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I generally have no problem with speed limits and feel that in most cases they correct for the roads concerned, In many cases I would actually like to be able to travel at the speed limit. However, there seems to be an increasing number of instances of 20mph limits on main roads, usually near schools or old peoples homes. Now I don't have a problem with slowing traffic down at these points but it is actually quite difficult dropping to 20mph and maintaining that speed on a main road. The worst thing though is that I can't get the council to put a 20mph limit on my estate even though it has two schools, lots of young children and a lot of old peoples housing, yet they will allow one on a main route into a city.
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it is actually quite difficult dropping to 20mph and maintaining that speed on a main road.
Is it? I find the speed is easy, not getting recklessly overtaken is the tricky bit...
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The problem I have is not the limit itself, but the reaction to the twits around you who dont care for it and expect you to ignore it like they want to. I often wonder if some people even see a speed limit sign at all given their indignation, stuck on your back bumper.
Snipers, thats the answer :-)
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The problem I have is not the limit itself but the reaction to the twits around you who dont care for it and expect you to ignore it like they want to.
That's a significant irritation for me at the moment, there's a 4 mile stretch of road between Sopley and Ringwood, which used to be ( roughly) 30 - 40 - NSL - 40 - NSL - 40 - NSL, since christmas it has been changed to 30 - 30 - 40 - 30 - 40 - 40 - NSL. The amount of aggressive tailgating I suffer for doing 30 in the bits that were 40 and 40 in the bits that were NSL is getting tedious.
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In my home town of Richmond, North Yorks, there is a 30mph limit outside the schools, and a 20mph limit in the town - doesn?t make sense to me as if they are going to impose a 20 mph limit they ashould put it where there a lot of Children about where its needed.
Where it is 20 mph, there are lots of roundabouts traffic lights and junctions as its in the main town, so you could probs not get to 30 mph
where the schools are its one long road ive seen people go down there at 30 + becasue its a long straight road.
Intrestingly someone tried to slow people down once by placing a large yellow wooden box on a pole at the end of the 30 mph away from the town where it goes into National Speed Limit, it had a hole facing out of thw town it so abvously wasnt a speed camera and this was proved when someone coming the other way from me as i was heading towards it when speeding past it and it didnt do anything
Edited by redviper on 23/01/2009 at 12:39
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it so abvously wasnt a speed camera and this was proved when someone coming the other way from me as i was heading towards it when speeding past it and it didnt do anything
They sped past it, not me, i realised my errors in the text and i could not edit it, as it was to late
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20mph limits are appropriate in some locations, like in some town centres or part-time outside schools, but I wouldn't want to see them adopted in general in towns.
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Yes, I do agree, other drivers certainly don't help. One of the 20mph roads I use is a bit like a roller coaster and the speed cameras are on the downhill bits. This does make things a little more difficult. On a flat road it is not really such a problem.
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When we lived in Luton, there were quite a few 20 limits introduced, again in areas which you'd have difficulty in hitting, if it were a 'target' speed.
Now we're near Milton Keynes, I'm surprized the lack of reduced limits, or traffic harming road obstacles, around the shooping/office areas, in city centre.
There are generous parking areas, outside these places, with clearly designated pedestrian paths, towards the roads. For some reason, there is no indication to drivers (other than presence of pedestrians) that you are approaching a section of the road used as a crossing area.
These should at least be a coloured road surface, or better still, Zebra crossings & 20 limit.
VB
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Most 20 mph limits are implemented with speed humps - so you have to drive slow anyway.
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but it is actually quite difficult dropping to 20mph and maintaining that speed on a main road.
>>
It is? 3rd gear, tickover in my Passat gives about 18mph.
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I frequently visit Carlisle as my parents live there, in fact I've just got back from that city.
The local authority there are very keen on 20mph limits on residential roads, even if they are fairly significant through routes.
Now, the 20mph limit is not the worst feature, that is the use of speed cushions, since the authority do not trust the drivers to keep to 20 mph and know that the speed limits are unenforcable due to insufficient traffic police.
So, driving through an area where one would like to concentrate on vulnerable pedestrians and cyclists, in fact a lot of one's concentration is diverted towards the frequent changes in speed of the driver in front and the consequent braking and gear changes needed to match. Without the speed cushions I could just potter along at 20mph in 3rd gear, in comfort and watch out for those other road users.
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Can someone please explain the point of 20mph speed limits around some schools. In my area of Stockport, during school times you can't normally drive above 10mph anyway. And then for the rest of the time - overnight, school holidays etc you are restricted to 20. All rather pointless.
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I agree, Pete. It's like the traffic lights that function throughout the night so that we sit for several minutes whilst nothing happens.
Those crazy Europeans, they have traffic lights that turn to flashing amber at off-peak times so that drivers can use their initiative (dear Labour, do you remember that concept?).
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20 limits
Stick your car in 2nd and let the car do an italian tune up while the engine is screaming at 3500rpm. You won't want to speed up. Relax and let the nut cases behind you do their thing and just focus on those school kids who will play chicken run in front of you.
In many of the 20's near me it is impossible to do more than that away as they are narrow roads with too much on coming traffic you have to give way for.
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