What a pity Mr Vehement-With-Dog in Oldland Common didn't last night when I pulled up to discuss it with him!

 

Fair enough if folks are getting fed up of people speeding past their front doors in their local housing estate, but the more the Governement strangle the speed limits, where it is safe to do 50, 60, 70 or more then the more people will speed when it's not safe to do so, like your housing estate, where there are no speed cameras etc.

Besides the roll of policing the roads strangly enough falls at the feet of the police, not bored OAP's with nothing better to do of a morning.

 

Yep. I think that's 1/2 of it, but I

 

with Jamie.

I've often argued this but I've been made to feel like a social pariah when I've said it.

If you made the speed limit 100mph on the motorways, I think you would find that everyone would drive exactly the same as they do now. Apart from the odd few lunatics who hammer around at 120mph+, most people aren't comfortable driving at 100mph+, but can quite happily go along at 80-95mph for consistent periods. Plus, you have the fuel economy to think about. Most cars nowadays would do OK at 95mph but over the ton it starts to drop rapidly.

If you had this release on the open roads (I'd also make dual carriageways 80mph and NSL roads 70mph), you'd be far less inclined to speed in cities, towns and villages. And it should improve road safety as well.

But of course, we all know speeding fines are for money-making purposes, so this won't happen.

 

This worries me - since when have police given authority to volunteers to record speeds (and be trusted not to make it up because they are biased etc.), and issue NIPs as a result?

 

agree with upping speed limits, but not this bit about reducing speeding in built up areas. i think 30 is going to feel even slower when you've just been doing 100 (putting point 2 up - below). i'm definitely a supporter of 30 limits (not saying you are not) - its a sensible balance of safety (to the general public) and speed. i think the reasons that people speed in 30 zones, are:

1. they are frustrated from the last bit of stop start traffic.
2. 30 feels really slow in certain situations.
3. people are in the wrong gear (most cars should be in 3rd) and the speed creeps up on them.
4. they have no organisation and are running late... again.
5. they have no concept of the speed they are doing, and are blissfully unaware.
5. they are simply a tw@t.

 

you were in Oldland Common.. I have not been to bristol along that way from bath since the roadworks.. and i bet they camera that bypass now..

And i have still not seen you in bath.. haha what area you live in?

 

You're right, five_belliez, it is a lack of awareness but I would keep 30mph zones in towns and cities AND I would have ALL static speed cameras in built-up areas, typically covering both sides of the road outside schools. If they want road safety, this is where cameras should be, not out on straight sections of NSL roads good for overtaking!

 

I don't know of one school in this part of the country that has a speed camera near it

Nor do I see any parking enforcement against the moronic mums and dads who cannot let their obese offspring waddle more than ten yard to school

 

Joper, they have the pricks cowering in the back of Ford Galaxies on the A4174, they get you on that bit where it becomes a 50mph if you're heading from Bath towards the M32, the MoD and Filton. Most motorists coming the other way are friendly, though, and flash their lights to warn you.

I live in the Bathwick area of Bath, just down from Pulteney Bridge. You'll not see my car often 'cos I walk to work every day, but today (as I came back from my g/f's house in Bristol this morning) my motor is parked in Charlotte Street. I've posted a sighting on the Spotted thread; there are two others in there today, I've parked near an 04 Nurby!