View Poll Results: Do you agree that more speed limits are not the answer
Yes - Silly speed limits lead to a total disregard of other, more important limits
64
83.12%
No - If speed is reduced, so are accidents - stop whinging!
5
6.49%
No opinion either way
8
10.39%
Voters: 77. You may not vote on this poll
Fighting the Anti-speeders
09-07-2008, 04:29 PM
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Fighting the Anti-speeders
Hi all
Just jumping on my soapbox a little. We have recently had a couple of relatively serious accidents on a road near by my house, and as per usual, a number of the "Concerned" local residents are calling for the speed limit to be dropped to 40mph. This drives me nuts! For a number of reasons not least because it is part of this idiotic nanny-stateism, and also I find leads to people completely disregarding this idiotic limit, and then the more important 30 zone that they then cut through full tilt!
In an attempt to head off the nimbys at the pass, I have sent the following letter to the council in the hope that there is at least on letter in the "Dont put another speed limit on our roads" pile!
Letter is below. Tell me if you think I have gone mad, or if you agree with me!
Dear Sir/ Madam
In the first instance, I hope that this is the correct address for this correspondence. If not, then please accept my apologies, and I would be grateful if you could confirm so in order that I may redirect it appropriately.
I am a resident of Starcross, and I have been for almost all of my life, having lived here to date for 30 years. Working in Exeter, I need to make regular use of the A379 road, as detailed above. As you are no doubt aware, parts of the road have been already been subjected to reduced speed limits, particularly between Kenton and Starcross, and also between Starcross and Dawlish.
Whilst I accept that I am not an expert on such matters, based on my own observations, I would suggest that this has not helped at all. There is a culture of introducing too many speed restrictions where they are not warranted, and as a result, this has led to widespread disregard of these newly imposed speed limits as well as the much more important 30mph zones to the villages, which is of significantly greater concern.
I am aware that there has recently been two serious incidents on the road, but I am fearful that this will lead to the rushed and ill thought out additional speed restrictions that will simply have no effect. It is my understanding that the majority of accidents are caused by carelessness, and not by speed. By simply reducing the speed restrictions on major routes to 40mph, this will simply lead to greatly increased frustration by regular and competent road users such as myself, and will in my opinion prevent any improvement in the number of accidents on this road. I would further suggest that notwithstanding these recent incidents, the number of major accidents on this road that are directly caused by speed are very low.
To sum up, I am hopeful that you will use your good judgement to ensure that common sense prevails, and that the vocal few are not allowed to bully the Council into arbitrarily reducing the speed limit on this road. Please allow people to understand the importance of speed limits, and please do not dilute them by placing them on any stretch of road that is available.
I am grateful for your time on this matter.
Yours Sincerely
James Jacobs
Just jumping on my soapbox a little. We have recently had a couple of relatively serious accidents on a road near by my house, and as per usual, a number of the "Concerned" local residents are calling for the speed limit to be dropped to 40mph. This drives me nuts! For a number of reasons not least because it is part of this idiotic nanny-stateism, and also I find leads to people completely disregarding this idiotic limit, and then the more important 30 zone that they then cut through full tilt!
In an attempt to head off the nimbys at the pass, I have sent the following letter to the council in the hope that there is at least on letter in the "Dont put another speed limit on our roads" pile!
Letter is below. Tell me if you think I have gone mad, or if you agree with me!
Dear Sir/ Madam
In the first instance, I hope that this is the correct address for this correspondence. If not, then please accept my apologies, and I would be grateful if you could confirm so in order that I may redirect it appropriately.
I am a resident of Starcross, and I have been for almost all of my life, having lived here to date for 30 years. Working in Exeter, I need to make regular use of the A379 road, as detailed above. As you are no doubt aware, parts of the road have been already been subjected to reduced speed limits, particularly between Kenton and Starcross, and also between Starcross and Dawlish.
Whilst I accept that I am not an expert on such matters, based on my own observations, I would suggest that this has not helped at all. There is a culture of introducing too many speed restrictions where they are not warranted, and as a result, this has led to widespread disregard of these newly imposed speed limits as well as the much more important 30mph zones to the villages, which is of significantly greater concern.
I am aware that there has recently been two serious incidents on the road, but I am fearful that this will lead to the rushed and ill thought out additional speed restrictions that will simply have no effect. It is my understanding that the majority of accidents are caused by carelessness, and not by speed. By simply reducing the speed restrictions on major routes to 40mph, this will simply lead to greatly increased frustration by regular and competent road users such as myself, and will in my opinion prevent any improvement in the number of accidents on this road. I would further suggest that notwithstanding these recent incidents, the number of major accidents on this road that are directly caused by speed are very low.
To sum up, I am hopeful that you will use your good judgement to ensure that common sense prevails, and that the vocal few are not allowed to bully the Council into arbitrarily reducing the speed limit on this road. Please allow people to understand the importance of speed limits, and please do not dilute them by placing them on any stretch of road that is available.
I am grateful for your time on this matter.
Yours Sincerely
James Jacobs
09-07-2008, 04:52 PM
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Surely with the new road tax prices and the amount of speed cameras that keep popping up, you'd a thought they could afford to put more traffic police on the roads, but of course thats never going to happen.. All the goverment is doing is just pissing off everyone who use's the roads... Its about time someone gives Brown a slap round the face, so he wakes up and listens to what people are shouting to him !! 
09-07-2008, 06:46 PM
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What was the cause of the 2 accidents that you wrote about??
Weather or careless driving or a mixture?
I know my driving instructor always told me that in the rain slow down and keep a better gap behind people, also the speed limit is a recommendation not a target.
Maybe better training or road design is the answer??
Weather or careless driving or a mixture?
I know my driving instructor always told me that in the rain slow down and keep a better gap behind people, also the speed limit is a recommendation not a target.
Maybe better training or road design is the answer??
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09-07-2008, 07:40 PM
#8
According to the Police's own statistics less than 5% of all injury accidents are caused by people who have exceeded the posted speed limit. Therefore 95% of all injury accidents are not affected by a speed limit. Bad driving causes the vast majority of accidents. Poor driving skills and inattention are the two major factors, and the latter is adversely affected by having even more signs/speed cameras taking their attention away from the road.
The whole 'speeding' issue has taken the attention away from the REAL cause of accidents, and it's an utter sham that the Government have decided to opt for raising cash rather than saving lives.
The whole 'speeding' issue has taken the attention away from the REAL cause of accidents, and it's an utter sham that the Government have decided to opt for raising cash rather than saving lives.
09-07-2008, 07:54 PM
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What was the cause of the 2 accidents that you wrote about??
Weather or careless driving or a mixture?
I know my driving instructor always told me that in the rain slow down and keep a better gap behind people, also the speed limit is a recommendation not a target.
Maybe better training or road design is the answer??
Weather or careless driving or a mixture?
I know my driving instructor always told me that in the rain slow down and keep a better gap behind people, also the speed limit is a recommendation not a target.
Maybe better training or road design is the answer??
09-07-2008, 08:39 PM
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On form as always, Trev!
The first was a cyclist killed by an old duffer in an MGF (in the rain)
The second was a motorcylist taking a liberty with an overtake straight into the path of a car. Happily the second incident led to only minor injuries.
I think the main point of my letter to the council is that we "the people" rarely bother to write to them to explain our point of view. As such, they can be almost forgiven for thinking that everybody agrees with their idiotic policy on speed restrictions!
JJ
The first was a cyclist killed by an old duffer in an MGF (in the rain)
The second was a motorcylist taking a liberty with an overtake straight into the path of a car. Happily the second incident led to only minor injuries.
I think the main point of my letter to the council is that we "the people" rarely bother to write to them to explain our point of view. As such, they can be almost forgiven for thinking that everybody agrees with their idiotic policy on speed restrictions!
JJ
12-07-2008, 01:09 AM
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For all of your smileys needs :------->
Step 1) Click on "User CP" (top left of screen, next to rules)
Step 2) Click on "Edit Options"
Step 3) Scroll to the bottom of that page to "Message Editor Interface" and change it to: "Enhanced Interface. Full WYSIWYG interface"
Step 4) Click on "Save Changes"
JJ
Step 1) Click on "User CP" (top left of screen, next to rules)
Step 2) Click on "Edit Options"
Step 3) Scroll to the bottom of that page to "Message Editor Interface" and change it to: "Enhanced Interface. Full WYSIWYG interface"
Step 4) Click on "Save Changes"
JJ
12-07-2008, 10:21 AM
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I personally think everyone should take thier bike licence by law. When their on the road and see what other road users do to bikes it would change thier minds on the way they drive!! (Well it did me) or everyone should do the advance driving course and not be allowed on the road till they pass. Would make so many people better drivers (And hopefully safer)!
Fair play to you mate, but the majority with win and the Government will use it to put up a speed camera and make more cash.
Fair play to you mate, but the majority with win and the Government will use it to put up a speed camera and make more cash.
12-07-2008, 05:38 PM
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Sitting back and doing nothing apart from moan and assume that it won't make any difference is a guaranteed way to ensure that they get their way.
12-07-2008, 05:43 PM
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I personally think everyone should take thier bike licence by law. When their on the road and see what other road users do to bikes it would change thier minds on the way they drive!! (Well it did me) or everyone should do the advance driving course and not be allowed on the road till they pass. Would make so many people better drivers (And hopefully safer)!
Fair play to you mate, but the majority with win and the Government will use it to put up a speed camera and make more cash.
Fair play to you mate, but the majority with win and the Government will use it to put up a speed camera and make more cash.
12-07-2008, 10:25 PM
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13-07-2008, 10:22 PM
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Some interesting ideas - I agree that most could do with significant improvement in bike awareness.
I think that you are all right that the letter will be in vain, but you gotta try!
JJ
I think that you are all right that the letter will be in vain, but you gotta try!
JJ
14-07-2008, 09:24 AM
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They did the same here. 30mph zone, going into NSL single carriageway on a STRAIGHT section of road, back into a 30mph zone. Thing is the STRAIGHT section of road had a crap road surface and was very bouncy and was awful to drive and 2accidents occured over about 5 years.
What did they do? RESURFACED the road so it was all smooth and was a pleasure to drive on...then dropped it to a 40mph limit. And since that limit has been imposed there has STILL been 2 more accidents WITHIN 18 MONTHS, one of which a Citroen Xsara came off the road and crashed into a toilet block. Can't tell me that the speed limit reduction has helped eh?
Edit: And just to add, straight section of road where you can see EVERYTHING ahead, yes people just belt past those doing 40mph at WAY above 60!
What did they do? RESURFACED the road so it was all smooth and was a pleasure to drive on...then dropped it to a 40mph limit. And since that limit has been imposed there has STILL been 2 more accidents WITHIN 18 MONTHS, one of which a Citroen Xsara came off the road and crashed into a toilet block. Can't tell me that the speed limit reduction has helped eh?
Edit: And just to add, straight section of road where you can see EVERYTHING ahead, yes people just belt past those doing 40mph at WAY above 60!
Last edited by JayKay; 14-07-2008 at 09:25 AM.
14-07-2008, 09:54 AM
#20
windmill lane, in southall, has a 30 mph speed limit (for some reason, overnight EVERY road in southall with the postcode of UB1 or UB2 turned into a 30 mph or less limit, even the dual carriageways, theonly place that escaped was around 100 yards of the hayes by pass leading towards the M4 junction 3)
then, for all of about 5 yards, it's got a 40 mph limit going out of southall towards isleworth, then it goes under the M4 and it's a nsl road
but coming back towards southall, there is no 40 mph sign post, only a 30 mph one
how does that make sense?
one side of the road is 40 mph, the other side of the road is 30 mph, and it's a single carriageway B road
then, for all of about 5 yards, it's got a 40 mph limit going out of southall towards isleworth, then it goes under the M4 and it's a nsl road
but coming back towards southall, there is no 40 mph sign post, only a 30 mph one
how does that make sense?
one side of the road is 40 mph, the other side of the road is 30 mph, and it's a single carriageway B road
14-07-2008, 10:11 AM
#21
Getting to 30mph within Southall is a target not a limit
bloody place is solid traffic wise no matter what, hate the place... never ever seen such a general poor standard of driving and observation of road traffic laws in my life as in that place
bloody place is solid traffic wise no matter what, hate the place... never ever seen such a general poor standard of driving and observation of road traffic laws in my life as in that place
14-07-2008, 10:18 AM
#22
yellow box junctions all over the place
too many buses (i counted 17!!!!!!!!! the other week all coming into southall from hanwell, that's one fuck of a lot of traffic just there!!!!)
too many peole parking up on the sides of the street
too many stall holders setting up in the pavement forcing the pedestrians to walk further out
too many old people crossing the road and expecting the traffic to stop for them and then going flying when it doesn't
too much agro from everyone
the list goes on and on and every time you venture into the place it's like going into a gladitorial arena
too many buses (i counted 17!!!!!!!!! the other week all coming into southall from hanwell, that's one fuck of a lot of traffic just there!!!!)
too many peole parking up on the sides of the street
too many stall holders setting up in the pavement forcing the pedestrians to walk further out
too many old people crossing the road and expecting the traffic to stop for them and then going flying when it doesn't
too much agro from everyone
the list goes on and on and every time you venture into the place it's like going into a gladitorial arena
14-07-2008, 10:20 AM
#23
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People say its a waste of time writing letters/emails, the more people that do it the more they will take note, not necessarily change their decision but it will make them sit up and think "oh, people do actually have an opinion and its not always the same as ours"
I write to my local MP all the time, I bet she's sick of me by now
There's little wonder the government does what it likes when people dont oppose anything.
I'm off to write another bile filled letter to my MP about Labours latest bunch of stupid ideas
I write to my local MP all the time, I bet she's sick of me by now
There's little wonder the government does what it likes when people dont oppose anything.
I'm off to write another bile filled letter to my MP about Labours latest bunch of stupid ideas
14-07-2008, 11:45 AM
#25
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Typical knee jerk reaction by anti speeders.
Old boy up my mums road complained after a crash outside his house. He was jumping up and down about the excess speed and that "we must have a camera before somebody is killed"
Unfortunately for him my brother was outside and saw the crash (made statement to police as well) and it was in fact caused by his daughter turning straight across the path of an oncoming car who didn't even have a chance to brake before impact.
Oddly he didn't respond to my reply letter that was printed the week after pointing this out.
And on another note the council won't care as it's a good excuse for them to spend their budget in that area. I work in local authority and was shocked to discover that my brothers accident is down on the official stats as being a speed related collision even though it was caused by a driver failing to stop at the T junction. If the safety lot can dump the blame on speed they will as it justifies their own existance. It's all politics and it absolutely sucks!
Old boy up my mums road complained after a crash outside his house. He was jumping up and down about the excess speed and that "we must have a camera before somebody is killed"
Unfortunately for him my brother was outside and saw the crash (made statement to police as well) and it was in fact caused by his daughter turning straight across the path of an oncoming car who didn't even have a chance to brake before impact.
Oddly he didn't respond to my reply letter that was printed the week after pointing this out.
And on another note the council won't care as it's a good excuse for them to spend their budget in that area. I work in local authority and was shocked to discover that my brothers accident is down on the official stats as being a speed related collision even though it was caused by a driver failing to stop at the T junction. If the safety lot can dump the blame on speed they will as it justifies their own existance. It's all politics and it absolutely sucks!
Last edited by Oranoco; 14-07-2008 at 11:51 AM.
14-07-2008, 03:17 PM
#26
Too many posts.. I need a life!!
I have to agree with this, I think in days gone by where the roads were quiet it was fine, but its not suitable for todays levels of traffic and size of vehicles, really annoys me. Also the parking within 2 car lengths of the end of a street that should be upped to 4 car lengths min imho.
JAmes
JAmes
14-07-2008, 04:21 PM
#27
Typical knee jerk reaction by anti speeders.
Old boy up my mums road complained after a crash outside his house. He was jumping up and down about the excess speed and that "we must have a camera before somebody is killed"
Unfortunately for him my brother was outside and saw the crash (made statement to police as well) and it was in fact caused by his daughter turning straight across the path of an oncoming car who didn't even have a chance to brake before impact.
Oddly he didn't respond to my reply letter that was printed the week after pointing this out.
And on another note the council won't care as it's a good excuse for them to spend their budget in that area. I work in local authority and was shocked to discover that my brothers accident is down on the official stats as being a speed related collision even though it was caused by a driver failing to stop at the T junction. If the safety lot can dump the blame on speed they will as it justifies their own existance. It's all politics and it absolutely sucks!
Old boy up my mums road complained after a crash outside his house. He was jumping up and down about the excess speed and that "we must have a camera before somebody is killed"
Unfortunately for him my brother was outside and saw the crash (made statement to police as well) and it was in fact caused by his daughter turning straight across the path of an oncoming car who didn't even have a chance to brake before impact.
Oddly he didn't respond to my reply letter that was printed the week after pointing this out.
And on another note the council won't care as it's a good excuse for them to spend their budget in that area. I work in local authority and was shocked to discover that my brothers accident is down on the official stats as being a speed related collision even though it was caused by a driver failing to stop at the T junction. If the safety lot can dump the blame on speed they will as it justifies their own existance. It's all politics and it absolutely sucks!
and do you know what else?
road deaths are all collated by peole who die on the road, NOT by peole who die as a reslut of a car crash
so someone who commits suicide off of a bridge is officially a road death, same with someone who has a heart attack in the street so there are a lot of figures that don't actually relate to actual peole being injured in cars by people being silly
I have to agree with this, I think in days gone by where the roads were quiet it was fine, but its not suitable for todays levels of traffic and size of vehicles, really annoys me. Also the parking within 2 car lengths of the end of a street that should be upped to 4 car lengths min imho.
JAmes
JAmes
and it's actualy illegal from what i've read to park within 10 metres of a turning in any case
15-07-2008, 09:46 AM
#28
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Theres a dual carriageway near me that has had a 70mph speed limit ever since it was built many years ago. Last year however they slotted some traffic lights in the middle of it and knocked the speed limit down to 40mph - god knows why as there are plenty of dual carriageways in the North West that have 70mph limits with lots of traffic lights situated on them.
Now it appears the council have gained a lick of common sense and put the speed limit back up to 70mph, which made me chuffed to bits as its a good road and 70mph is a nice speed to cruise along at - perhaps someone wrote to them...
So to the original poster, it might not be so worthless
Now it appears the council have gained a lick of common sense and put the speed limit back up to 70mph, which made me chuffed to bits as its a good road and 70mph is a nice speed to cruise along at - perhaps someone wrote to them...
So to the original poster, it might not be so worthless
Last edited by Gary_ST; 15-07-2008 at 09:49 AM.
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