20mph residential speed limit (replacing 30mph)

[throwaway4372]

My new build estate is limited to 20. People drive about 25 in reality. There's no enforcement. 25 is an appropriate speed for the roads, which were designed in an anti-car way.

On my way to the tip there's a village who reduced their speed limit from 30 to 20. Very annoying to drive through, so slow for no reason. I'm probably more dangerous from feeling frustrated than just driving at 30. They are busybodies with speed cameras so you have to go along with it unfortunately.

If it was ever changed to 20 throughout England, I'd happily elect whoever would change it back to 30.

 

[inogen]

They are based on old drum brake distances I think :/

A modern car can stop in a tiny distance from 30mph.

A lot of accidents on residential roads are situations like people/out of control kids stepping out from behind parked cars right Infront of someone, the driver never sees them coming. Pedestrian's fault but it still goes down in the stats as them being run over. Even a self driving car wont avoid that.

Not all of them though. Loads are caused by drivers not paying attention, not indicating, driving poorly cos they're 5 mins from home. Checking their phone etc.

I got hit twice as a kid. Once on my bike where a van turned right at a junction and just hit my side on as though I didn't exist. Another time I was knocked over whilst standing still, admittedly on a road, when a car unexplainedly swerved to avoid a closed manhole. Didn't want to feel the bump. Both times I wasn't really hurt, but was luck rather than judgement on anyone's part. The van that hit me stopped with me underneath it. I had to crawl out.

I also got hit, though I don't really count this, by someone reversing out of their drive as I walked along the pavement.

There are lots of bad drivers around. The slower they're made to go, the better for everyone.

 

[413x]

My new build estate is limited to 20. People drive about 25 in reality. There's no enforcement. 25 is an appropriate speed for the roads, which were designed in an anti-car way.

On my way to the tip there's a village who reduced their speed limit from 30 to 20. Very annoying to drive through, so slow for no reason. I'm probably more dangerous from feeling frustrated than just driving at 30. They are busybodies with speed cameras so you have to go along with it unfortunately.

If it was ever changed to 20 throughout England, I'd happily elect whoever would change it back to 30.

I wonder if it will be a big win for the tories.
I doubt it. But I'm sure it will get them a bit of a boost.

I think it will cause frustration. Especially when a 30er comes across a 20er and wants to overtake in a village. See it rarely at 30. But at 20,it might happen a lot more

 

[Nasher]

Not all of them though. Loads are caused by drivers not paying attention, not indicating, driving poorly cos they're 5 mins from home. Checking their phone etc.

I got hit twice as a kid. Once on my bike where a van turned right at a junction and just hit my side on as though I didn't exist. Another time I was knocked over whilst standing still, admittedly on a road, when a car unexplainedly swerved to avoid a closed manhole. Didn't want to feel the bump. Both times I wasn't really hurt, but was luck rather than judgement on anyone's part. The van that hit me stopped with me underneath it. I had to crawl out.

I also got hit, though I don't really count this, by someone reversing out of their drive as I walked along the pavement.

There are lots of bad drivers around. The slower they're made to go, the better for everyone.

Those aren't speeding issues, that's people not paying attention. Slightly lower speed limits isn't going to stop that. It might even make it worse as they will feel they have time to check their phone.

 

[Rroff]

I've very against it, mostly due to seeming to be agenda lead rather than real world results:

If doing any distance in 20s I find I'm spending significantly more time in 20s referencing my speedometer to adhere to the limit than I do at 30. Especially my automatics don't like it much.

For some vehicles, especially some of the most polluting, it is actually significantly worse for fuel economy and emissions, also means vehicles will be getting up to optimal operating temperature less if spending a lot of time at or below 20 with all the knock on effect of that with regard to emissions and having to replace parts which itself is an environmental negative.

Erodes the novel factor of 20s around places like school zones - people will get dulled by doing 20s everywhere residential and so will be paying less attention in specific places where there was a reason to have a lower limit for a short stretch.

I have my doubts it will encourage cycling as there will be plenty of roads with higher limits still to navigate for many journeys amongst other factors and like above now potentially creates a less safe situation when people are trying to pass cyclists.

 

[d_brennen]

Does it really add time though? One thing I have learnt about driving fast, is sometimes I am only getting somewhere a few mins faster, would not be end of the world if I didn't

If the area is traffic light controlled, probably not. I see impatient drivers all the time who can't seem to see the red lights up ahead

 

[tom_e]

Not all of them though. Loads are caused by drivers not paying attention, not indicating, driving poorly cos they're 5 mins from home. Checking their phone etc.

I got hit twice as a kid. Once on my bike where a van turned right at a junction and just hit my side on as though I didn't exist. Another time I was knocked over whilst standing still, admittedly on a road, when a car unexplainedly swerved to avoid a closed manhole. Didn't want to feel the bump. Both times I wasn't really hurt, but was luck rather than judgement on anyone's part. The van that hit me stopped with me underneath it. I had to crawl out.

I also got hit, though I don't really count this, by someone reversing out of their drive as I walked along the pavement.

There are lots of bad drivers around. The slower they're made to go, the better for everyone.

Most people manage to go through their whole lives never being hit by a car, to manage it 3 times before reaching adulthood is impressive.

 

[Rroff]

Most people manage to go through their whole lives never being hit by a car, to manage it 3 times before reaching adulthood is impressive.

Related to their post I've seen a few people get reversed into by someone coming off their drive in situations most people would have stopped to let them complete the manoeuvre a common one being people with headphones on, head down and/or paying more attention to their phone.

 

[Nutty667]

Those aren't speeding issues, that's people not paying attention. Slightly lower speed limits isn't going to stop that. It might even make it worse as they will feel they have time to check their phone.

There's a saying, "The slower you drive, the slower you think"

 

[.:MBK:.]

20mph imo only really works if the road layout/traffic calming suits it (say a very tight twisty residential street as you know/feel the danger of going above that). On long wide straight roads, I can't see it being adhered to, but maybe there is psychology that at least non adherence would be 30 rather than 40 as those types of roads were downgraded previously in some circumstances.

 

[jaybee]

If they don't put more cameras up to actually enforce it, what's the actual point? People already do whatever speed they want and only change where there are cameras to enforce it.

 

[sovietspybob]

20mph imo only really works if the road layout/traffic calming suits it (say a very tight twisty residential street as you know/feel the danger of going above that). On long wide straight roads, I can't see it being adhered to, but maybe there is psychology that at least non adherence would be 30 rather than 40 as those types of roads were downgraded previously in some circumstances.

Yeah i wonder if that's the real point, people might speed at 25 or 30 but might be far less likely to speed at 40 now after the change?

 

[Iamzod]

I think this is going to cause issues, some people will stick to 20 (in reality about 17-18), there will be a lot of dodgy overtaking in these 20 zones.

 

[413x]

I think this is going to cause issues, some people will stick to 20 (in reality about 17-18), there will be a lot of dodgy overtaking in these 20 zones.

This is one of my fears.
I guess we will get data back in a year

 

[DJMK4]

its nothing but a money making exercise through fines

People are driving 18-19mph now through roads which IMO should stay at 30... Utter stupid

The backlash i have seen from members of the public on the change is massively not in favour of the change given that this welsh government are so backwards thinking in terms of transportation in this country, and a complete labour driven thought process. The volume of money they have un-neccasarily wasted in complete failure of projects surrounding transportation, (essentially wasting millions of pounds on failed plans to improve road networks, then backing out of major projects to re-ignite and improve transportation. completely in favour of ulez, and thinking that everyone has the ability to take a train on their shoddy public transport network or can walk or bike to work). Not only they but they are not helping drive bringing new business to setup in
They are driving the country in a backwards thinking approach.

Whats stopping them lowering the roads to 15mph next year?

 

[Troop]

Petition to get the 20MPH removed, I've just signed it.
Sign up or I can see it spreading to other parts of the UK

Petition: We want the Welsh Government to rescind and remove the disastrous 20mph law

The new 20mph law is coming into force on the 17th September and it will mark the end of having socialism in power in Wales. Welsh Government claim to have supporting evidence stating that reducing to 20mph EVERWHERE saves lives! Yet we get flyers merely claiming that it will, and opinions...

petitions.senedd.wales

 

[sovietspybob]

It does seem like a weird hill for welsh labour to die on, with all the things they could push for they choose this. it was always going to be deeply unpopular and the evidence behind it seems shaky at best for a blanket change.

With other again hugely unpopular transport things they've done like cancel the 3rd Menai straights crossing won't leave them in good stead around these parts at all. Especially with the old Menai bridge having just undergone an emergency closure for months as it hadn't been maintained for years and years due to corrupt contracts and now we're facing 2 years of traffic lights on it while repairs are done..

 

[413x]

It does seem like a weird hill for welsh labour to die on, with all the things they could push for they choose this. it was always going to be deeply unpopular and the evidence behind it seems shaky at best for a blanket change.

With other again hugely unpopular transport things they've done like cancel the 3rd Menai straights crossing won't leave them in good stead around these parts at all. Especially with the old Menai bridge having just undergone an emergency closure for months as it hadn't been maintained for years and years due to corrupt contracts and now we're facing 2 years of traffic lights on it while repairs are done..

I'm guessing it's personal? Ie Drakeford really wants it or something. I think he hates cars

Its a vote loser at best.
No one is going to change from tory to Labour for it. But there may be a fair few (not enough) that switch the other way.

Idealogically, I like it. Doing the right thing irrespective of vote winner. But I don't like this actual policy.

It does seem about 50:50 from friends. Mostly those in city support it, but people out here mostly don't. Very much seems (as expected) to be how much you drive.

I believe it supposed to save lives. But will dent the economy...

 

[covenantuk]

Most areas in Edinburgh are 20mph. Everybody does 30, including police cars.

 

[Gibbo]

I’d be fine with 20 if it’s a heavily built area or around schools etc.

Alternatively if everything will be 30 down to 20 then make what is left of the NSL roads unlimited I’ve truly enjoyed my time on IOM and spending last few days attacking NSL country roads and flying at 100mph plus, even touching nearly 170mph on mountain road.

Would never happen but anyone who likes stretching their cars legs I have enjoyed the IOM, some of the roads however are very bumpy and undulating but some are truly superb as well. But they also seem to love cars and motoring out here, very nice.