings. It is one of the most natural human instincts to protect your assets, so the 'speed kills' campaign only gets people thinking of their wallets, not their driving.
Even on PH we would admit inappropriate speed is dangerous, but it all comes under 'bad driving'. I know it sounds ironic, but we should rather be thinking of the children than watching our speed!
Even on PH we would admit inappropriate speed is dangerous, but it all comes under 'bad driving'. I know it sounds ironic, but we should rather be thinking of the children than watching our speed!
Don said:
* Make sure you know the limit on the road you are using - missing the sign is no excuse.
* Look for the signs - if there are none but there are street lights, the speed limit is 30mph, and that includes dual carriageways.
* Keep glancing at your speedometer at regular intervals throughout your journey - regular checks will not affect your concentration.
* Remember that speed limits are a maximum, not a recommendation. In some conditions the safe speed will be less than the limit - amend your speed accordingly.
* Built up areas can be especially unpredictable; children or animals might run into the road, or a car might pull out in front of you - stay alert and check your speed.
* Remember that it is every driver's responsibility to know the speed limits and remain within them at all times.
Can't see anything wrong with this advice. Sorry.
Numpties break speed limits because they have observation so poor that they don't know what they are.
If you can't maintain good observation and know what your speed is you shouldn't be on the road.
More skilled drivers break speed limits - when they choose to do so.
All drivers even the most skilled have the odd lapse, mind. I'm not perfect. And no-one else reading this site is either. That's why I'm thinking about countermeasures...
And yes - I'd have liked a more positive message about keeping an eye out for hazards (more important than anything else) but the rest of the advice is NOT BAD PER SE...
>> Edited by Don on Thursday 12th February 11:59
Generally agree with the above comments.
Being cynical rather in the manner of these school-home contracts we parents keep being faced with I wish on their side they had added something like:
"And on our side we promise to get off our arses and make sure roads are correctly signed"
Please feel free to add your own requests onto the DfT.
David Jamieson Minister for Transport warbling said:
"We know that two thirds of all accidents in which people are killed or injured happen on built-up roads, and speed plays a part in a great many of these crashes. Sticking to the speed limit makes the roads safer for everyone."
How many speed cameras are on "built-up roads" (I assume this refers to 30mph limited roads and not so-called "metalled" roads ... but you can't be sure with government ministers these days) and how many are on "non built-up roads"?
What's the ratio of revenues between these two?
Paul (SS) - do you have answers?
If the KSIs are higher in 30mph limits, shouldn't that be where the scameras are located (assuming they are located anywhere)?
More "45 minute" speak!
Streaky
>> Edited by streaky on Saturday 14th February 11:21
mondeoman said:It's not true anyway. From the ABD website "Note that the requirement to provide repeater signs to indicate that a road is subject to the national speed limit only applies if the road has a system of street lights (lamps not more than 200 yards apart)."
Look for the signs - if there are none but there are street lights, the speed limit is 30mph, and that includes dual carriageways.
So now its a 30 limit on Motoroways - lets bring Britain to a standstill.
Jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez
So if a road has street lamps that are more than 200 yards apart it is national speed limit UNLESS there are 30mph repeaters.
David Jamieson Minister for Transport warbling said:
"We know that two thirds of all accidents in which people are killed or injured happen on built-up roads
So.....built-up areas are the most dangerous, and "safety" cameras are meant to save lives. Therefore, most safety cameras will be placed in built-up areas, won't they? Like bu@@ery they will, at least not anywhere I've been in the UK.
It's this hypocrisy that really gets me
streaky said:
How many speed cameras are on "built-up roads" (I assume this refers to 30mph limited roads and not so-called "metalled" roads ... but you can't be sure with government ministers these days) and how many are on "non built-up roads"?
What's the ratio of revenues between these two?
Paul (SS) - do you have answers?
I have read newspaper reports suggesting that at least 2/3rds of speed cameras are outside built up areas. Good data on camera locations is hard to come by.
We have every reason to believe that cameras are in the wrong places, and to top that, quite a few reasons to believe that no place is the right place.
Let's just get rid of all the damn cameras? OK?
If drivers need to be slowed in "special places", TRL548 tells us that flashing message signs are more effective than cameras. So why bother with cameras?
Best Regards,
Paul Smith
Safe Speed
www.safespeed.org.uk
Someone who should know better said:
"Sticking to the speed limit makes the roads safer for everyone "
I think this one sentence sums up the idiocy of the speed kills brigade. It suggests that everything will be ok as long as you're travelling at 30mph. It just sends out the wrong message to the very people they need to educate the most. If they're going to concentrate on 30mph areas (and good on them for it) then really go to town stressing that 30 will often be unacceptable.
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff