20 MPH zones - doncha just love 'em? - Page 3

greendriver · 14th April 2018, 09:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by bl52krz

I live in a twenty zone, and have done for around two years. Do drivers keep to around 20 mph? You bet they do..............not. We have a school for young children in the road. 30/40/50/60 oh yes. The problem is, the police have told us that they will not prosecute under 30 mph. Late last year, the local councillor, myself and two pcso’s, carried out a ‘Speedwatch ‘ action in our road. With four people standing out like a sore thumb, most slowed down to around 25mph. Utter waste of my and the councillors time. Even more interesting was a comment made to me by one of the pcso’s was’ did you see that woman just drive past with a dog on her lap’? I replied ‘did you get her number’? Eerrr no. Was the reply. No interest in the job whatsoever. To much paperwork I suppose. The comment with regards to ‘ how do you keep to 20mph’. All I will say is, if you do not know, then you should not be driving.

I certainly "know" how to keep to 20mph. You are right, if I didn't, I shouldn't be driving. The problem is, everyone else sees me as an old slowcoach Rover driver and hangs on my bumper waiting to overtake. This adds to the stress of driving for all concerned, and will lead to accidents and rear end shunts for all those who keep to the law.

In the old days, the police would stop you for not keeping to the road speed.

Personally, I would feel happier if the Croydon Police made a big announcement that they will nab anyone who drives faster than the limit. However, I do not think that the 20mph zone is appropriate in all areas, and will lead to more accidents and higher pollution.

SCP440 · 14th April 2018, 09:44

Don't get me wrong I think driving slowly past Schools and other such areas is a very good idea but when they put these speed limits in areas that have no Schools, are 2 lanes wide on either side of the carriageway I feel this might be done for other purposes.

The bit that annoys me you can follow a Police car or Council owned vehicle and they seem to be exempt from these limits, OK if they had there blue lights going and were obviously on a way to a call but when they are just out on there rounds in my view they should have to follow the same rules as everybody else.

Tracker · 14th April 2018, 10:43

Here is my personal tale from experience. Driving through Islington in North London a couple of months ago (where I rarely venture by car) I discovered it was entirely zoned at 20mph. I was taking care to try and keep to the limit but momentarily forgot about it when pulling away from a traffic light junction. A camera got me at about 25 mph and I was subsequently written to with the option of being prosecuted or attending a speed awareness course. Not surprisingly I chose the latter (cost in excess of £90!) and duly turned up. I was expecting a generalised lecture on speed and safe driving, but found that it was a specialised "20 mph" course and all 23 or so of us there had all been caught in a 20 mph zone, being mainly Dunstable, Bath and Islington. The two presenters were amiable fellows both with a professional background in specialised driving skills. One of their opening remarks was "So you thought you'd be here with a load of teenage boy racers, didn't you? Well, look around". On looking around it was clear that we were all of "a certain age" and it was a long time since anyone had been a teenager. Apparently the statistics show that mainly older drivers are caught out in 20 mph zones - youngsters learning to drive in more recent years are now supposed to be taught specifically to deal with these lower speed limits. The course was very good and I learned a few things, and I will definitely be more careful in future. These limits are a genuine attempt to reduce casualties - I wouldn't knock them.

bendrick · 14th April 2018, 10:49

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/l...-deaths-942560

https://www.thesun.co.uk/motors/5161...-and-injuries/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ifference.html

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co...opped-12706663

http://londonroadsafetycouncil.org.u...-20mph-limits/

I think that 20 mph zones around schools ( possibly time operational linked to school hours ) and other facilities such as old peoples homes are quite justified.

But find that a 20mph limit on an open road with no traffic or other obstructions even in an urban enviroment ridiculous. Much of the time in urban enviroments traffic speeds are curtailed to 20ish or lower anyway due to traffic or obstruction conditions.

I lived in a town in America in the eighties wit a blanket 20mph limit and it was a nightmare driving anywhere to be honest.

The eyes flitting back and fore from road to speedo is a real issue for me, I'd rather drivers kept their eyes on the road more than the speedo.

steve-45 · 14th April 2018, 18:15

Is the RAMBLERS Association still campaigning for a blanket 20mph limit on ALL country roads?

bl52krz · 14th April 2018, 18:59

Andyno1. I agree with you entirely that the whole speed limits fiasco is nothing but a mess. Our road used to be 30 mph and we had over 40 years only a few car accidents. The problem with our road is that since the introduction of the satnav our road has become a rat run for people going to and from work. Morning and afternoon.40mph is the normal speed, and 50/60 takes place a lot of time. Plus we have the usual motorcycles brain dead riders doing wheelies. In fact one did a wheelie this afternoon past a bus when approaching a junction on his right. Nasty I know, but I was hoping a car was going to do the usual thing of coming out from that junction without stopping, and only looking to their right. This was two up by the way. Mental or what.

mh007 · 14th April 2018, 21:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by bendrick

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/l...-deaths-942560

https://www.thesun.co.uk/motors/5161...-and-injuries/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ifference.html

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co...opped-12706663

http://londonroadsafetycouncil.org.u...-20mph-limits/

I think that 20 mph zones around schools ( possibly time operational linked to school hours ) and other facilities such as old peoples homes are quite justified.

But find that a 20mph limit on an open road with no traffic or other obstructions even in an urban enviroment ridiculous. Much of the time in urban enviroments traffic speeds are curtailed to 20ish or lower anyway due to traffic or obstruction conditions.

I lived in a town in America in the eighties wit a blanket 20mph limit and it was a nightmare driving anywhere to be honest.

The eyes flitting back and fore from road to speedo is a real issue for me, I'd rather drivers kept their eyes on the road more than the speedo.

I knew I read it somewhere!!

Andy_with_a_screwdriver · 14th April 2018, 22:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve-45

Is the RAMBLERS Association still campaigning for a blanket 20mph limit on ALL country roads?

It wouldn't be a bad idea on some country lanes. The A38 west of Plymouth, between Saltash and Liskeard has in some places dual carriageway, single carriageway and in places has overtaking third lanes in one direction only but alternates direction.

Over the last 15 years the speed limit has been reduced from 60 to 50 and down to 40 in places, all in the name of road safety. The overtaking lanes up hills have been removed and filled with the now obligatory chevrons, I'm sure councils have shares in white line paint companies.

However along this 10 mile stretch there a number of single track lanes leading off the main road, all of which proudly display their national speed limit sign. Bizarrely two vehicles can legally approach each other at 120mph on a single track lane yet on the main road where there is a lane each way, and no danger of a head on collision, the limit is 10mph less.

Den · 14th April 2018, 23:27

I was lucky, I was allowed to attend a Speed Awareness course in lieu of Court proceedings, and it woke me up. I still have a clean licence and have never had more the 3 points at any time (50+ years driving). I know 20mph is a pain but it is there for a reason. People especially children are stupid. Driverless cars will kill and injure even more pedestrians and cyclists because the idiots who support this idea do not understand human beings! Also, who will pay for the death, hospitalisation and damage to 1st and 3rd parties?

mh007 · 14th April 2018, 23:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Den

I know 20mph is a pain but it is there for a reason

Yes but on the whole, the limit is not working as intended......apart from making bucket loads of cash!!

See post #24

14th April 2018, 10:43	#23
Tracker Loves to post MG ZT Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Dunmow Posts: 350 Thanks: 139 Thanked 83 Times in 72 Posts	20 mph zones Here is my personal tale from experience. Driving through Islington in North London a couple of months ago (where I rarely venture by car) I discovered it was entirely zoned at 20mph. I was taking care to try and keep to the limit but momentarily forgot about it when pulling away from a traffic light junction. A camera got me at about 25 mph and I was subsequently written to with the option of being prosecuted or attending a speed awareness course. Not surprisingly I chose the latter (cost in excess of £90!) and duly turned up. I was expecting a generalised lecture on speed and safe driving, but found that it was a specialised "20 mph" course and all 23 or so of us there had all been caught in a 20 mph zone, being mainly Dunstable, Bath and Islington. The two presenters were amiable fellows both with a professional background in specialised driving skills. One of their opening remarks was "So you thought you'd be here with a load of teenage boy racers, didn't you? Well, look around". On looking around it was clear that we were all of "a certain age" and it was a long time since anyone had been a teenager. Apparently the statistics show that mainly older drivers are caught out in 20 mph zones - youngsters learning to drive in more recent years are now supposed to be taught specifically to deal with these lower speed limits. The course was very good and I learned a few things, and I will definitely be more careful in future. These limits are a genuine attempt to reduce casualties - I wouldn't knock them.

14th April 2018, 18:59	#26
bl52krz This is my second home Rover 75 cdt club + Rover 2.5 KV6 Conni SE Join Date: May 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 11,387 Thanks: 6,587 Thanked 2,262 Times in 1,729 Posts	Andyno1. I agree with you entirely that the whole speed limits fiasco is nothing but a mess. Our road used to be 30 mph and we had over 40 years only a few car accidents. The problem with our road is that since the introduction of the satnav our road has become a rat run for people going to and from work. Morning and afternoon.40mph is the normal speed, and 50/60 takes place a lot of time. Plus we have the usual motorcycles brain dead riders doing wheelies. In fact one did a wheelie this afternoon past a bus when approaching a junction on his right. Nasty I know, but I was hoping a car was going to do the usual thing of coming out from that junction without stopping, and only looking to their right. This was two up by the way. Mental or what. __________________ Great Barr, Birmingham.

14th April 2018, 23:27	#29
Den Regular poster Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Slough Posts: 95 Thanks: 14 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	20mph speed limits I was lucky, I was allowed to attend a Speed Awareness course in lieu of Court proceedings, and it woke me up. I still have a clean licence and have never had more the 3 points at any time (50+ years driving). I know 20mph is a pain but it is there for a reason. People especially children are stupid. Driverless cars will kill and injure even more pedestrians and cyclists because the idiots who support this idea do not understand human beings! Also, who will pay for the death, hospitalisation and damage to 1st and 3rd parties?

14th April 2018, 09:44	#22
SCP440 I really should get out more....... MG ZT-T 260 Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Witney Posts: 2,504 Thanks: 6 Thanked 910 Times in 571 Posts	Don't get me wrong I think driving slowly past Schools and other such areas is a very good idea but when they put these speed limits in areas that have no Schools, are 2 lanes wide on either side of the carriageway I feel this might be done for other purposes. The bit that annoys me you can follow a Police car or Council owned vehicle and they seem to be exempt from these limits, OK if they had there blue lights going and were obviously on a way to a call but when they are just out on there rounds in my view they should have to follow the same rules as everybody else.

14th April 2018, 10:49	#24
bendrick Gets stuck in Ex CDT Auto Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Barry Posts: 655 Thanks: 76 Thanked 266 Times in 155 Posts	https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/l...-deaths-942560 https://www.thesun.co.uk/motors/5161...-and-injuries/ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ifference.html https://www.manchestereveningnews.co...opped-12706663 http://londonroadsafetycouncil.org.u...-20mph-limits/ I think that 20 mph zones around schools ( possibly time operational linked to school hours ) and other facilities such as old peoples homes are quite justified. But find that a 20mph limit on an open road with no traffic or other obstructions even in an urban enviroment ridiculous. Much of the time in urban enviroments traffic speeds are curtailed to 20ish or lower anyway due to traffic or obstruction conditions. I lived in a town in America in the eighties wit a blanket 20mph limit and it was a nightmare driving anywhere to be honest. The eyes flitting back and fore from road to speedo is a real issue for me, I'd rather drivers kept their eyes on the road more than the speedo.

14th April 2018, 18:15	#25
steve-45 This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon CDTi Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Belvedere Posts: 4,076 Thanks: 108 Thanked 1,089 Times in 774 Posts	Is the RAMBLERS Association still campaigning for a blanket 20mph limit on ALL country roads?