Speed limits: 40mph plan for country roads

JavaScriptDonkey · Post by **JavaScriptDonkey** » 18 Jul 2012, 20:00

I always wonder how the Councils that set these limits know what vehicle I'm driving. What may be safe in a car might be ludicrous in a tractor or suicidal in a HGV.

That aside all that will happen is that local Councillors will get the roads they and their friends live on to be reduced to 40mph in an effort to bring up house prices and garner votes.

If you really want to improve road safety you do it through rigid training that stresses sharing. Cars pulling over for horses, vans letting buses pull out, cyclists and other slow movers occasionally pulling over to let people pass.

Post by **adam2** » 18 Jul 2012, 21:12

Not convinced that lower speed limits would increase house prices.
I would have thought that rural petrolheads, councilors or otherwise would like higher speeds.

SleeperService · Post by **SleeperService** » 18 Jul 2012, 22:02

HGVs are already limited to 40mph on ALL single carriageway roads. I'll bet there's still an enormus queue behind every HGV after the limit is applied

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 19 Jul 2012, 11:29

stevecook172001 wrote: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.

+1

JavaScriptDonkey · Post by **JavaScriptDonkey** » 20 Jul 2012, 20:29

emordnilap wrote:
stevecook172001 wrote: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.
+1

Even rapists and paedophiles and bankers?

Everyone? or just a select subset of everyone?

Little John · Post by **Little John** » 20 Jul 2012, 20:37

JavaScriptDonkey wrote:
emordnilap wrote:
stevecook172001 wrote: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.
+1
Even rapists and paedophiles and bankers?

Everyone? or just a select subset of everyone?

In the case of driving, everyone who drives. In the case of more general resource consumption, everyone who uses resources generally.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 20 Jul 2012, 21:49

Bankers shouldn't be allowed to drive, they should damn well walk. If they thumb a lift, with a bit of luck they'll be picked up by one of the rapists

JavaScriptDonkey · Post by **JavaScriptDonkey** » 21 Jul 2012, 00:51

stevecook172001 wrote:In the case of driving, everyone who drives. In the case of more general resource consumption, everyone who uses resources generally.

I favour ensuring that all road users are properly trained, insured and are using maintained and inspected machines that can be traced so ensuring that everyone respects other users.

It's when people get a sense of entitlement in their head that problems set in.

DominicJ · Post by **DominicJ** » 21 Jul 2012, 10:38

Does that include cyclists and horse riders?

the_lyniezian · Post by **the_lyniezian** » 21 Jul 2012, 12:45

I wonder if reducing speed limits will be good news for would-be cyclists or walkers? Frankly one is put off by the dangers of motor traffic, and it surely would only make things worse allowing people to race around the country at 60mph.

the_lyniezian · Post by **the_lyniezian** » 21 Jul 2012, 12:46

RenewableCandy wrote:Bankers shouldn't be allowed to drive, they should damn well walk. If they thumb a lift, with a bit of luck they'll be picked up by one of the rapists

Whilst not condoning the actions of the banker, I'm not sure I would even joke about wishing rape on people...

SleeperService · Post by **SleeperService** » 21 Jul 2012, 15:38

DominicJ wrote:Does that include cyclists and horse riders?

It jolly well should do. But having been to Belguim recently it seems they know how to build decent cycleways which people then use.

Don't get me started on horses

DominicJ · Post by **DominicJ** » 21 Jul 2012, 21:08

SS
I'm currently working in central manchester, the number of cyclists who believe they can run red lights and its the pedestrians responsibility to get out of the way is scary.

Janco2 · Post by **Janco2** » 22 Jul 2012, 10:53

We cannot safely cycle or even walk around our country lanes as they are so narrow. Although we are not on an official road to the Eden Project, much of that traffic does come our way and at ridiculously high speeds. We need lower than 40mph speed limits on blind bends where there is barely enough room for one vehicle yet alone a walker or cyclist.

Post by **adam2** » 22 Jul 2012, 11:58

Janco2 wrote:We cannot safely cycle or even walk around our country lanes as they are so narrow. Although we are not on an official road to the Eden Project, much of that traffic does come our way and at ridiculously high speeds. We need lower than 40mph speed limits on blind bends where there is barely enough room for one vehicle yet alone a walker or cyclist.

Agree entirely, the default speed should be 40MPH on rural roads, with lower limits in high risk locations and higher speeds perhaps on wide straight roads.