[RAC Web Team]

Following the Government announcement today: Shake-up to speed limits planned, the RAC statement was as follows:

"RAC fully supports the need to reduce the deaths on Britain's roads. Driving is one of the biggest acts of cooperation that we face in our daily lives - whether you're a driver, a cyclist, a pedestrian - we all have a part to play in achieving it. No loss of life should ever be acceptable on the roads and cutting speed limits around schools, hospitals and other areas where large numbers of pedestrians are present is a move most motorists will understand.

“The Government and local authorities face a difficult challenge in balancing safety and personal mobility, but speed restrictions must be targeted rather than blanket and the proposed accident blackspot map will mean local authorities can do exactly that. Clamping down on the unacceptable side of motoring such as excessive speeders and drink and drug drivers remains at the top of road users concerns.

Thought you might like to know!

Thanks

Maxine

[Ross PK]

I think it's a great idea.

[98selitb]

I agree, and in particular I (for once) think the government have a very good idea by cutting the limit from 60 to 50 only on roads that are the most dangerous, rather than reducing all 60 limit roads to 50, which would be over the top.

[Tony Aston]

Why do we need a 20 mph speed limit at schools during the school holidays. The normal congestion of the school run serves adequately in slowing down traffic.

I live in Oxfordshire where most of the A roads are already 50 mph

Tony

[Rolebama]

Sorry, but this government are so full of it. Make the roads safer by removing the dangers. Any fool can reduce speed limits, but that is not the answer. Do something concrete and ongoing about the unlicensed, uninsured, drunk or drugged drivers first, like, maybe, get them off the road? Problem is it means putting Police on the road, because it is no good a member of the public reporting one, as all we are met with is an apathetic request to 'write a statement, and maybe we will get round to it, if nothing of higher priority turns up'.

[davey_g]

Originally Posted by Tony Aston

Why do we need a 20 mph speed limit at schools during the school holidays. The normal congestion of the school run serves adequately in slowing down traffic.

I live in Oxfordshire where most of the A roads are already 50 mph

Tony

We don't...what we need is 40 limit on the road which converts, via electronic speed limit signs to 20 at beginning/end of school and maybe lunchtimes...and turned off during hols! Should be quite simple technology. Have seen something similar on a road near Reading.

[Rolebama]

Variable speed limits work on the M25, so why not around school areas. If it is affordable to put up the signs which show your speed, then it must be affordable to fit variable speed limit signage.

[ficklejade]

At least, as mentioned above, it's not a blanket reduction on single carriageways, but I do wonder how it's going to work.

Take the A82 Glasgow - Inverness. This is a very dangerous road in places but not in others. The section from the end of the dual carriageway is currently 60 (although that speed is not normally attainable during the main summer season)! From Tarbet to just north of Inverarnon - no-one in their right mind would contemplate driving at 60 unless one was assured of a completely empty road, no potholes, etc!, but after the climb up to Glen Falloch the road is good and has clear views. From Crianlarich to Tyndrum, there's only one safe spot to overtake and then it's up on the run to Bridge of Orchy and over Rannoch Moor where there are plenty of straight stretches until you hit GlenCoe - even then there's overtaking opportunities at the bottom end before hitting GlenCoe village. From the village right through to Fort William and beyond - forget it - it's lethal! From the Fort to Spean Bridge there's a couple of opportunities (if you know them) and more after the Commando Memorial above Spean Bridge. After that, there's three long straights before Fort Augustus and then - unless you really know the road very well, virtually zilch till you get to Inverness. My betting is they'll simply 50 the whole thing and that is going to be a recipe for disaster for the Highlands & Islands economies, tied in as they are to long distances and ferry times. It will mean (as mentioned previously) additional costs to individuals having to do long journeys and will also increase the costs of goods and services.

Furthermore, it will increase frustration amongst drivers (already evident!) - particularly those who have a clear straight road in front of them and they're not allowed to overtake a vehicle whose driver, in fairness, doesn't know the road and brakes down to 20 for every bend.

Reducing the speed limit to 50 may well improve emissions if everyone stuck to it (but that also depends on one's vehicle's gearing) but Rolebama made the point that it's policing that's needed to get the illegals off the road (sorry, paraphrasing). I'm also acutely aware that I spend more time checking my speedo at 50 than at 60 - I've been doing the eco driving thing - and that's not good either as those fractions of a second can add up - you spend more time worrying about the law than the situations around you.

I'm not against reducing road deaths and injuries - far from it. I'm raising questions. I wouldn't presume to comment on urban roads - just don't know.

Finally, as you're all probably heartily sick of me :rolleyes: - single track roads will probably be made to be 20. The general concensus (as this was leaked before the Budget speech) is that Westminster can do what it likes - we'll drive to the conditions - perhaps if everyone did, we wouldn't need all these big brother interventions?

[98selitb]

Originally Posted by ficklejade

Finally, as you're all probably heartily sick of me :rolleyes: - single track roads will probably be made to be 20. The general concensus (as this was leaked before the Budget speech) is that Westminster can do what it likes - we'll drive to the conditions - perhaps if everyone did, we wouldn't need all these big brother interventions?

Here in rural Devon, it is not possible/safe to go any more than 20 on the vast majority of single-track roads anyway. Only a few small straight stretches of 100m or so where you can get to 30 before it goes back to sharp bends and high hedges.

[RoverV6]

I would like to see policing over Rannoch Moor. Damn nigh on impossible I would bet.
These speed limits are being introduced because of idiots who drive well over the limit and take the chance of being caught which is almost nil. I doubt if policing them will ever happen in the areas concerned as they are badly policed now at the upper limits. Just more money to be wasted on signs instead of tighter policing that would get results.

[98selitb]

Interesting point RoverV6 about policing on main roads which happen to be in very remote areas. Can't they introduce pretend speed cameras or something? I.e. they aren't real cameras (so they cost very little to install and nothing to keep up), but put a couple of signs indicating that they are speed cameras to make the speeding motorists slow down. It may be untruthful but if it prevents accidents then I would understand it.

I'm sure this would be possible because I already know of the existence of pretend CCTV cameras that people put outside their homes, and pretend car alarms that are simply flashing lights but are enough to put off potential car thieves.

[ficklejade]

Originally Posted by 98selitb

Here in rural Devon, it is not possible/safe to go any more than 20 on the vast majority of single-track roads anyway. Only a few small straight stretches of 100m or so where you can get to 30 before it goes back to sharp bends and high hedges.

Take your point - driven down there lots and you're right. We've got some dodgey stuff too but also loads of road with clear vis and 20 makes no sense. All I'm saying is that drivers need to be responsible and sensible -if that were to happen we wouldn't have this situation.

[RoverV6]

I have just read in our local paper that 40 motorists were booked in 30 mins for going over 20 in a new 20 zone! Perhaps a warning for a few weeks after introduction may have been better.

[phils landy]

I think it's a great idea.

Are you kiddin' me? Are you freakin' kiddin me??

[ficklejade]

Originally Posted by 98selitb

Interesting point RoverV6 about policing on main roads which happen to be in very remote areas. Can't they introduce pretend speed cameras or something? I.e. they aren't real cameras (so they cost very little to install and nothing to keep up), but put a couple of signs indicating that they are speed cameras to make the speeding motorists slow down. It may be untruthful but if it prevents accidents then I would understand it.

I'm sure this would be possible because I already know of the existence of pretend CCTV cameras that people put outside their homes, and pretend car alarms that are simply flashing lights but are enough to put off potential car thieves.

Hey. 98selitb - we ain't that daft! This is the Highlands and Islands, here! :D

[Rolebama]

The problem with false cameras is they don't produce revenue, on those grounds I don't think we will see them on the roads.