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Urban Speeds down to 20 - a good thing ?

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youngmafbog | 07:37 Fri 30th Sep 2011 | News
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Following on from DrFilth the proposal is also to have 20 mph in urban areas. This should be a good thing, many more will survive a 20 mph impact or may not be hit at all.

The problem is enforcement, I live in a 20 mph area already as there is a school but it is constantly ignored even by buses.

Thoughts?
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I live in a 20 mph zone. Hard to even get to 20 with all the speed bumps.
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There are speed bumps outside mine but as the ambulances have to go down regulalry due to the station round the corner they are the narrow ones so any van can drive over withough toughing them. My truck barely feels them if I get it right. The local scratters and boy racers dont seem to care, probably TWOC'd the thing.
I'm a bit cynical about this one.

There's just been a campaign "It's 30 for a reason" (supposedly - it's been 30 for years before the supporting data magically appeared)

So If it's 30 for a reason - why is it now 20? for Sh1ts and giggles?

And hey if 20 is good wouldn't 10 be better?


It's not the limit but rather the broard brush with which it is applied - councils are too lazy/understaffed (delete as appropriate) to risk assess each area of road and use broad generalisations to apply policy.

There are some areas where 20 is a very good idea and some 30 and 40 areas which are frankly daft.


Let's start with 20 zones around schools and cameras to enforce them.

Housing estate areas should be enforced by traffic calming and road layout to eliminate rat runs.
Our road would be a prime candidate for a 20mph limit. It's narrow, busyish, and has a school. It has no access from the top end (causing many numpties to think it is one-way!) except for cyclists, who are at great risk of being splatted by oncoming traffic.
I hope this proposal isn't a throwaway line to placate road safely campaigners in light of the motorway limit idea.
As for enforcement, those flashing signs are great for warning inattentive drivers. The drawback is that the wilfully neglectful pay no attention to them.
No I don't think 20mph across the board would work, but as Jake has said within certain areas it would be a good idea.

Rather than speed cameras I think those new speed control devices seem to work, I refer of course to those electronic devices that display your speed as you pass the device,and tells you to slow down if you are going over the limit, and thanks you (in the true polite British way) if your speed is acceptable.
The proposal to increase the speed limits on motorways to 80mph is because car brakes and handling have improved over the years. The brakes and handling have also inproved at 30mph.
Yes, I agree with the 20mph limit around schools and in town centres but leave the other limits alone.
"Sh1ts and giggles? "
Never heard that expression before, must remember it.
"The brakes and handling have also inproved at 30mph. "
On a motorway at 70 or 80 mph braking and handling are the most significant factors. When a kid steps out from behind a parked car on a narrow urban street, driver reaction time is much more significant, and I doubt that that's improved over the years.
rojash

/// driver reaction time is much more significant, and I doubt that that's improved over the years. ///

In fact I would say it has deteriorated, there are more distractions these days,changing CDs etc, also cars are much easier to handle now, also much more comfortable, which in turn makes the driver much more relaxed.

Drivers of old had to pay full attention to their driving, held the steering wheel in a grip of iron, and knew the limitations of their brakes, so they did not tend to be over confident as the driver is today.
so you don't smoke a fag whilst driving then aog ?
If I wanted to drive at 20mph I would have got a bike.

What constitutes 'urban'? If it is tight nit roads with houses round then sure. If it is 20mph simply because you have entered a residential estate then it is ludicrious. I won't be sticking to it if it is the latter.

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