Admittedly I'm going back a number of years but at that time the residents in our country lane petitioned ECC highways dept. for either 30 mph repeaters or 30mph markings (white paint) on the road surface. We were informed that such measures were not permitted in law due to the street lamps being less than X # of metres apart. To this day the only repeater discs (2) are at the far end of the dead-end lane where the street lamps are positioned further apart, due (presumably) to the absence of dwellings.
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Incorrect Speed Limit Change Signage?
- Thread starter securespark
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Yes, that's it.
As I understand it the repeaters are not necessary where the street lights are less than X # of metres apart (200 ?) because it is taken for granted a 30mph limit is in force; It's not that they aren't allowed.
As I understand it the repeaters are not necessary where the street lights are less than X # of metres apart (200 ?) because it is taken for granted a 30mph limit is in force; It's not that they aren't allowed.
We all thought they were very necessary due to the excess speed that some vehicles were travelling, but still 'not allowed'
You're assuming that the excess speed was down to not knowing the limit though. I think a great many people who say "I didn't know" when pulled over, actually know perfectly well.
There are 2 dirty great 30 signs at the entrance to the lane, but that's all. The lane is quite narrow & has a blind bend half-way down plus a poor enough road surface in places to throw a vehicle off line if the driver isn't paying attention.
Years ago the police carried out a speed check in response to our concerns but they did it at a quiet time of day .. since then no interest shown.
The question remains though, what percentage of drivers, exceeding the speed limit along it, do you think genuinely don't know the speed limit?
I live in rural Cumbria. We have a National Speed Limit single track road over a place called "Cold Fell". It's a common rat-run for traffic heading home from Sellafield. It's also an area of common land with horses and sheep grazing it. Some years ago, after a horse got killed one night, there was a very vociferous campaign to get it reduced to a 40 limit. Most people felt that it was a bit pointless as you'd have to be trying pretty hard to do 40 along most of it anyway. The police were against the idea too, regarding it as practically unenforceable. However, a local politician, keen to curry favour with the "something MUST be done" brigade, pushed it through. We now have a road rather despoiled by the addition of 40 limit repeater signs every so many hundred metres, hardly any convictions, and no real change in average traffic speed.
Considering the size of the signs, if their ignorance is genuine then their eyesight falls well below the DVLA criteria for holding a licence !
It isn't the size of the signs that cause problems, it is often the placement of them. Signs are often placed immediately at exits to roundabouts when people who are not familiar with the area area are busy checking direction signs, lane markings, mirrors and the positions of other road users. There is sometimes little chance of noticing the signs especially when they are concealed in roadside shrubbery.
Roadside shrubbery is a feature around here, at one point car owners concerned about their paintwork occupy the crown of the road to avoid damage.
Traffic signs obscured by overhanging road branches & rampant foliage must provide enterprising solicitors with ammunition when it comes to getting certain driving offences dismissed.
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I think that's the answer.
If it has street lights, and is not a motorway, the limit is 30mph unless indicated otherwise (usually with small 40mph repeaters on the lamp posts)
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I can't see how that can be any longer true. How can one know if there is street lighting if it is 20 MPH or 30 MPH? I note the roads where the speed limit was 20 and is now 30 that there are repeater signs same as with a 40 limit.
I find it is hard to work out what the speed limit is, the boarder here is so convoluting, not sure if in England or Wales, and if default is 20 or 30. But it does seem 30 has repeaters now, but some years back they were not allowed.
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Not any more, it depends if in England or Wales.
So Wales has 20mph limits.
If you're in Wales, driving down a road with street lamps and no repeaters, do you have any justification for saying you thought the speed limit was 40?
No.
Nor do the Essex drivers Norseman mentioned.
