Interesting blog on the new 30mph limit on the A40 Westway
Discussion
An interesting blog from Martin Lewis - he of MoneySavingExpert fame (and a top lad too).
He questions the safety, and decision making, of reducing a stretch of the A40 in London from a 50mph limit down to 30.
http://blog.moneysavingexpert.com/2011/02/25/new-3...
I rarely drive this - but I suspect there are many PHers who do this as their daily slog. I'd love to know rationale behind the decision. Is it a safety-related issue; and if so, what are the facts to support it.
But if it's a traffic management issue - then does it really help?
Does any daily/frequent users have any thoughts?
He questions the safety, and decision making, of reducing a stretch of the A40 in London from a 50mph limit down to 30.
http://blog.moneysavingexpert.com/2011/02/25/new-3...
I rarely drive this - but I suspect there are many PHers who do this as their daily slog. I'd love to know rationale behind the decision. Is it a safety-related issue; and if so, what are the facts to support it.
But if it's a traffic management issue - then does it really help?
Does any daily/frequent users have any thoughts?
Good points. I regularly drive this road but against the flow and have to say I hadn't noticed it was now a 30.
Judging by the traffic around me few have.
There seems no logical reason for this. It's practically a motorway: 3 lanes, crash barriers, slip road entry and exit and hard shoulder.
Nonsense.
Judging by the traffic around me few have.
There seems no logical reason for this. It's practically a motorway: 3 lanes, crash barriers, slip road entry and exit and hard shoulder.
Nonsense.
holes.I've been following the comments on that post, and one poster says that "the buckinghamshire advertiser website suggests its due to future long term roadworks or something"
If that's true - that's going to be a nightmare! At least it's not some new policy on downgrading all limits - as a ca$h earner, as suggested.
If that's true - that's going to be a nightmare! At least it's not some new policy on downgrading all limits - as a ca$h earner, as suggested.
Kinky said:
I've been following the comments on that post, and one poster says that "the buckinghamshire advertiser website suggests its due to future long term roadworks or something"
If that's true - that's going to be a nightmare! At least it's not some new policy on downgrading all limits - as a ca$h earner, as suggested.
I'm pretty sure the Buckinghamshire Advertiser website wouldn't mention the A40 being blown up along its entire length, they are so behind the times.If that's true - that's going to be a nightmare! At least it's not some new policy on downgrading all limits - as a ca$h earner, as suggested.
In fact the other end of the A40 within that paper's catchment area (the Denham-M40 stretch) has also been reduced from 50mph to 30mph, ostensibly while they remove a damaged footbridge, but over the past few weeks cameras have gone up. The Advertiser's website has not mentioned this at all.
In fairness the paper copy is slightly more 'with it'.
John, you're right 
Taken from a comment on his facebook page
http://gerrardscross.buckinghamshireadvertiser.co....
Someone else has said that Here's a comment from TFL - With 51 accidents resulting in personal injury in a three-year period at this junction, it was decided that improvements were required so speeds reduced
I wonder if the causes were speed related
Taken from a comment on his facebook page
http://gerrardscross.buckinghamshireadvertiser.co....
Someone else has said that Here's a comment from TFL - With 51 accidents resulting in personal injury in a three-year period at this junction, it was decided that improvements were required so speeds reduced
I wonder if the causes were speed related
A long time ago I used to drive on this stretch very often, including often late at night. At the time the speed limit was national (70) and when I was young and foolish I used to go considerably faster. In recent times I have found the 50 frustratingly slow, so as for 30 .....
I once had a very close call there. There had been a diesel spill on the carriageway, and I spotted cars 'sliding all over the place' ahead. More by luck than judgement I was able to get through without hitting anything (28 years ago, I don't remember all the details, presumably I was going too fast/close in that I certainly did not stop before the accident scene). I stopped on the shoulder beyond to help - several damaged vehicles, but no injuries. I don't think this accident has any relevance at all for the speed limit.
I once had a very close call there. There had been a diesel spill on the carriageway, and I spotted cars 'sliding all over the place' ahead. More by luck than judgement I was able to get through without hitting anything (28 years ago, I don't remember all the details, presumably I was going too fast/close in that I certainly did not stop before the accident scene). I stopped on the shoulder beyond to help - several damaged vehicles, but no injuries. I don't think this accident has any relevance at all for the speed limit.
Out of peak times its a great bit of road, not far off motorway standard, no reason why 70 mph wouldnt be safe when its quiet, may have seen an indicated lepton plus there a few times so why would these idiots make it a 30? Its madness.
Why not make everythign one lane while they are at it like they did in Edinburgh?
Great planning - lets get London to grind to a halt needlessly.
Why not make everythign one lane while they are at it like they did in Edinburgh?
Great planning - lets get London to grind to a halt needlessly.
At least from Dagenham it is.http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1938/jun/27/west-way-speed-limit
30mph was considered too slow way back in 1937!
30mph was considered too slow way back in 1937!
I Love Lamp said:
Expect to see mobile camera vans in this location.
generally if more than half drivers are exceeding the limit safely, the limit is too low. If the limit is too low they should be prepared to raise it. If the limit is too low they arent allowed to bring out the camera vanWont stop them though
I'm a bit late joining this thread but the new limit has irritated me so much I'm reviving it.
Have driven the A40 four times this week (twice in each direction). The first time I didn't notice the reduction as the signs are only painted on the road surface, not up on lamposts. The old 50mph ones are covered up. If it is for roadworks as people say, where are they? It's been a couple of weeks now and no sign of any workmen.
The only car I have seen obeying the 30 mph limit was a learner - everyone else is still at 50 with a good number at the 1980s / 90s limit of 60. Even a police 5 series was doing 45 yesterday with everyone backed up behind it. He drove round the learner like a mobile chicane.
The most ridiculous thing is at the end of the elevated section (which used to have full motorway status when it was a 60) where it becomes the Westway, the limit goes back up to 40.
Stop the madness!!!
Have driven the A40 four times this week (twice in each direction). The first time I didn't notice the reduction as the signs are only painted on the road surface, not up on lamposts. The old 50mph ones are covered up. If it is for roadworks as people say, where are they? It's been a couple of weeks now and no sign of any workmen.
The only car I have seen obeying the 30 mph limit was a learner - everyone else is still at 50 with a good number at the 1980s / 90s limit of 60. Even a police 5 series was doing 45 yesterday with everyone backed up behind it. He drove round the learner like a mobile chicane.
The most ridiculous thing is at the end of the elevated section (which used to have full motorway status when it was a 60) where it becomes the Westway, the limit goes back up to 40.
Stop the madness!!!
I drive this stretch 2 or 3 times a week but only noticed the new limit today. It's insane!! The old 50 limit felt very slow and was almost entirely ignored. Most people took it at 60-70 and it was perfectly safe.
As people have rightly noted, this is effectively a motorway - 3 lanes and a hard shoulder for crying out loud! On my way home tonight I figured it's VERY likely to be under the beady eye of mobile cameras trying to catch people out after the change. So I set the ASL to 30 to see what it felt like and, unsurprisingly, it was ridiculous and in fact dangerous. I was the only one going under 50, people were weaving around me, beeping as they went, and it felt like I'd get rear ended at any moment.
What a farce! I'd love to know the logic behind it, but I doubt there is any. Nonsense.
As people have rightly noted, this is effectively a motorway - 3 lanes and a hard shoulder for crying out loud! On my way home tonight I figured it's VERY likely to be under the beady eye of mobile cameras trying to catch people out after the change. So I set the ASL to 30 to see what it felt like and, unsurprisingly, it was ridiculous and in fact dangerous. I was the only one going under 50, people were weaving around me, beeping as they went, and it felt like I'd get rear ended at any moment.
What a farce! I'd love to know the logic behind it, but I doubt there is any. Nonsense.
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