Speed Limits

[Daisy]

The Welsh government has announced it will reduce 30mph limits in built-up areas from 30 mph to 20 from today (Sunday).

They say it will reduce deaths and noise and encourage people to use other means of transport. But some say it's a "war on motorists".

What do you think?

My first thought was that some roads are so busy, especially in the summer, even 20 is an unachievable speed. But that was a bit flippant, and on the whole, I think there is a case for traffic to slow down in very congested areas with narrow pavements and blind corners.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-66774379

[Lizzie48]

Daisy, we have a lot of 30km zones, I live in one! 20mph is 32,1869km so even slower. The village I stayed in last week was a 30km zone, only I don't think people realised it!!!

[Oma]

I agree with it in some areas , we live on a bend that is 30mph and you know how many crashes have been on that road lately,
I don’t think it will encourage other modes of transport at all ,

Some busy roads are at a crawl anyway ,
We passed the A1 road to the Metro centre yesterday and it was nose to tail at a snails pace .

I do think where there is schools or housing estates 20 mph is the right way but you will always get the idiots who think they are good drivers and above the law and ignore the speed limit .

There is a road on the way to Bs Mams it’s sort of a B road and always been 40mph
When we went on Thursday we noticed it’s now 20 but the signs are so small if you travel that way regularly you most likely won’t notice them ,
We only noticed as we had to stop by one of them to let someone turn , B noticed it I didn’t .

[Plantaholic]

I think there are some areas of our village that need to be 20mph.

[Daisy]

There's a 30mph speed limit on our road, but we're in a cul de sac off the main part of the road and speed isn't a problem, apart from one neighbour who drives out of his concealed drive like a maniac! A few years ago some residents got permission to put an advisory "Twenty's Plenty" and "Children Playing" signs at the cattle grids and there were people who were up in arms about it! Why wouldn't you want to do everything you can to keep children safe! Some people!!

Oma, don't speed signs have to be a standard size? That bend near you could certainly do with something to stop all the accidents.

Lizzie, I think slowing down makes a lot of sense.

Plant - same in our village.

[Gemini]

I once watched a TV programme about the difference is the amount of damage to a child hit by a car at varying speeds. Damage at 40 was far worse than at 30, so the same must be true of 30 and 20.

[Oma]

They do Daisy
Trouble is those that do put them where there are overgrown shrubs and trees making them look small and hard to see ,
No sense to trim the hedges back , I do think if someone was caught speeding they would have a good case against it if they had pictures .
Our back road is usually like a country lane very quiet but those that do come down are idiots ,
We need those two way junction things in a S shape where they have to slow down and give way ,

We living in a cul de sac have the same it’s quite safe we don’t have any children in the street one resident however comes far too fast up the road , what if someone’s grandchild was To run out , doesn’t mean as there are no children actually living in the cul de sac that none visit.

[Daisy]

Oma, it drives me mad that you often can't see at a junction because hedges and trees grow out and obscure the view. Why is there always one stupid speed merchant! It's not just children (the youngest children in our cul de sac are in their teens) it's cats that are at risk as well.


We have a long, straight road out of the village across the Forest. People were speeding up and down there (40 mph limit ignored) and they've put pinch points in which have worked well. Most people are polite and co-operate with oncoming traffic, depending on who has right of way, and exchange smiles and waves as they pass!

[WeeGranny]

I live on a main road through the village which has a 30mph limit on it. When one of DD's friends was on Speedwatch duty, they clocked someone doing 90mph during the daytime. At night I don't think many drivers stick to the speed limit! I can hear them revving up and off they go. We did have cameras on the road, but they were all vandalised and haven't been replaced. Some of the footpaths are narrow because of overhanging bushes ( from private gardens) and you've got to check before you dare step into the road if you meet someone coming the other way. At least the council, cut the hedges etc back. Lots of families walk along the road on their way to the primary school.

[Gemini]

90 mph WG!!

Our road is a 30 which should be a 20, at least near our house.

We live on an S bend in the middle of the road. To negotiate this means slowing down. Frequently we hear the screech of brakes where some idiot thinks they do not need to slow down.
It makes reversing off our drive a slow process too. It's difficult to see around that bend and if a vehicle is coming at 30+ it could be nasty.

[Plantaholic]

WG that is indeed a very busy road, very narrow pavement and close to a large school and no parking as such at the school. Not sure how my GGC get to the school, presumably by foot. GGD will be having a party for her birthday this Thurs. We are going to her party on Sat.

[Daisy]

WeeGranny, I think there is a law about obstructing footpaths (presumably including obstruction by hedges etc). I wonder if the Council would force people to keep their hedges trimmed, especially if the Speed Watch volunteers brought it up and said what a hazard it is. Or the school's PTA could complain to the school and ask the Governors to talk to the Council. Ninety miles an hour in a 30 is just ludicrous. I hope the driver got banned.

We ended up taking down a large conifer from our garden because it was growing out over the pavement, even though our part of the pavement is hardly ever used except by me!

Gem, would it be easier to reverse into your drive, or is that hazardous as well? Could you put up one of those convex mirrors to help with visibility? A village I go through on my way to DS2's has a lot of them because it's hard to see oncoming traffic.