Shropshire, along with other councils,is required to 'review' its speed limits by 2011. This could in theory mean that some go up, and some come down. Unfortunately many councils, including Shropshire, have taken 'review' to mean 'lower.' Government guidance 'Circular 1/2006' contains good advice, but it is largely being ignored by the likes of Shropshire to make ridiculous speed limit cuts of up to 30mph (See also 'Warwickshire Ignores Police Objections to Speed Limit Reductions').
Shropshire's 'speed management strategy' is here:
http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/committee.nsf/0/E32EB43E0B72E63F80257631003095EE/$file/Speed%20Management%20Strategy.pdf
Predictably, the '1mph lie' is repeated, which claims that cutting speed limits will reduce accidents regardless of the cause. The truth about the fatal flaws in such studies can be found here and here.
Respond to the 'consultation' by 4th December:
http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/hwmaint.nsf/open/72B33479522CE3428025765D0036A9AD
Showing posts with label Speed limits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Speed limits. Show all posts
Saturday, 31 October 2009
Saturday, 11 July 2009
Letter Published: Use a legal protest route over speed limits
I DON'T condone the illegal swapping of speed limit signs on the B5000 (Herald, January 29), but the public should be made aware that Warwickshire County Council have ignored the Department for Transport speed limit setting guidelines (Circular Roads 1/2006) and police objections during the recent 'speed limit review'.
No speed limit should be set below the average traffic speed, speed limits can be raised where appropriate, speed limits should be self enforcing, and the council should work with the police rather than against them. None of the new speed limits, some of which have been reduced by 20mph, have anything to do with road safety. The only road with an accident problem was Fosse Way, where a proper investigation resulted in the speed limit remaining unchanged and other measures being implemented. 125 speed limits have been reduced by ten or 20mph and Warwickshire Police have refused to enforce the new limits. The following quote taken from council committee meeting minutes is typical of the 40 objections from the police: 'Speed data shows most traffic is finding 60mph appropriate for the road, mean data does not support 50mph. New limit would not be as effective in maintaining compliance as the present limit and the change would introduce an unserviceable enforcement burden, where at present none exists. Change is at odds with circular 01/2006 and no gains in casualty reduction numbers'.
Clearly it is a scandal that inappropriate speed limits have been set against expert advice from the police, but any campaign against Warwickshire County Council should be via a legal rather than an illegal route.
Paul Biggs, Director, Association of British Drivers (ABD), Two Gates.
Thursday, February 05, 2009, 15:00
Tamworth Herald letters: Use a legal protest route over speed limits
No speed limit should be set below the average traffic speed, speed limits can be raised where appropriate, speed limits should be self enforcing, and the council should work with the police rather than against them. None of the new speed limits, some of which have been reduced by 20mph, have anything to do with road safety. The only road with an accident problem was Fosse Way, where a proper investigation resulted in the speed limit remaining unchanged and other measures being implemented. 125 speed limits have been reduced by ten or 20mph and Warwickshire Police have refused to enforce the new limits. The following quote taken from council committee meeting minutes is typical of the 40 objections from the police: 'Speed data shows most traffic is finding 60mph appropriate for the road, mean data does not support 50mph. New limit would not be as effective in maintaining compliance as the present limit and the change would introduce an unserviceable enforcement burden, where at present none exists. Change is at odds with circular 01/2006 and no gains in casualty reduction numbers'.
Clearly it is a scandal that inappropriate speed limits have been set against expert advice from the police, but any campaign against Warwickshire County Council should be via a legal rather than an illegal route.
Paul Biggs, Director, Association of British Drivers (ABD), Two Gates.
Thursday, February 05, 2009, 15:00
Tamworth Herald letters: Use a legal protest route over speed limits
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