Vocal Voices

We recently had 20mph speed limits imposed in the locl area. Checks were then made to make sure that we were complying with them. It was discovered that many were ignoring them and sticking to the old 30mph limit.

The council has now decided that it will install traffic calming measures.

We have now had 'invitations' to form a group in protest at what is seen as a 'heavy-handed' response from the council.

Personally I think it is just as easy to slow down, but I know that many neighbours are up for the fight.

It does seem a storm in a teacup Frank! As you said, why not just slow down?

The main trouble is that too many motorists now completely ignore speed limits, and the police cannot, or unable to, do anything about it.

In my opinion the police needs to be increased in numbers, and to get out and do their job, which is to uphold the law.
I can't remember the last time I saw a policeman on the street.

It's no use the Government passing new laws if we haven't enough policemen to enforce them. It makes me wonder whether many MPs
don't wish to increase the police force because they themselves might get found out. Have we become a nation of law-breakers?

I think it all depends on what sort of traffic calming measures they decide to put in.

Chicanes, OK - but speed humps, not if they go on for miles. Jo might know one classic example of a mile-long speed bump road in the Cannock area, the one running between Heath Hayes and Hednesford, which I used to use when visiting Hednesford FC. It was a total PIA and didn't do anything for my suspension (or temper) ….. OK, Heath Hayes village centre was at one end, and a primary school at the other, but it always seemed interminable!

I don't have a problem with 20 mph limits, or any sensible speed limit for that matter, but I do have a problem with councils that (a) impose speed limits that have unnecessary long run-offs, like 1/2 a mile into the countryside each side of the village they're protecting and (b) constantly change the speed limits along a road, like one near Hinckley where there's 7 changes of speed limit - 30,40,30,50,30, 40 so on - within 2 miles. Make speed limits fair and sensible, and the vast, vast majority of people will obey them.

I know a lot of urban councils, Birmingham being one, have introduced huge swathes of 20mph "suburbs". They must be pretty much impossible to police, drivers know they're very unlikely to be caught, so inevitably a few will speed. And it has been shown that 20mph limits actually increase the number of fatal accidents: Bath and North East Somerset
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/1 ... il-admits/

I know that road well Ossie, John's Mom lived on the estate by the primary school....and Tom landed himself with a repair bill not long after he'd got his car last year when he failed to spot one of the speed humps along there. We went and checked it out the next night and the markings are pretty much worn off so in certain conditions they're very difficult to see.

There's another road leading into Hednesford, going from the direction of Huntington where we live, and not only does it have speed humps but also chicanes although it's nigh on impossible to speed anyway because much of it is down to a single lane due to terraced houses with no off-road parking.

there is a road near us nearly a mile long which has speed bumps. These are square raised lumps. you hit one side unless the vehile is very wide. I slow down when I have to go over them.
There is another short strech nearer home which I avoid by taking a longer route.

Regarding speeding, I was overtaken after 10.00 p.m on Saturday night in a 30 zone by a taxi which had flashed his headlights. The vehicle must have been doing over 50 mph when it went [past on a bend going uphill. This is why I have a dash cam.

Some people think the speed limit aroumd here is 40mph.

It ranges from 60mph to 30 mph , but most people drive at 40mph whatever the sign says

I hate being stuck behind them when in a 60 but have to laugh when they jusy keep doing 40 when we hit a 30 zone

Like many things, the 20mph limit in cities comes from the EU. Also like many such things, the TV new will not tell you this.
Evidence.
https://road.cc/content/news/37947-meps ... out-europe

AND

http://www.20splenty.org/30kph_good_for ... for_europe

30KPH being just over 18 mph. Round it up and you get 20mph.

It's a pain in general. Also I don't know if it can actually be enforced? I've never heard of anyone being done for doing 23 in a 20 zone.

buster wrote:Some people think the speed limit aroumd here is 40mph.

It ranges from 60mph to 30 mph , but most people drive at 40mph whatever the sign says

I hate being stuck behind them when in a 60 but have to laugh when they jusy keep doing 40 when we hit a 30 zone

The A34 just past here is like that. It's a 60 once you leave the village but you can guarantee that you'll always be stuck behind someone doing 40, and when it drops to 30 after 3 miles they just carry on.