A worrying number of roads in my area are being changed from NSL to 30. I don't know of any particular accidents on these roads are they have fields at either side. These speed limits seem to be getting changed with no warning, for example one was between 2 30 limits and they simply took the NSL signs down. Another which I saw for the first time last night is in the middle of a previous NSL section part way round a corner and you can't see the signs until you are passing through them.

Has anybody else noticed this trend in their area?

I assume so they can stick speed cameras on them to get more money, or perhaps i'm just being cynical!

Cynical :P

The same thing happened near us a while back :(

Your local authority must be short of cash. Keep your eyes peeled for scamera vans. They have done it here too, and Preston over the last few years. All the roads affected are now full of Gatso's and are regularly used by piggy bank vans.

These speed limits seem to be getting changed with no warning, for example one was between 2 30 limits and they simply took the NSL signs down.

It is actually published and petitioned in places, but the chances of you actually noticing it are remarkably slim.

I suspect the reason they're doing it is because the road surfaces are deteriorating to the point that they are no longer suitable for NSL, and it's cheaper to knock them down to 30s rather than do maintainance...after all, why would you need to go that fast, going fast is a Bad Thing.

Rob.

There was another thread on here about the same thing, but more particularly that the new signs were placed such that they could not be seen - at least until it was too late. The advice IIRC was to keep a camera with you.

I'm not sure how a camera helps in practice though, since one would need to stop the car and photograph the signs as and when seen, rather than waiting until falling foul and getting a speeding ticket. This because there is nothing to stop TPTB repositioning the signs after they've caught a few

Nor will camera-evidence for a defence stop the practice, since more will be fined than will successfully defend IMO. Perhaps a letter to a local MP re the danger, since, if the car in front suddenly brakes to 30, there's a fair chance that the car behind will run into the back of it.

It does sound like the dirty tricks department, although on a road with fields either side, it's not difficult to lose track of speed only to "hit" a village or built up area without having considered slowdown distance. Then again, if that were the case, progressively slower signs (which are actually visible!) would achieve that purpose better IMO.

HTH

Mo

Yep.A long established 40 zone suddenly became a 30.The wife now has more points plus a fine as a result:(

Sneaky barstewards

One particular section is very strange as it leaves an NSL section about 200-300m long between 2 30 sections. The existing 30 signs on the approach to the villages could be seen from a good distance as they were on straight sections and were the type with an additional yellow background to make them stand out more.

It is actually published and petitioned in places' date=' but the chances of you actually noticing it are remarkably slim.

I suspect the reason they're doing it is because the road surfaces are deteriorating to the point that they are no longer suitable for NSL, and it's cheaper to knock them down to 30s rather than do maintainance...after all, why would you need to go that fast, going fast is a Bad Thing.

Rob.[/quote']

Thats a very good point rob..

there are certain standards and guidelines that roads have to meet to get various speed ratings... surfacing, type and angle of bends, lighting and pavements.

the highways agency have the right to question or impose lower limits if they see fit... and for something to get a higher limit then it should, the roadways dept of the council have to apply from a deviation from standard specification.. which can be a pain.. its alot of red tape!.

There's been a lot of extending of 40 zones, leading into 30 zones. More removal of NSL between villages and making all that 40. And also lots of 20 zones appearing & widening in village/town centres. One 20 zone on my commute is well odd, as its not in a particularly busy area or anything - no school or other dangers. :confused:

Hi

At an IAM meeting a few years ago, the speaker was a Senoir Police Traffic Officer. He was talking about use of speed and use of speed detection equipment. He also told us that councils are responsible for creating 30mph zones. In Brentwood, one long stretch of NSL had been made into 30mph limit and the police lobbied the council to raise the limit ans it was unnecesarily slow for the prevailing conditions.

The argument the police had for this is that drivers become conditioned to speed in 30mph zones if there is no valid reason for a place being a 30mph zone. Eventually, the council sort of relented and made it a 40 zone instead.

Chris

An NSL dual carriageway around here has been changed to 50mph because of a construction site nearby (despite the fact I have never seen anything more extraordinary than a standard dump truck on the road) with no announcement barring a pair of temporary camera signs as you emerge from a tunnel, with the camera itself just over a rise and round a bend. One day it was 70mph there, the next it was 50mph. They've done this in that exact spot before, but it never fails to scare the life out of you.

The council planners are stupid lefties who think we should all be on buses.

The council planners are stupid lefties who think we should all be on buses.

The council planners in Hampshire don't seem to fit this stereotype and are just as happy to raise speed limits where appropriate as lower them. May be cos quite a few of them are car nuts

Chris

The council planners in Hampshire don't seem to fit this stereotype and are just as happy to raise speed limits where appropriate as lower them. May be cos quite a few of them are car nuts

Chris

Let's move to Hampshire! Group buy on Hampshire properties anyone?

Let's move to Hampshire! Group buy on Hampshire properties anyone?

Oi! We don't let any old riff raff in you know :P;) Man the borders!!!!

Chris

About twenty years (or more) ago, a new stretch of road was built to bypass the village of Ynysddu in South Wales. For many years this road was NSL, and (AFAIK) there were few - if any - accidents along it.

Then the responsibity for setting speed limits was delegated to local authorities. Now, this bypass is 30mph along its whole length, with a couple of chicanes to slow traffic down even further. It's nothing to do with road safety - it's all politics :thumbdwn:

Near me there's a dual carriageway B road (was the A9 until a bypass was built). It's about a mile long. As you leave town it goes from 30 to NSL. Fair enough. It's a nice bit of road :D But the opposite carriageway is 50 until you arrive at the 30 signs. So 70 southbound, 50 northbound? :confused: It's the same stretch of road going through the same countryside :(