Welcome to Newburytoday.co.uk’s message boards where you can have your say and share your views on any number of issues.
Anyone can read messages, but only registered users can post messages, reply to messages or create new topics. As part of the free and simple registration, you will be asked to read and conform to the house rules.
To register, click here ……Enjoy the debate. Newbury Today Forum > Categories > Newbury News
Yet another accent on the A34 - time for 50mph zone? |
|
|
|
Aug 26 2011, 04:03 PM
|
Advanced Member
Group: Members
Posts: 6,326
Joined: 20-July 10
From: Wash Common
Member No.: 1,011
|
I believe the Highways Agency sets the speed limits on trunk roads, so that might possibly be one reason WBC are sitting on their ****. As I understand it there is no specific assessment framework for setting a local speed limit on a rural dual carriageway, though the framework for a single carriageway would suggest a 50mph limit if the accident rate was above 35 injury accidents per 100 million vehicle kilometres - can you say what the accident rate is? This is the guidance the HA work to. So no, I wouldn't have thought a lower limit was necessary. As far as I can tell it's a typical bit of dual carriageway trunk road without any significant bends or junctions and as 70mph is acceptable elsewhere I can see no reason why it's not appropriate here.
--------------------
Right an injustice - give Simon Kirby his allotment back!
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 26 2011, 04:13 PM
|
Advanced Member
Group: Members
Posts: 4,025
Joined: 14-May 09
Member No.: 50
|
QUOTE (Adrian Hollister @ Aug 26 2011, 03:20 PM) Yet again the A34 was blocked north bound by another accident. There are so many accidents on the A34 in West Berkshire between the M4 and the Oxfordshire border it's insane. Why can't West Berkshire Council get off the backsides and put a controlled 50mph zone in force in this area? Because the road is maintained and controlled by the Highways Agency.
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 26 2011, 06:15 PM
|
Advanced Member
Group: Members
Posts: 11,902
Joined: 3-September 09
Member No.: 317
|
QUOTE (Strafin @ Aug 26 2011, 06:54 PM) It would be a bit knee jerk to impose a speed limit when there is so little evidence to suggest that speed is causing accidents. Why oh why oh why, let facts or evidence get in the way of an enthusiastic opinion? Get an Apache Gunship to take out any lorry that manoeuvres into the second lane!
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 26 2011, 08:49 PM
|
Advanced Member
Group: Members
Posts: 4,025
Joined: 14-May 09
Member No.: 50
|
QUOTE (NWNREADER @ Aug 26 2011, 09:40 PM) I don't get it what Adrian Hollister is saying. The headline mentions "carnage" (Noun: The killing of a large number of people) then goes on to say "What are they waiting for... deaths?" to imply there haven't been deaths. It also says "Why can't West Berkshire Council get off the backsides to.." apply a speed limit to a road they don't have any jurisdiction over which would surely be unenforceable and therefore a waste of taxpayers money.
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 27 2011, 07:08 AM
|
Advanced Member
Group: Members
Posts: 5,064
Joined: 26-May 09
Member No.: 103
|
QUOTE (Strafin @ Aug 26 2011, 06:54 PM) It would be a bit knee jerk to impose a speed limit when there is so little evidence to suggest that speed is causing accidents. Speed MUST cause accidents. Otherwise why do we have speed limits and speed cameras / traps?
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 27 2011, 07:38 AM
|
Advanced Member
Group: Members
Posts: 948
Joined: 11-September 09
From: Thames Valley
Member No.: 337
|
Earlier in year a 1 year trial finished of what H Agency quaintly called a Speed Trial; this was at Gore Hill section which is between E & W Ilsley turns. I observed many HGV's ignoring it at the far end as it were on Northbound stretch, and it'd be interesting to know if it was legally enforcable/ was anyone prosecuted. http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/26882.aspx
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 27 2011, 08:46 AM
|
Advanced Member
Group: Members
Posts: 5,064
Joined: 26-May 09
Member No.: 103
|
I think the main problem with the A34 is that it is EXTREMELY busy as it is linking the South Coast with the Midlands. It is a 2 lane dual carriageway carrying the equivalent of a 3 lane motorway. The slightest problem. such as a broken down car / lorry, brings chaos as the infrastructure of the road is creaking at the seams with the volume of traffic. Solution? Make it wider or do this.
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 27 2011, 09:14 AM
|
Advanced Member
Group: Members
Posts: 11,902
Joined: 3-September 09
Member No.: 317
|
QUOTE (Biker1 @ Aug 27 2011, 08:08 AM) Speed MUST cause accidents.Otherwise why do we have speed limits and speed cameras / traps? Speed doesn't cause accidents; poor judgement is responsible for that. Speed would act as an 'amplifier' to someone's judgement. It would determine the severity of the outcome and increase the likelihood of an accident.
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 28 2011, 09:49 AM
|
Advanced Member
Group: Members
Posts: 5,064
Joined: 26-May 09
Member No.: 103
|
QUOTE (Turin Machine @ Aug 27 2011, 07:12 PM) Speed does not by itself cause an accident, it is the drivers inability to control the vehicle at that speed which causes the accidents, many RTI'a happen in town at speeds of 30 MPH and lower ! So if speed is not a cause of accidents if we all drove along the A34 at 20mph there would still be the same number of accidents?? Sorry I don't follow your logic.
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 28 2011, 10:02 AM
|
Advanced Member
Group: Members
Posts: 11,902
Joined: 3-September 09
Member No.: 317
|
QUOTE (Biker1 @ Aug 28 2011, 10:49 AM) So if speed is not a cause of accidents if we all drove along the A34 at 20mph there would still be the same number of accidents?? Sorry I don't follow your logic. With rare exception, an accident occurs when one or more mistakes are made. Speed decreases the margin of error and will determine the severity of the out-come.
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 28 2011, 10:05 AM
|
Advanced Member
Group: Members
Posts: 5,064
Joined: 26-May 09
Member No.: 103
|
QUOTE (Andy Capp @ Aug 28 2011, 11:02 AM) With rare exception, an accident occurs when one or more mistakes are made. Speed decreases the margin of error and will determine the severity of the out-come. OK, I'm getting there!! So speed cameras / traps are there to prevent the severity of an accident rather than an accident itself?
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 28 2011, 10:11 AM
|
Advanced Member
Group: Members
Posts: 11,902
Joined: 3-September 09
Member No.: 317
|
QUOTE (Biker1 @ Aug 28 2011, 11:05 AM) OK, I'm getting there!! So speed cameras / traps are there to prevent the severity of an accident rather than an accident itself? They are there to prevent people breaking the speed limit as they pass the camera. Some argue they are an aid to a revenue stream as well.
|
|
|
|
2 User(s) are reading this topic (2 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:
|
|