Speed limits: 40mph plan for country roads

Aurora · Post by **Aurora** » 14 Jul 2012, 18:48

BBC News - 14/07/12

Speed limits on many rural roads in England could be cut from 60mph to 40mph under government proposals.

The reduction should be considered by councils on roads with "many bends or junctions", the Department for Transport (DfT) says in draft guidance.

Some 49% of road deaths in 2010 in the UK took place on single carriageway rural roads with a 60mph speed limit.

Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said it was "vital that speed limits are suitable for local conditions".

Article continues ...

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 14 Jul 2012, 21:23

Good. Many's the time that even reasonable people like Marvellous Other 1/2 do stupid speeds on country roads because, well, it's within the speed limit so it must be OK.

Peter1010 · Post by **Peter1010** » 14 Jul 2012, 23:02

excellent, will make it safer when I'm on my bicycle. The only issue is how will/can it be enforced.

Little John · Post by **Little John** » 15 Jul 2012, 00:20

Whatever the right and wrongs of the speed that people travel at in their cars, this is just another non-progressive revenue raising exercise by increasing the opportunities for speeding fines and has got sod all to do with saving the planet.

Consequently, they can F--k right off

energy-village · Post by **energy-village** » 15 Jul 2012, 00:48

stevecook172001 wrote: . . . they can **** right off

This is good news as far as I'm concerned. Too many people think near where I live is a race track, whatever the conditions.

Here's another thought . . . ban private cars?

I agree with your conclusion.

Little John · Post by **Little John** » 15 Jul 2012, 01:10

energy-village wrote:
stevecook172001 wrote: . . . they can **** right off
This is good news as far as I'm concerned. Too many people think near where I live is a race track, whatever the conditions.

Here's another thought . . . ban private cars?

I agree with your conclusion.

I'm all for speed-limiting of vehicles in particular and resource rationing in general based upon everyone getting an equitable share of the benefits and the burdens.

You can just bet it won't pan out that way though. Not unless the rest of us make those at the top afraid

Post by **adam2** » 15 Jul 2012, 04:02

There should be be a fuel saving from the lower speed, but it would appear that the main purpose of the lower speed limit is to reduce accidents.
The cost of road accidents is a substantial burden on society and any reduction is welcome.
The lower speeds will also make roads safer for cyclists, horse riders and drivers of low speed EVs.

Driving at 60MPH on narrow twisting roads is contary to common sense, but is the norm and will remain the norm, unless prohibited by law.
Accidents occur regularly and are looked upon as being bad luck, rather than being a direct consequence of driving at such a speed that one can not stop in the distance seen to be clear.

A few rural roads already have limits of less than 60MPH, there is a substantial local industry in removing or defacing the signs, it being believed that the limit can not be enforced if enough signs are removed or defaced. The cost of renewing the speed limit signs must be substantial.

This cost would be avoided if the default speed limit was 40MPH unless otherwise indicated.
No need for signs.

On one rural road I have started taking the slow and inconvienient bus rather than a taxi, because I feel it to be safer.
The cab drivers regulary exceed what I consider to be a prudent speed, and a favourite subject of conversation is which cab drivers recently wrote of what vehicles !
The bus is by no means immune to accidents, but the greater size and weight of the vehicle is a decided advantage for the passengers.

PS_RalphW · Post by **PS_RalphW** » 15 Jul 2012, 08:48

I try to avoid such roads when I can. I drive as fast (or faster) than is rational on them and I am always hastled and tailgated by other drivers who perform highly dangerous overtaking manouvers to get to the net village tens seconds sooner.

Post by **adam2** » 15 Jul 2012, 10:25

RalphW wrote:I try to avoid such roads when I can. I drive as fast (or faster) than is rational on them and I am always hastled and tailgated by other drivers who perform highly dangerous overtaking manouvers to get to the next village tens seconds sooner.

Agree, you shoud see the highly dangerous overtaking manouvers that drivers "have" to perform if they get stuck behind a bus.
And this despite the fact that bus drivers generaly drive at, but not beyond the legal limit.

UndercoverElephant · Post by **UndercoverElephant** » 15 Jul 2012, 10:38

It's good news for me too, but that's only because I like to drive down country lanes at 10mph looking for fungi. Why is everyone in such a rush all the time anyway?

There is a 40mph speed limit throughout the Ashdown Forest (everywhere apart from the A22). This works very well, IMO. I think it is mainly to cut down on the number of serious collisions with deer.

UndercoverElephant · Post by **UndercoverElephant** » 15 Jul 2012, 10:42

RalphW wrote:I am always hastled and tailgated by other drivers who perform highly dangerous overtaking manouvers to get to the net village tens seconds sooner.

Usually driving BMWs, Audis or Volkswagens.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 15 Jul 2012, 22:15

Way back in the dim and distant mists of time (about 1990), the good people of Basingstoke decided to implement traffic-offence fines that were proportional to how well-off people were. This worked beautifully until, iirc, someone from the Council got done for speeding. It was then unaccountably dropped.

Little John · Post by **Little John** » 15 Jul 2012, 22:53

RenewableCandy wrote:Way back in the dim and distant mists of time (about 1990), the good people of Basingstoke decided to implement traffic-offence fines that were proportional to how well-off people were. This worked beautifully until, iirc, someone from the Council got done for speeding. It was then unaccountably dropped.

Sounds about bloody right

ujoni08 · Post by **ujoni08** » 16 Jul 2012, 11:37

The wealth-related fines are what the Swiss use. Works like a charm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8446545.stm

PS_RalphW · Post by **PS_RalphW** » 16 Jul 2012, 14:18

UndercoverElephant wrote:
RalphW wrote:I am always hastled and tailgated by other drivers who perform highly dangerous overtaking manouvers to get to the net village tens seconds sooner.
Usually driving BMWs, Audis or Volkswagens.

Actually, it is usually a 'white' (no trade name) van or a 17 year old in 15 year old hatch. The people who have personally invested least in the physical hardware and /or have least experience of what happens when they meet something round a blind bend on the wrong side of the road.

(I encountered a Volvo in those circumstances. Against a 50 seater coach it was no contest).