Charlottechicken Posted April 28, 2017 Share Posted April 28, 2017 I came across this e-petition a while back and shared it on facebook. Unfortunately the deadline is fast approaching and therefore am sharing on here in case anyone feels the 60mph blanket speed limit on all country lanes is unacceptable. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/176763 We now live in the country and it is very common to go around a tight corner and come across tractors, walkers, livestock, horses and cyclists, all of whom do not get anywhere near 60mph and have a right to use the lanes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted April 29, 2017 Share Posted April 29, 2017 I'm sorry but I think changing the speed limit on rural lanes is completely unnecessary. Responsible drivers will drive responsibly and others won't - end of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted April 29, 2017 Share Posted April 29, 2017 I tend to agree that changing the speed limit won't stop people speeding...however, what it will do is enable the Police to prosecute when idiots do go too fast (when the Police can be bothered - I have NEVER seen police round the village or on any of the country lanes hereabouts in 20 years of village living even though they manage to populate the motorways - where speeding has less of an impact - rather than the countryside!) Light the blue touchpaper and retire............................. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted April 29, 2017 Share Posted April 29, 2017 Surely they could already prosecute for dangerous driving or driving without due care and attention...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 30, 2017 Share Posted April 30, 2017 I think the point is that speeding is much easier to prosecute than careless driving (and the fines/penalties have just increased). I live on the edge of Epping Forest, a beautiful and ancient woodland that has several roads running through it. It is busy with walkers, cyclists and horse-riders especially on a day like today - I must have passed 50 cyclists, either in groups or riding alone, on a 15-minute drive this morning. It's also home to several herds of deer, who have a habit of bounding out of the undergrowth without warning! They lowered the speed limit to 40 mph a couple of years ago - but I am regularly overtaken by other cars when I'm driving at the limit. The real problem isn't the limit itself, it's enforcing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted April 30, 2017 Share Posted April 30, 2017 Surely they could already prosecute for dangerous driving or driving without due care and attention...? both need to be witnessed by police officer/s as in theory they have the necessary training and skill set to judge under the terms of the law what constitutes dangerous/reckless driving or driving without due care and attention the later is mainly used as an add on when a driver is prosecuted after an accident as it's more or less a slam dunk conviction as it's fairly easy to argue that an accident was caused partly or wholly by driving without due care and attention when other charges might go either way. you can't be reported by a member of the public or report some one for either speeding has to be proved one of two ways fix point or mobile cameras or speed guns or by police cars that have properly calibrated speedometers and or a camera and it has to be between two fixed points over a set/recorded distance normally a straight line which is hard to achieve on country lanes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted April 30, 2017 Share Posted April 30, 2017 I have to say in my humble but limited experience country folk drive a hell of a lot faster than us city dwellers. Anyone who lives anywhere near London and drives rarely get out of third gear. We often drive into the "country " for a spot of lunch or a long dog walk and I often get overtaken by an irate 4x4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted April 30, 2017 Share Posted April 30, 2017 I shall withdraw from this thread now before people start falling out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted April 30, 2017 Share Posted April 30, 2017 I shall withdraw from this thread now before people start falling out! Oh dear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted April 30, 2017 Share Posted April 30, 2017 it isn't the We drive slow We don't have the choice on a lot of city roads and motorways with traffic lights every couple of hundred yards. road humps and mini islands on far to many junction and side roads once you get off the A roads oh and all the rest of the road users wanting to use the only bit of tarmac that hasn't got a dirty great big hole in that you want to use. made a nice change for me last week driving down one of the back lanes of the Clent Hills I managed to do 40mph for a good 500 yards before I had to turn off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted May 1, 2017 Share Posted May 1, 2017 That's exactly what I mean SJP. it's ridiculous in my area at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted May 1, 2017 Share Posted May 1, 2017 Some one ask if driving to Kinver for work was a problem for Me last week I can get there a lot quicker than getting to the feed merchants <10 mile from home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
