Do we need 20MPH speed limits on any of the roads in the UK?

Timbo is here

No 20 is too slow. what we need is a lot more kids being taught to use the roads properly.
First there was Tufty then the Green Cross Code man - what is there now, where are the tv adverts?

Chris A

I agree that they should have more of the 20 limits outside schools and most residential roads, I would think its a bit far for most of the main trunk road road with the 30 and 40 limits but for side estate streets or going past a school or play area or anywhere else thats very likely to have children about everywhere with the 20.
I disagree with the national speed limit being changed from 60 to 50
most nsl roads are perfectly safe to do 60 and many that you could safely do even more than 60 without it seeming any more dangerous, that would cause more accidents than it would cut cos think about it with reduced limits and tougher penalties
1: People spend far more time starrring at their speedo and the speed limits then concentrating on the road ahead and considering 30-40% odd of accidents are caused by driving without due care and attention or whilst unfit through tiredness or distractions like mobile phones, etc and only 7% are caused by people going too fast for the road (and by that i mean fast for the conditons of the road, not purely from breaking the speed limit whether by a little or a lot)
2: Its gonna cause more jams and pollution cos the cars and journey times will obviously be somewhat longer with more journey time
3: Make driving more and more pointless if we're gonna end up with these insane speed limits, specially when we've got better and better with the technology of cars, more powerful, better breaking systems and other safety features which most of the older cars never had
4: It's the ones who drive recklessly and drink drive or that don't pay attention to their driving that are the dangerous ones, I mean which is more dangerous out of someone doing 30mph with a set limiter, and then looking at their baby in the back fo the car feeding them sweets, staring strongly at their speedo so 2 make sure they don't go above it and thinking its alright to do all that by that time its too late and a childs lying on the road with blood all over him/her, or the person doing 40mph but paying full and careful attention to the road ahead so they would still slow down, see a child walk in the road in plenty of time for them not to have to break sharply even if they're going a bit faster and slightly longer breaking distance etc.
But ye, the goverment are only doing this so as an excuse to steal more of our moeny and licenses than actually improve safety in the fairest way possible

Jacko

timbo is right enough and jay-walking should carry a fixed penalty fine . how many times do you see pedestrians trying to cross a busy road ( sometimes pushing a child in a buggy or even a wheelchair ) just yards from a crossing .

Cheeky Monkey

I used to live in a "twenty's plenty" area and it was just a joke. Everyone exceeded the twenty rule. The best thing that could be said for it was that instead of doing 40, most people only did 30.

It could be a different matter if you hit a kid, though. I'd say that in certain areas- where children play in the street in particular- it is a good idea, although most people just ignore it.

Bill

Ideally, motorists would always drive according to the conditions but for those who do not see the danger to pedestrians and those unfamiliar with the area, yes, for built up areas 20 mph is a reasonable limit.

bigbossmamma

As usual Scotland is the guinea pig with government ideas. We already have loads of roads with 20mph limit and loads more speed bumps. It started with roads with schools on but has progressed to most roads in housing schemes.
The road outside my house is 20mph (used to be 30mph because it is in a built-up area) there are speed bumps everywhere. They cause havoc with your car tyres. Very few drivers actually do 20mph and still do 30mph - how do they know unless an accident happens? If someone does actually drive at 20mph there is usually a van driver right up their boot.

hello

They've had "Twenty's Plenty" schemes in Scotland for a few years and they usually only run for about half an hour a day at school opening and closing times. But you do feel ridiculous driving at 20mph, especially if you've just come from the motorway.

Empeedee

I live in Scotland and I think the 20 in residential areas and outside schools is a great idea. However I agree with 'big bossr' those speed bumps are murder on your car, and they don't stop vans from speeding along. Replace the bumps with chicanes and then everyone will have to slow down not just the private motorist.

Vinnie

I agree that 20mph zones should be in place around schools but I do not agree with the lowering of the 60mph zones to 50mph.
What are the statistics for crashes on 60mph roads anyway? It's the slow drivers causing the problems!

alec

I live in a street with 20 mph limit & a school at the end of it & think its a good idea. As long as the restriction is for residential streets only I do not see how anyone can object. But a limit alone will not cause the cars to slow. Speed bumps are the answer as most of the culprits in my area are boy racers with low cars.

Tedward

Certainly in some area's but they are trying to hide a blanket speed cut in the guise of safety. The accidents are not going to stop. I will be surprised if the death rate drops significantly given the nature of accidents and this is from the governments own figures.

They are at it hammer and tongs again and blaming speed. It is people inability to drive. The accident rate will continue its path that it is on at the moment. They will try to twist the figures to back them up but people will continue to die because of poor driving not speed.

I fear this is more to satisfy their masters in europe over pollution and fuel use rather than safety. If they were this serious over accidents and deaths they would ban smoking, ban drinking and ban DIY. Yes you heard me right, DIY.

Twisted_Ace

Given that (according to the Government's own statistics) around 75% of all road accidents occur at speeds of LESS than 30mph anyway, what difference will it make?

Linda T

even when kids are at school, there are younger children around playing out.... elderley trying to cross the road etc. so yeah, I think its a good idea

arnie74

it is a good idea but i don't know why they would do it on a main road

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: