Hi Darren, I don't think it is that unusual to be honest. I can think of most roads I drive that are supposed to be 30 and people exceed it.
I do 30, and the cars in front disappear into the sunset. I do 30 and cars behind are either riding my bumper or trying to get past.

Mandeville Road, Northolt. the 30mph dot matrix sign may as well be permanently switched on. It flashes every car going past it. I've gone past at 30mph and it hasn't flashed, go past at 32 and it does.

Eastcote lane, Northolt, outside of the school. Same thing.
Llanharan, Mid Glam, 30mph dot matrix sign outside the school, flashes away nearly all the time.

I realise they are probably set closer to the limit (or even dead on) than what speedcams go at.

Triumph Tbird 1700. And now a Bonnie T100.

It is entirely possible that the real problem here is that the speed limit has been set at an unnecessarily low level.

Research shows that 85% of drivers will drive at a speed which they feel to be safe for a given road, regardless of the posted speed limit. In fact, this has been enshrined in American legislation, and the 85th percentile is used to set the speed limit.

For a camera to have caught quite so many drivers in such a short time period it seems unlikely that the speed limit has been set correctly.

Is there anybody here who knows this village? Has there been a particularly bad accident record there?

Philip

[quote]A spokesman from Hampshire's Safer Roads Partnership said "Motorists should be aware that police can do random checks at any time and so should stick to speed limits"[/quote]
I agree entirely.

If you can't to the time, don't do the crime. A pedestrian is much more likely to survive a collision below 30 than above.

I do my racing on circuits designed for speed in an appropriate type of car, and keep to the limits on the public roads.

Mr.G

And given the statistics rarely show a reduction in the KSI rate where a camera is installed the cold fact is that this serves only to criminalise 23,000 drivers.

Let's see if we can find out what the KSI rate was before the camera was installed. Is there a real safety issue or is it just another revenue generator?

Darren Griffin

In fairness when you posted this up Darren you didn't put the part in that said.

The device was fitted by Winchester City Council after residents complained that cars were driving too fast.

If it’s a 30mph limit that normally means it a built up area where pedestrian are walking with maybe young children who not always look before crossing a road. Just remember this is the residents that are asking for some sort of help in slowing traffic down, if motorist still want to speed with total disregards to pedestrian trying to make there way then sorry you should be fined. A £60 fine and a few points is nothing compared to killing or hurting someone just because you want to get A and B as quick as possible, myself I drive, cycle and walk and I think it would be good and a shock for some motorist to give up there cars for a few days and see it from a pedestrian, cyclist point view trying to make your way when you have a car drive hurtling up towards you at speed, and what I say now I think would go for most mum’s and dad’s if a car drive hit you partner or god forbid your child because they where speeding the last thing they would have to worry about is the poxy fine and points that they would get. Motorist are not adapting to road conditions or the surrounding they rely on to much car safety like ABS and so on to stop them in an emergence all the safety items in the world fitted to a car won’t tell you when a pedestrian or a child will run out on to the road without looking.

Well checking out Yew Tree Drive, Whitely in Google Maps one has to wonder why it is posted at 30.

Google maps page

If you check out the satellite view you will see a road that to all intents and purposes is a tree lined country lane. There are no residents on the road itself, just on the side roads.

Obviously I dont have the local knowledge about facilities or other reasons that the speed limit is 30, but I would be surprised if a stranger entering that road would think the limit would be that low.

Mike Barrett

I see what you mean Mike but the residents that live within the surround roads may have trouble turning on to Yew Tree Drive or turning into there roads because of the speeding cars so in the end they have no chose to pullout in front of someone or wait for someone to let them in/out which doesn’t happen often these days, and if any driver is unsure of the limit then do 30mph if it was more it would be signed posted. I live in a 20mph zone and we had one of those signs posting what speed drivers where doing down my road it wasn't a surprise to see it flash up at 40 plus mph on more than one occasion at least every day yet when you ask them to slow down your meet with verbal abuse on why they should. Motorist have brought it on to themselves if people didn’t speed others wouldn’t find a way of making a revenue from it.

So it's down to residents (who don't even live on the road concerned) complaining....

Isn't it still a requirement that there needs to be a certain number of KSI's before a camera position is agreed?

As for the "if you can't stand the time, don't do the crime" argument... If it is accepted that there are good laws and there are bad laws, then surely you must accept that sometimes speed limits are simply set WRONG? (could be too low OR too high)
I was interested in the comment about limits being set in America according to average driving habits - any more info on that?

There are several examples in the UK where a law is changed simply because it is being completely ignored, and to leave it on the statute books would tend to bring ALL law into disrepute (Portable FM transmitters is one I can think of...)

"Settling in nicely" ;-)