Speed limits

[Cathy]

In the various adverts about speeding they say that going just a few miles over the 30mph speed limit is dangerous. So why do we have 40mph speed limits in built up areas?

[Mobius1]

That's a good question. I would imagine it has something to do with exactly "how built-up" the surrounding area is, and what sort of public access there is near to and connecting to the road, although I really couldn't say.

What I will say though is that, in my relatively short time driving (I passed last December) there have been many instances in which I myself couldn't fathom the logic behind certain speed limits. For instance, there is a road near to where I live that connect to a roundabout, coming off that roundabout (where the speed limit is 30) after about 10 yards there's a sign that says the speed limit changes to 40, only about 30 yards after than (on the same road) the speed limit changes back to 30. I honestly cannot see the point in that!

[hedgehog661]

Speed limits are dependant on three things.

The type of road

the vehicle

the national speed limit.

speed limits are a maximum and a driver should judge whether that maximum is safe at any given time, you could still be prosecuted if you were traveling at a speed not conjusive to the conditions even for going 30 in a 40.

[Cathy]

It's just that I've been through villages where there has been a 40 mph limit (or even National speed limit). Incidently I've also been through a 30 which has carried on past fields, which is a fairly straight road. I feel that if speed limits don't make sense they are more likely to be broken.

[Tim Baxter]

I have some sympathy with your point of view Cathy however the blanket speed limits are there for everybody.

Unfortunately everybody cannot drive to the same high standard so the speed limit is reduced to that of the poorest driving standard to keep things safe.

If all drivers could be taught and then tested to drive responsibly then we would need no traffic signs, masses of legislation or law enforcement.

A man can dream......bliss

[hedgehog661]

True mdoo but what Tim is correctly saying is that at the speed limits set Most drivers can cope with the bad driving......Yes Tim wouldnt life be bliss....

[Tim Baxter]

Bad driving occurs at any speed, true.  But the damage caused by bad driving is increased exponentially with the increase in speed.  Sorry, mdoo, the cynic in me says that if the speed limit were there to catch you out then it's just possible that somebody might enforce it more.  How often do they?  How many speeders do you see everyday getting away with it?

They could enforce it merely by being seen or by catching speeders with unmarked cars (perish the thought) or the infamous speed cameras.  Mind you how anybody can be caught by a speed camera when you're warned of their presence is beyond belief.

[Cathy]

Thanks for the answers, but my main point is that the speed limit in built up areas should surely always be 30mph or it's a mockery. If going 35 kills more people in a 30 limit, why do we bother with 40 limits or even National Speed limits through some villages?

[Tim Baxter]

Perhaps this sounds glib Cathy but if you reduced the speed to zero there would be no accidents!!

It's (as always) a trade off between speed/safety/what the public expects/what the public will put up with.  There's an ad. campaign at the moment telling us that at 30mph or less children suffer a lot less damage than over 30mph.  So 30 in a built up area seems reasonable with the speed limit increasing when there are less and less dwellings about.