New High tech cameras to enforce 20mph roads

[motorbiking]

Death and serious injuries aren't down beyond the previous trend, despite 100s of miles of 20mph limits. The authorities always target roads with an increase of accidents and then show the post "treatment" results in a positive outcome. All over the the country 20mph limits are having a dramatic effect on road casualties. Except when you look at the long term data, you can see no significant impact on the trend.

But enforcing 20mph limits does make money and in this case, if the "speeder" is offered an awareness course instead of points and fine, the money flows back to TfL. Funny that.

Reported road casualties Great Britain, annual report: 2024

www.gov.uk

 

[IT Minion]

Death and serious injuries aren't down beyond the previous trend, despite 100s of miles of 20mph limits. The authorities always target roads with an increase of accidents and then show the post "treatment" results in a positive outcome. All over the the country 20mph limits are having a dramatic effect on road casualties. Except when you look at the long term data, you can see no significant impact on the trend.

Reported road casualties Great Britain, annual report: 2024

www.gov.uk

This downward trend you mention, what is causing that?

Perhaps it's the a summation of all the different changes to law and regulations that are being implemented like 20mph zones.

Also didn't your earlier link say London dropped more than the UK average.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

I drove around Wales last year. Nobody drives at 20, most just a bit below 30. If you actually drive at 20 you'll end up with a bootful of angry german-badged car drivers, a huge danger in itself.

30 was probably always a sensible limit. It just needs actually enforcing. I often feel endangered by tailgaters for doing 30 in a 30 limit.

 

[aveatry]

Near me there is a road with 2 lanes in each direction 30 zone at the bottom I need to turn right so from the start of that road i am in the right hand lane doing 30 and it seems to infuriate people who sit right behind me and the first chance they get when the left hand lane is clear is to swerve into that - blast past me and swerve back in front of me and continue on at about 40mph.

 

[Mottie]

I think they should always strive to make it safer, yes. Those that wish to pursue off-piste skiing, and those that chose to walk in the middle of a busy road, must understand it comes with consequences.

So all parent need to do is ensure that their children learn the green cross code so that they don’t walk in the middle of a busy road. If that’s all the problem is, the problem lies with the parents and not those driving down the road so the 20mph limit was not needed.

 

[noseall]

This downward trend you mention, what is causing that?

Slower speeds around pedestrians. I for one welcome it.

I do agree it is difficult to drive at 20MPH for prolonged periods though. Especially when there are intermittent zones. It just makes you more aware of your speed.

 

[aveatry]

I would rather 20 zones controlled by cameras than road humps.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Only yesterday I was driving in a built up area, 30 zone. I was doing 33. White van appeared from side street and sat on my tail. I reckon they were maybe 6ish feet from me.

It's annoying, it's dangerous - they risk running into your rear if you need to stop in a hurry, and it is a constant distraction for you, taking your attention away from the road ahead of you, and a serious worry if you dare, or need to brake hard.

 

[ellal]

My post was to the skiing builder who said "Deaths and serious injuries are down. Good news". My question to him was whether it would also be "good news" to do something to reduce death and serious injury while skiing. Children suffer serious injury and death while skiing you know. Is a child being injured crossing the road more important than one being injured while skiing, especially when there is no need to ski?

There's no need then for you to go on a biking holiday...

Less chance of you becoming an organ donor!

 

[noseall]

So all parent need to do is ensure that their children learn the green cross code so that they don’t walk in the middle of a busy road

If only it were that simple, eh.

. If that’s all the problem is

Which it isn't.

, the problem lies with the parents and not those driving down the road so the 20mph limit was not needed

See above.

 

[motorbiking]

This downward trend you mention, what is causing that?

Perhaps it's the a summation of all the different changes to law and regulations that are being implemented like 20mph zones.

Also didn't your earlier link say London dropped more than the UK average.

The only relevant way to measure the stats is to first separate killed from seriously injured. The two together create noise as K is a low number and SI is a high number. SI is also not really seriously injured. Killed could be up 20% and SI down 3% (made up numbers btw) and you could show a "good news" story claiming KSI is down. The only real way to measure if K is falling is to look at K pBVKM. You have to go quite hard in to the weeds to look at that. Fortunately AI can do that. It's about a 3% decline and it's been like that for a long time. All these "20mph zone reduced casualties by 30%" don't stack up, given how much of the road estate has been lowered from 30 to 20 in the last few years.

- Cars have been getting safer for decades.
- 4-7% decline in private vehicle use in London - pretty much wipes out the improvements

 

[noseall]

The only relevant way to measure the stats is to first separate killed from seriously injured

Mid 30's (percentage) drop for serious injury.

40% drop for deaths.

Glad I could help.

 

[motorbiking]

Mid 30's (percentage) drop for serious injury.

40% drop for deaths.

Glad I could help.

if only it were true. Out by a factor of 10.

Year	K	% change YoY
2024	1,671	-1.4%
2023	1,695	-4.0%
2022	1,766	+9.8% (Post-pandemic return to traffic)
2021	1,608	+6.1%
2020	1,516	-16.2% (Lockdown-impacted)
2019	1,808	-1.7%
2018	1,840	+0.2%
2017	1,837	-0.4%
2016	1,845	+3.7%
2015	1,780	-4.0%
2014	1,854	+4.7%

 

[JohnD]

Do skis have brakes on them? Surely you cant just go flying down a mountain without any form of stopping and gathering speed hoping to stop at the bottom.

Any moderately competent skier can travel at a speed enabling him to stop or turn within the distance he can see to be clear, even if an incompetent gets in his way.

Incompetents are mostly encouraged to practice on modest slopes away from anyone going fast.

Darwin helps to keep numbers of dangerous incompetents fairly low.

Except for boarders and uncontrolled small children, who should be penned away from sensible people,

 

[transam]

When I used to pick my mother up from the airport in the Uk in the winter months the amount of brits coming back to the UK from there sking excursions ( lol)

Wheel chairs broken leg / ankles
Arms in plaster