20 moh limits- in wales

potatolord

potatolord

potatolord

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The BBC today published an article about introduction of 20mph limits in Wales later this year.

It's a fairly big change to the habits of everyone who drives.

Personally, I suspect there will be a lot of angry people about, and many fines will be issued if it is applied rigorously. If it is not applied rigorously, it's a bit of a waste of time.

I do wonder whether this could potentially be a voting intentions changing issue for some.

Any thoughts?


www.bbc.co.uk

Speed limits: 20mph row will be seen as fuss over nothing - Labour minister

The minister driving push towards lower speed limits says motorists will get used to going slower.
www.bbc.co.uk
 
I live in one of the places where it was trailed so have had 3 years odd of it now.
For actual residential (rows of houses and cars parked everywhere) roads I support it, no need to be going faster than that. However there was cases like in caldicot where they made a bypass 20 and ended up putting it back to 30 as it didn't need to be.
A lot of people still drive as though it's 30 though.
 
It would be much easier if the limit was 20 on all residential roads. Too much concentration needed now keeping an eye out for speed restrictions, while trying to avoid pot holes and navigate roads where the markings are all but gone.
 
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20 just feels very slow, I'm sure there are streets that would benefit from it. The 50mph through Cardiff on the motorway feels like a joke, everything seems like its going backwards these days.
 
A road I usually use was was signposted 20mph and people ignored it while abusing the street as a rat run plus regularly doing over 30. So the council extended the 20mph section and enforced it with average speed cameras.

It works and the road is nicer to use. Scumbags have to bottle it up for hundreds of yards before the limit ends and it joins a medium speed dual carridgeway.

There must have been over a decade of local complaining for this to happen and I don't begrudge being forced to do 20mph past peoples front doors.

Maybe there are times a 20mph limit is a bad decision but I'll bet that many people complaining that it exists are commuters wanting to dash through and not the locals.
 
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Given it's all former 30mph roads in wales going to 20 (unless specifically exempted), it's not just an issue for people "passing through".

I'm scrupulous on limits as it is, and will find this very irritating.

It isn't going to make people walk that 3 mile drive. It will just make them do it more slowly.
 
The same people that ignore 30 will ignore 20. Funny enough I feel like many cars don’t like sitting at 20. The gearing etc means that it actually requires focus to keep it on 20. London Bridge average speed 20mph is hilarious. Might as well walk.

It’s a stupid thing designed to please stupid people who presume that speed is the killer. I’d rather see speedbumps
 
grudas said:
It’s a stupid thing designed to please stupid people who presume that speed is the killer. I’d rather see speedbumps
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Speedbumps damage your car (and depending on the car also force you to go much slower than a) the limit, b) the safe speed for the road), sitting at 20 won't.

30mph is also far too fast for narrow residential roads with parked cars either side and kids playing.

Nothing wrong with 20mph if it's applied correctly (e.g. in aforementioned residential roads), however a blanket 20mph everywhere is definitely not correct application!
 
grudas said:
The same people that ignore 30 will ignore 20. Funny enough I feel like many cars don’t like sitting at 20. The gearing etc means that it actually requires focus to keep it on 20. London Bridge average speed 20mph is hilarious. Might as well walk.

It’s a stupid thing designed to please stupid people who presume that speed is the killer. I’d rather see speedbumps
Click to expand...

For some (non ecobox) cars 20 is 2nd gear which is probably going to generate more noise and pollution.
 
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Haggisman said:
Speedbumps damage your car (and depending on the car also force you to go much slower than a) the limit, b) the safe speed for the road), sitting at 20 won't.

30mph is also far too fast for narrow residential roads with parked cars either side and kids playing.

Nothing wrong with 20mph if it's applied correctly (e.g. in aforementioned residential roads), however a blanket 20mph everywhere is definitely not correct application!
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anyone with sense already drives slower than 30… people forgot how to drive in general. Our road is 30 and narrow(one car) and I’ve seen cars flat out flying at 60+ easily. It’s insane but a 20mph limit with fix someone who’s ignoring a 30 already. A speedbump on the other hand would
 
I was having this discussion with a family member the other day as we drove through Cardiff.

They found it frustrating that they had to do 20, and that it’s easy to miss signs.


I argued that if you can’t maintain 20 MPH, and can’t regularly spot signs, perhaps you shouldn’t be driving in the first place.



The only thing I find a little bit annoying with it is that in most cars I’ve driven, 20 is a little too high for 2nd, but on the cusp for 3rd
 
grudas said:
anyone with sense already drives slower than 30…
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That already rules out 90% of drivers.

To be honest I'd rather see better enforcement of current limits than speed bumps.

Drove through the centre of Bristol recently, and the 20mph limit was definitely appropriate!
 
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MrRockliffe said:
I was having this discussion with a family member the other day as we drove through Cardiff.

They found it frustrating that they had to do 20, and that it’s easy to miss signs.


I argued that if you can’t maintain 20 MPH, and can’t regularly spot signs, perhaps you shouldn’t be driving in the first place.



The only thing I find a little bit annoying with it is that in most cars I’ve driven, 20 is a little too high for 2nd, but on the cusp for 3rd
Click to expand...

I find 30 very easy to maintain but 20 I'm spending far more time checking the speedo a lot depends on the gearing, etc. of a particular car.

It is also terrible for the environment and long term life of cars if it means peoples cars are getting up to temperature less on journeys, etc. (so not cleanly burning exhaust gases) while maintaining a flat 20 in ideal conditions can have some environmental benefits in the real world with more mixed conditions it is more often the opposite with a large increase in emissions and poor fuel economy compared to 30-40 (especially in these blocky heavy SUVs). Obviously less of a problem if most vehicles are some form of EV but that is a long way off.

Even though I hate how a lot of people drive in residential/built up areas I'm not onboard with these changes at all. Largely it is punishing those who drive sensibly for the sins of those who don't - maybe it would save lives maybe.
 
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