20mph zones bid for safer streets in Burnley (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Lets hope it works better than it does in the Clarendon Street, Avenue Parade, Sandy Lane and Plantation Street areas of Accrington, where hardly anyone sticks to the speed limit. It's just a matter of time until a child is seriously injured on their way to school (of which there are many in the surrounding streets). Whilst I appreciate things like this have to be done, I wonder whether it's a waste of time and money - re-educating drivers about the dangers of speeding in built up areas would be money better spent.

It will be interesting to see the enforcement means used. I truly hope it works. It would do no harm to reduce ALL speed limits except on Motorways.

I witnessed a crash in a 20pmh limit a few months ago. The driver at fault didn't realise it was a 20mph zone and he stated to the police when they arrived he was 'not even doing 30, only about 27 mph'. I then pointed out it was a 20 mph limit and his face dropped. The police then told us they couldn't legally enforce the limit. I then asked if the signs and road marking were technically a waste of tax payers money and got the reply that 'yeah, unfortunately it is'. So why are we spending money when people are losing jobs left right and centre on something that is technically not enforcable. Spend the money on keeping people in their jobs or creating new ones.

archibold wrote:
I witnessed a crash in a 20pmh limit a few months ago. The driver at fault didn't realise it was a 20mph zone and he stated to the police when they arrived he was 'not even doing 30, only about 27 mph'. I then pointed out it was a 20 mph limit and his face dropped. The police then told us they couldn't legally enforce the limit. I then asked if the signs and road marking were technically a waste of tax payers money and got the reply that 'yeah, unfortunately it is'. So why are we spending money when people are losing jobs left right and centre on something that is technically not enforcable. Spend the money on keeping people in their jobs or creating new ones.

Yes, but you didn't, did you? You're off on an ego trip. The Police let you go up to a man in their custody and give him a slice of your mind? I don't think that happened. Then you went off on a bout of self-righteousness and asked them some legal-based questions? Are we SURE this occurred like that? I'm not.

It is the taxi drivers that need educating. None of them can stick to a 30mph speed limit so there is no chance at 20mph. Oh and while I rant on, Fog Lights are for when it is foggy not for when it goes dark to make your car look good, T****rs.

When will people realise it isn't speed that kills, it's dangerous driving. Whilst speed can be a contributing factor in an accident you need to include the road conditions and the drivers skill. Why can't we have dedicated patrols from the DVLA to witness some of the horrific driving skills around our towns? I for one would be happy to hear of a scheme where more terrible drivers will be banished from our roads once they have been caught driving in such a poor manner. We pay out of our pockets for insurance around East Lancashire and thing will only continue to get worse until drastic measures are taken.
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Of the incidents mentioned that included children:- " These included 17 children who were involved in accidents, either as pedestrians or cyclists.

County councillor Tim Ashton, highways and transport cabinet member, said: “Reducing the numbers of people killed and injured on our roads is a real priority.

“We’re testing a 20mph limit to encourage drivers to reduce their speed, which should make these streets safer and improve everyone’s quality of life. "
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How about spending a day or few out of your "busy" schedule to observe the traffic in the surrounding areas for a few days to see the standard of driving rather than blatantly reducing the speed limit.
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Sorry for the long and boring rant but I'm sick of hearing about speed being blamed for accidents. I have witnessed some shockingly bad driving in my few years of being on the roads and sometimes wonder how on earth such bad drivers managed to pass a driving test.

Asian Lad wrote:
When will people realise it isn't speed that kills, it's dangerous driving. Whilst speed can be a contributing factor in an accident you need to include the road conditions and the drivers skill. Why can't we have dedicated patrols from the DVLA to witness some of the horrific driving skills around our towns? I for one would be happy to hear of a scheme where more terrible drivers will be banished from our roads once they have been caught driving in such a poor manner. We pay out of our pockets for insurance around East Lancashire and thing will only continue to get worse until drastic measures are taken.
.
Of the incidents mentioned that included children:- " These included 17 children who were involved in accidents, either as pedestrians or cyclists.

County councillor Tim Ashton, highways and transport cabinet member, said: “Reducing the numbers of people killed and injured on our roads is a real priority.

“We’re testing a 20mph limit to encourage drivers to reduce their speed, which should make these streets safer and improve everyone’s quality of life. "
.
How about spending a day or few out of your "busy" schedule to observe the traffic in the surrounding areas for a few days to see the standard of driving rather than blatantly reducing the speed limit.
.
Sorry for the long and boring rant but I'm sick of hearing about speed being blamed for accidents. I have witnessed some shockingly bad driving in my few years of being on the roads and sometimes wonder how on earth such bad drivers managed to pass a driving test.

Good post AsianLad, you make a lot a lot of good points.

Some driving is irresponsible in the extreme. You see people driving at the speed limit (hey, it's the LIMIT not a target) regardless of the conditions. It takes someone 35 mins to get to work, they set of with 40 mins to spare then drive at the same speed, rain, sleet, snow, ice, fog, bright sunlight, crowded roads, whatever.

There's two more sections of road locally where it's amazing there's not many more major accidents: the M65 just west of Blackburn where three lanes come down to two. Most drivers behave responsibly but some stay in the outside lane way past the point they should have come over and push, push, push to get a car or two;s advantage!

The other one is where the A65 splits on the road in to Rawtenstall. People again insist on staying on until the last moment in the outside lane then spring across at the last moment. I predict deaths on one or both of the above before long.

Carl S'berg wrote:

archibold wrote:
I witnessed a crash in a 20pmh limit a few months ago. The driver at fault didn't realise it was a 20mph zone and he stated to the police when they arrived he was 'not even doing 30, only about 27 mph'. I then pointed out it was a 20 mph limit and his face dropped. The police then told us they couldn't legally enforce the limit. I then asked if the signs and road marking were technically a waste of tax payers money and got the reply that 'yeah, unfortunately it is'. So why are we spending money when people are losing jobs left right and centre on something that is technically not enforcable. Spend the money on keeping people in their jobs or creating new ones.

Yes, but you didn't, did you? You're off on an ego trip. The Police let you go up to a man in their custody and give him a slice of your mind? I don't think that happened. Then you went off on a bout of self-righteousness and asked them some legal-based questions? Are we SURE this occurred like that? I'm not.

I didn't go up to a man in custody. He was still at the scene of the crash and talking as the police arrived smart arse!
As the police apporached him (and did not arrest him) he said the quote I mentioned to which I then pointed out the signs. So clever one, it did happen and other witnesses also saw this. He didn't get arrested and no action was taken as a result of the speed limit so maybe you are on an ego trip not me!

archibold wrote:

Carl S'berg wrote:

archibold wrote:
I witnessed a crash in a 20pmh limit a few months ago. The driver at fault didn't realise it was a 20mph zone and he stated to the police when they arrived he was 'not even doing 30, only about 27 mph'. I then pointed out it was a 20 mph limit and his face dropped. The police then told us they couldn't legally enforce the limit. I then asked if the signs and road marking were technically a waste of tax payers money and got the reply that 'yeah, unfortunately it is'. So why are we spending money when people are losing jobs left right and centre on something that is technically not enforcable. Spend the money on keeping people in their jobs or creating new ones.

Yes, but you didn't, did you? You're off on an ego trip. The Police let you go up to a man in their custody and give him a slice of your mind? I don't think that happened. Then you went off on a bout of self-righteousness and asked them some legal-based questions? Are we SURE this occurred like that? I'm not.

I didn't go up to a man in custody. He was still at the scene of the crash and talking as the police arrived smart arse!
As the police apporached him (and did not arrest him) he said the quote I mentioned to which I then pointed out the signs. So clever one, it did happen and other witnesses also saw this. He didn't get arrested and no action was taken as a result of the speed limit so maybe you are on an ego trip not me!

Aren't you wonderful.

Carl S'berg wrote:

archibold wrote:

Carl S'berg wrote:

archibold wrote:
I witnessed a crash in a 20pmh limit a few months ago. The driver at fault didn't realise it was a 20mph zone and he stated to the police when they arrived he was 'not even doing 30, only about 27 mph'. I then pointed out it was a 20 mph limit and his face dropped. The police then told us they couldn't legally enforce the limit. I then asked if the signs and road marking were technically a waste of tax payers money and got the reply that 'yeah, unfortunately it is'. So why are we spending money when people are losing jobs left right and centre on something that is technically not enforcable. Spend the money on keeping people in their jobs or creating new ones.

Yes, but you didn't, did you? You're off on an ego trip. The Police let you go up to a man in their custody and give him a slice of your mind? I don't think that happened. Then you went off on a bout of self-righteousness and asked them some legal-based questions? Are we SURE this occurred like that? I'm not.

I didn't go up to a man in custody. He was still at the scene of the crash and talking as the police arrived smart arse!
As the police apporached him (and did not arrest him) he said the quote I mentioned to which I then pointed out the signs. So clever one, it did happen and other witnesses also saw this. He didn't get arrested and no action was taken as a result of the speed limit so maybe you are on an ego trip not me!

Aren't you wonderful.

No - since when did I say I was? You have a real chip on your shoulder about something. Maybe coz I proved you wrong or actually had the balls to say MINE and others money is spent on something that cannot be enforced, therefore rendering it useless rather than helping others in the community become employed at this hard time is, in my opinion a bad idea, who knows? Not sure if you've felt the harshness of these cuts yourself but I have and so have others I know and I'm **** sure I would prefer others to have more secure futures in their work than money get wasted.

archibold wrote:

Carl S'berg wrote:

archibold wrote: I witnessed a crash in a 20pmh limit a few months ago. The driver at fault didn't realise it was a 20mph zone and he stated to the police when they arrived he was 'not even doing 30, only about 27 mph'. I then pointed out it was a 20 mph limit and his face dropped. The police then told us they couldn't legally enforce the limit. I then asked if the signs and road marking were technically a waste of tax payers money and got the reply that 'yeah, unfortunately it is'. So why are we spending money when people are losing jobs left right and centre on something that is technically not enforcable. Spend the money on keeping people in their jobs or creating new ones.

Yes, but you didn't, did you? You're off on an ego trip. The Police let you go up to a man in their custody and give him a slice of your mind? I don't think that happened. Then you went off on a bout of self-righteousness and asked them some legal-based questions? Are we SURE this occurred like that? I'm not.

I didn't go up to a man in custody. He was still at the scene of the crash and talking as the police arrived smart arse! As the police apporached him (and did not arrest him) he said the quote I mentioned to which I then pointed out the signs. So clever one, it did happen and other witnesses also saw this. He didn't get arrested and no action was taken as a result of the speed limit so maybe you are on an ego trip not me!

What would they arrest him for? What EVIDENCE was there that he was speeding?

That he admitted it! He admitted doing only 27mph thinking he was in a 30 zone when he was in a 20 zone. I never said he got arrested, it was the other geeezer who said I'd spoken to him in custody without reading my comment first.