From 60MPH to 40MPH; Gov Proposals

[Muffin`]

Actually, that's not how it works. There is no requirement to drive at the speed limit.

I never said it did, but someone driving is such a way clearly shows a reluctance to drive faster, which is down to lack of confidence. People who lack confidence makes mistakes, this translates in to a danger for themselves and other road users. Speed does not translate into danger if the laws and guidelines are followed. You're little Trusim about a man crashing is an idiot, well he's an idiot if he crashed at 59mph too. There's no defence for driving too fast for the conditions.

As Raymond has said this was an A road in which an articulated lorry was being held up by a car being driven too slowly for the conditions. Driving in such a way without the ability to be overtaken is discourteous and will lead to drivers performing unsafe overtakes through frustration. You will incur marks against you if you on your driving test do not 'Get up-to the speed of the road quickly' - so if an articulated lorry is being held up how is she not up-to the speed of the road? Traffic Police will also take a dim view of people driving in such a manner.

I don't agree with defending the race to the bottom of driving standards, they should be constantly challenged to be higher than they were as that's the best way of improving road safety, not just saying 'stick below the limits and it'll be all roses'.

 

[Vonhelmet]

I don't agree with defending the race to the bottom of driving standards, they should be constantly challenged to be higher than they were as that's the best way of improving road safety, not just saying 'stick below the limits and it'll be all roses'.

Well, that's fine, but the question then is how we actually remove the supposedly "unsafe" drivers from the roads and what we expect them to do if they no longer have their cars.

 

[phil675]

Perhaps the price of petrol is also partially to blame for slow drivers. I do tend to go 50mph on a 60mph on my commute, am I part of the problem?

 

[Haggisman]

So are we talking about long clear straight roads or are we talking about twisty country roads? Because the two are obviously different.

Surely if a HGV has caught up with you in the twistys it's even more indicative that you're driving too slow - they aren't known for their manoeuvrability!!

 

[Deleted member 66701]

Perhaps the price of petrol is also partially to blame for slow drivers. I do tend to go 50mph on a 60mph on my commute, am I part of the problem?

Yes you are! If you can't afford the petrol get a push bike and leave the roads to those of us that can afford to run cars!

 

[mattyprice4004]

I think about getting a motorbike all the time!

 

[Basher]

People shouldn't be compelled to drive faster than they feel comfortable doing so

So it's ok for someone to do 15 in a 60, because they don't feel comfortable going the speed limit

If you can't drive at the speed limit (assuming good conditions), you shouldn't be on the road.

 

[Skeeter]

At the core of this there is a genuine issue. Some rural NSL roads should not be 60. Some roads around my parents have significant stretches of single lane, yet are still NSL.

But a blanket reduction to 40mph strikes me as a lazy knee-jerk reaction.

 

[richard104]

So it's ok for someone to do 15 in a 60, because they don't feel comfortable going the speed limit

If you can't drive at the speed limit (assuming good conditions), you shouldn't be on the road.

LOL, i think you can take a point over the line a bit....i think he was hinting at the fact if someone was driving right up your backside at 50 in a NSL you shouldn't feel rushed or flustered to go any faster. After all it's a maximum speed limit...

It seems that you have a attitude that if they're not going at the speed YOU want to be going at they should move over to squeeze that extra 5 MPH on your route. Afterall if you're just patient you would just arrive 30 seconds later than if you would've if you'd overtaken. May be? :S

 

[Basher]

LOL, i think you can take a point over the line a bit....i think he was hinting at the fact if someone was driving right up your backside at 50 in a NSL you shouldn't feel rushed or flustered to go any faster. After all it's a maximum speed limit...

It seems that you have a attitude that if they're not going at the speed YOU want to be going at they should move over to squeeze that extra 5 MPH on your route. Afterall if you're just patient you would just arrive 30 seconds later than if you would've if you'd overtaken. May be? :S

You're assuming a lot there. You're wrong btw.

 

[Fuzz]

Wouldn't make any difference to me as I take no notice of the speed limits anyway

 

[Lethagized]

It's not a bad idea in places i must say, but each road needs to be evaluated and given either a 60 or 40 speed limit. To give every rural road a 40 limit would be stupid.

 

[Morbius]

It's not a bad idea in places i must say, but each road needs to be evaluated and given either a 60 or 40 speed limit. To give every rural road a 40 limit would be stupid.

Some councils seem to be in a race to the bottom when it comes to speed limits. Give them any sort of discretion and they'll lower the limit to appease the vocal minority.

 

[Minstadave]

At the core of this there is a genuine issue. Some rural NSL roads should not be 60. Some roads around my parents have significant stretches of single lane, yet are still NSL.

But a blanket reduction to 40mph strikes me as a lazy knee-jerk reaction.

The issue is not the speed limit on rural roads, its driver awareness. Drivers should be aware that the speed limit is a maximum, if it's a single lane country road with poor visibility then don't drive like it's an A road. If a driver can't recognise the road needs greater care then is dropping the speed limit likely to make them less of a moron?

 

[phil675]

I'm sure they would speed anyway. Also, when is the last time you saw a radar gun on a tight, windy B road? A lower speed limit couldn't be enforced on these sort of roads without a policeman on every corner.

 

[Phemo]

Instead of legislating around a really low common denominator why don't they try improving it a bit and giving learner drivers a bit more education on driving in the countryside?

It's true, that does need to happen. But it won't solve the problem of the horrendous amount of bad/stupid drivers out there already.

I don't really see this as a bad thing. Thankfully it's not a blanket reduction so won't affect every road anyway. It can't be enforced effectively so people will just carry on doing whatever speeds they feel like for the most part. I honestly can't see it making any real difference to anything.

 

[phil675]

I wouldn't mind if it was 50mph for dem mpgz.

 

[413x]

it amuses(and scares) me that people who drive a, by all accounts, potentially destructive machine need their hand held by a speed limit sign due to a tight bend.

Those that have speed related accidents, wont change and still drive to fast
Those witb sense will still most likely DRIVE TO THE ROAD LAYOUT and not change
Those who already drive at 30 down a straight country road will continue to do so but now have a legit reason

Clue is in the caps for me!

No one will change, it wont make a difference, it will cost more money and hopefully be uninforcable

Cant beat a lil bit of back end drift round a nice 90° corner

 

[Vonhelmet]

it amuses(and scares) me that people who drive a, by all accounts, potentially destructive machine need their hand held by a speed limit sign due to a tight bend.

Those that have speed related accidents, wont change and still drive to fast
Those witb sense will still most likely DRIVE TO THE ROAD LAYOUT and not change
Those who already drive at 30 down a straight country road will continue to do so but now have a legit reason

Clue is in the caps for me!

No one will change, it wont make a difference, it will cost more money and hopefully be uninforcable

Cant beat a lil bit of back end drift round a nice 90° corner

So you think that speed limit signs don't in any way affect the speed that people drive at?

I very much doubt that you can find any shred of evidence for that.

 

[413x]

So you think that speed limit signs don't in any way affect the speed that people drive at?

I very much doubt that you can find any shred of evidence for that.

i just dont think anyone will change, those that stick to the speed limits religiously will do so with the new ones, those who dont wont either. Therefore i dont think it will achieve the aim as the people who have speed related crashes wont change, if anything it might promote reckless overtakes, being held up at 50 on a 60 is one thing, but 40? more people will have a go