Wednesday 11 August 2010

Early notice

I have been out all day and not seen much news but I have driven on the M6 between Preston and Lancaster. There are two sets of roadworks and in both the road narrows to two lanes. In both you get ample warning that that one lane is closing, but also in both you are notified that the speed limit is 50mph when you are already driving in the roadworks.

Why don't we have notice of a lowering of the speed limit. It would make much more sense to inform us before the change happened.

Change the world

15 comments:

  1. If drivers have already been notified of an impending lane closure they should be slowing down anyway - using their common sense - and if they don't possess common sense they shouldn't have driving licences in the first place!!!!!!!

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  2. Thanks Anonymous. I wrote this because the change of limit affected me. What would you expect to be the limit? 60? 50? 40?

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  3. "What would you expect to be the limit? 60? 50? 40?"

    It seems customary for it to be 50 for roadworks areas on motorways - but why do you need to be told? You should ALWAYS drive at a speed suitable for the prevailing conditions e.g. not only might the lane be narrow but it might be raining in which case 30 might be too fast.

    If you are so dependent on being told what to do when you are driving then shouldn't you hand in your driving licence?

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  4. Many people feel capable of driving in excess of the speed limit. They feel that this is a "suitable speed". I don't see it as a great problem that we should be given an amended speed limit before conditions change rather than after. It's not a question of being told what to do - we are all told what to do. My point is about when we are told.

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  5. Sigh.

    Did you drive into the roadworks area with your eyes closed?

    You say there was a 50 mph speed limit there - so as soon as you saw it you obeyed it. Didn't you? If not why not?

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  6. No. Yes. Not applicable.

    Anonymous, I am quite busy at the moment. Could you be a little more constructive if you wish to comment. Thanks

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  7. "Could you be a little more constructive if you wish to comment"

    I am being extremely constructive. I have drawn out from you the admission that you saw the 50 mph speed limit sign and obeyed it.

    In my experience the speed limit for narrow lanes or reduced number of lanes on motorwways is normally 50 mph. You should not need any extra advance speed limit warning. You were warned about the lane closing. End of story. Either accept that you should be using your common sense and driving at an appropriate speed (which could be less than the speed limit) or hand in your driving licence.

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  8. The road conditions changed and then the speed limit changed. Something is wrong somewhere. Sorry you can't see it Anonymous but that's the end of the subject now. Thanks for your contribution.

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  9. "The road conditions changed and then the speed limit changed."

    Sigh.

    If the road conditions change you amend your driving accordingly. Shoudl should not need to be told what to do. If you can't do that then hand in your driving licence.

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  10. I had closed this conversation Anonymous, but I allowed it because I drove to London yesterday. One lane closed, two lanes closed - no change in speed limit. There were also examples of conditions changing followed by speed limit changes. So examples of when we are told, when we aren't told, and eamples of my main point that if limits change they should change before the conditions change. Time to close this converation.

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  11. "So examples of when we are told, when we aren't told"

    All the more reason why you need to exercise sound judgement yourself - or hand in your driving licence

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  12. I am so reluctant to censor comment, but I have already closed this subject. Nobody would deny what you say in your last reply (apart from the personal insult which I never quite understood). We should obey the law too, but the point I am making is that speed limits should reflect driving conditions and not change after a hazard occurs. I think I have made that point and you have made yours - so that's definitely it. No more comments from Anonymous please.

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  13. I am allowed to continue writing of course. I found it interesting that Preston was in the news yesterday as the worst city in the UK for children being injured in road accidents. They have blamed deprivation, education, the use of cars (I like that one) and Fridays and Saturdays. None of this makes me think of Preston but my comments in this blog do.

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  14. I am sad to say that I have censored one further comment from the person who is hiding behind anonymity. I thought my observation was clear and not contentious that a lowering of the speed limit reflects the dangers of the road and if there is a hazard and then the speed limit changes then something is going wrong. It should be the other way round. Anonymous has continued to relate my bolg to the idea that the way I drive may mean that I should hand in my licence. I have no idea why they are checking on the quality of my driving, and he or she has no idea thatby questioning my ability they have given out insults. Audible sighs are insulting on their own.

    This blog was nothing to do with obeying signs but Anonymous thought it should be. I wonder if they appreciate the irony of trying to continue the discussion when I have given a clear sign that it has closed.

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  15. P.S. The blog about Preston was written on the 25th July.

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