http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... 0mph_limitMEN wrote:
Victory in fight for 20mph limit
Don Frame
16/ 5/2008
A 20mph speed limit on thousands of residential roads is being planned in a bid to slash road deaths by a third over the next 10 years.
Depends on the road. In any case the majority using these roads are the
residents and the folk taking kids to school on these residential roadsPerhaps a bit more promotion of general neighbourliness and true COAST training as regards the adoption of a safe speed for the road type might save far more lives..
MEN wrote:
Local authorities were given the powers to cut speed limits eight years ago, and the Manchester Evening News was at the forefront of moves to slow down cars close to schools.
We launched a campaign calling on drivers to observe a voluntary 20 mph limit until councils used their new powers.
Now the government is to impose the limit as part of a number of measures aimed at reducing road deaths.
The measures are likely to include a lower drink-drive limit, six penalty points for serious breaches of the speed limit, and tougher fines for not wearing seatbelts.
Er,,, you need police officers to nail a lower drink drive limite.
Since they are not copping at the existing limit - apart from a PR blitz on introduction of the new law - it will end up like Swiss .. German.. Austrian.. French stats.. as in MORE incidents due to drinking to double our current level and will make far better headlines too.
when these incidents hit the tabloids..
You also need police out there and NOT scams to cop the non-seatbelt wearers too.
. If Med Hughes gets the Manchester CC job - you can bet there will be more scams than traffic officers around
(Med . the "speeding cop who got zapped at more than a mere blat - and arrived quite a bit more deprived - has apparently/reportedly/allegedly applied for the top Manchester job per the "MEN" last week
)
MEN wrote:
The MEN campaign was launched in 2003 after Department for Transport figures showed that the chances of a child being killed or injured by a car in Greater Manchester were higher than in any other area in the country.
Under the planned new measure, variable limits will be introduced on main roads near schools, with digital signs warning drivers to cut their speed to 20mph when pupils are arriving at or leaving school.
Speed cameras will be used instead of traditional road humps to enforce the limit in some of the new safety zones.
OK .. so we have variable limits around the schools. I will bet the limit will become permanent as the speed cam will not cop anyone. You been near a school at drop off/chuck out time. I have.. You really cannot MOVE at all. Tis Gridlock!
Mumpties cannot park logically either
(The only woman I know who can .. happens to be my own dear wife of course
(Will now be clobbered by my Mum and sisters
) )
MEN wrote:
More than 3,000 people die on the roads every year, including drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians. The government wants this figure reduced to 2000 by 2020 .
Road safety minister Jim Fitzpatrick said the government would consider setting a `challenging target' for cutting road deaths.
He said: "We get some criticism for not being ambitious enough." One of the main ways of achieving results, would be to cut the speed of traffic on residential roads.
Mr Fitzpatrick said he wants to reinforce guidance to local authorities that encouraged them to create 20mph zones. He said a study of 250 schemes across the country found that crashes dropped by 60 per cent, child casualties by 67 per cent, and average speeds by nine per cent, following the introduction of a 20mph limit.
An analysis of road deaths revealed that one in five pedestrians hit by a car at 30 mph dies, but only one in 40 die when hit by a car travelling at 20mph.
The statistics also reveal that a cut in speed of just one mile per hour reduces the number of crashes by around five per cent.
What do you think? Have your say.
An increase in COAST abilities cuts death by a far higher margin...
As does ability to use the Green Cross Code
As do basic courtesy and common sense prevent most accidents..
I include couple of reader comments - not many in favour of this..
reader comments wrote:
Most recent 2 of 9 user comments
We're constantly being told to cut down on energy consumption and reduce emissions. Vehicles driving at 20mph i.e. in a lower gear do the exact opposite. Can't have it both ways, people!
Uncle Buck, Burnage
17/05/2008 at 02:54
The problem is not the cars, it's the parents. 30mph is quite safe if children are properly controlled and taught basic road safety. I drive through very busy Longsight every morning and regularly see mothers with young children waiting in the centre of the road to dodge the traffic, despite there being a crossing or lights no more than 50 yards away. But no, blame those 'nasty' drivers again! Also, one of the main causes of accidents is children running from betwen parked cars, and where do we see the most parked cars in the morning? Yes, near schools! Discouraging the school run would make a difference.
Uncle Buck, Burnage
Yep.. I'd like the USA/German/Swiss school bus/tram schemes. It will of course help if the kids attended the schools nearest as opposed to the one on the other side of town too
(Rurals .. of course .. our schools are not around the corner but there is still a decent-ish bus service all the same and I pays for it!
)
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