Forums Forums Local News Council green light for 20mph zones

I subscribe to the club that believes that children shouldn't be on or play on the roads, i also think that children under the age of knowing better shouldn't cross a road unattended. Mistakes are made crossing all roads and you can bet they won't have certain roads down to 20mph because it will stop the flow of traffic to much, where's the pedestrian safety then.

But does the lowering of the speed limits not tend to abrogate the need for road safety training, in the minds of the less responsible, and puts the onus on the slower moving drivers to take on the full responsibility for the health and well being of the pedestrians?

I agree with you Bert. In an ideal world......... (?) Trouble is kids will always be more interested in their friend on the other side of the road, the Ice Cream van, retrieving their ball etc. I thank God I've never seen a hit or even a near miss with a child running out. I have seen however 2 horror shows of an elderley (can we still say that ?) person looking first THEN stepping out in front of a car. Both cases were on a main road in Ayrshire. Luckily, both times the drivers slammed on in time. IMHO both drivers were doing 30mph or below.

The trauma of a child run over at 20 ain't too good come to think of it.

Look, it's not all down to speed, it's down to the car your driving, the weight ect.

Pinz, i once seen a perambulator hit by a motorbike, it was only because it was a perambulator there was a happy outcome and no lasting horror show in my mind, pram first then mummy 3ft behind coming out of parked cars.
Its always annoyed me these stupid adverts that appear from time to time about its better to be run over at 30 mph than 40 mph or 20mph than 30mph as if its acceptable to be run over as long its done under a certain speed. If the powers that be are serious that they want to reduce accidents, and i throw this in to the debate, why not have crossing points on every road and failure to use such points will result in a fine, there's my mind going in to cloud cuckoo land again.

Yes, you're probably right. It shouldn't, but probably does. Prevention is better than a cure etc etc.

I just don't see 20mph in built up areas as a bad thing. Not that I pay much attention to speed limits, I drive to the conditions, so I have been known to do 100+ on the motorway and, shock horror, someone may have been stuck behind me in the past doing 20mph on a heavily built up side road.

Oh, and this debate reminds me of this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dnf6ib823vM

Bert nice idea but NO!
I want them to spend my money on the roads not pelican crossings.

Bert. Failure to use the crossing provided or stepping on the crossing whilst it's red for the pedestrian results in a hefty fine in Germany, maybe other places too. Not a bad idea really.

I was lucky to get off with only a Power House roasting from a cop in Dusseldorf. I pleaded not knowing their laws etc. blah blah and I got off with it. Was in a hurry to catch a tram. DOH !

For you the war was nearly over Pinz,

Ste's nearly got the solution, bigger POTHOLES.

The thought of being in Stalag Coalhouse for the duration made me wait for the little green Fuhrer !

Two observations from a recent visit to the USA

In the USA they are VERY strict about speed limits adjacent to schools. ALL "school zones" are clearly marked and when the indicator lights flash (turned on from the school at entry/ leaving time) then traffic MUST slow to 20mph. Many zones are camera monitored.

To my amazement I have to admit driver DO OBEY the requirement, so I guess the monitoring and fines are effective.

It is STRICTLY no parking (inc. drop-offs etc) within the marked school zone

You are also not permitted to overtake/ pass a stationary school bus when it has double flashers showing kids entering or leaving the vehicle. That can happen anywhere along the bus route - which may be many miles. THAT is much more restrictive because effectively it halts all traffic on a 2-lane road - but, everyone DOES seem to obey. Many of the buses have mounted cameras. In the USA school buses are the norm for kids to get to/ from school because the catchment areas can be huge.

Snod

Me think the council done a deal wuth the local garage to keep them in business. The damaged the speed bumps have done to my car and yet ive been doing the 20 mph.. There are ways of carming the traffic without doing this.

And another thing that does my head in is these parent who take the kids to school by car and parks on the zig zags outside the school (worse culpits is holm drive )Your not surpose to park on these ...lol

The council will be turning the street lights down shortly to save money. Twenty mile an hour is needed to get the health and safety risk assessment on board.

Another big difference in the USA is that in residential areas, you hardly ever see a parked car in the roadway, as nearly everyone here has a driveway. But driving around in Wallasey, you are almost always driving along between two unbroken lines of parked cars, often leaving only room for one car to pass...! I think there should be a law that says if you own a car you ought to drive it... all those parked cars should be getting driven somewhere, not parked outside the house, all day long, every day!! LOL (JK!)