20 MPH Limits - what's your thoughts ?

[presta]

I tend to use cruise control, so engage that immediately after pulling away, and then I can just forget the throttle unless there is other traffic going slower

Which happens every time there's an uphill.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

One of the most sensible things I have seen was abroad

We were driving through Gothenburg and were wondering what the constantly changing numbers were on signs at the side of the road

Turns out that they showed the speed that you need to do to get through the next traffic light without stopping

Naturally they were generally showing somewhere around 15-20 mph - and most traffic just travelled ta that speed - hence hence traffic flowed nice and gently through the main streets of the city at a sensible speed without stopping and starting

This was in the 1970s
and rumour has it that computer technology and traffic science has advanced somewhat since then

and yet when we drop the grandkids off in the late afternoon at their parent's house then we get to a main road out of Liverpool (Dunnings Bridge Road for those that know the area) and the traffic is stopping at every light and the starting again

If the lights were synchronised to a speed and the speed to get through the lights was displayed - then traffic would move smoothly
and emissions and pollution would be massively reduced
as would commuting costs as fuel usage goes down

OK - there is a danger that cyclist might be able to keep up with the traffic and lead to "letters to the Editor" in the Telegraph (other media outlets are available) but that is just a risk I am prepared to take!

 

[Alex321]

Which happens every time there's an uphill.

Not on most of the 20 limits round here. It does on higher limit roads, certainly.

 

[PedallingNowhereSlowly]

I prefer to set the speed limiter rather than use cruise control. It has the advantage I can ease off on a climb and let the car regain momentum on the other side, instead of wasting fuel to get up the hill and again wasting the gravitational potential on the side.

The only downside to doing this, is that if the hill demands down shifting, if you are travelling at the speed limit and you need to down shift, you can't apply any throttle to rev match and save the clutch. I have to remember to either ease off a bit so I'm travelling at less than where the limiter is set, or temporarily knock the limiter off.

 

[Alex321]

I prefer to set the speed limiter rather than use cruise control. It has the advantage I can ease off on a climb and let the car regain momentum on the other side, instead of wasting fuel to get up the hill and again wasting the gravitational potential on the side.

The only downside to doing this, is that if the hill demands down shifting, if you are travelling at the speed limit and you need to down shift, you can't apply any throttle to rev match and save the clutch. I have to remember to either ease off a bit so I'm travelling at less than where the limiter is set, or temporarily knock the limiter off.

The speed limiter on my car is too easily overridden, to the point where you can do so accidentally.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

0

The speed limiter on my car is too easily overridden, to the point where you can do so accidentally.

Just been looking at how it works on my car
Seems like it should work - but you can end up going faster if the road goes downhill!!
There is a warning if it does but TBH the car beeps for so many things you end up looking everywhere to work out what it is on about!

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I like what I have seen in French villages. If someone is travelling a bit fast then instead of a your speed sign flashing up, a traffic light ahead turns red. Travel within the speed limit and the traffic light stays green. Thus travelling t an inappropriate speed means it takes you longer.

 

[BoldonLad]

I like what I have seen in French villages. If someone is travelling a bit fast then instead of a your speed sign flashing up, a traffic light ahead turns red. Travel within the speed limit and the traffic light stays green. Thus travelling t an inappropriate speed means it takes you longer.

Even better in my experience of French villages, they have speed bumps which mean business! Attempt more than 30kph (20mph approx) and your vehicle is wrecked! 😊 plus speed bumps are full width, no way to avoid them.

 

[Alex321]

Even better in my experience of French villages, they have speed bumps which mean business! Attempt more than 30kph (20mph approx) and your vehicle is wrecked! 😊 plus speed bumps are full width, no way to avoid them.

I have no problem with appropriate speed bumps.

But ones which are going to cause significant discomfort or even damage if you take them at the speed limit are just wrong, and are far too common IME.

If they want traffic travelling 10mph below the current limit, then they should first change the limit to that speed, then they can introduce speed bumps that can only be taken at that speed or lower.

 

[BoldonLad]

I have no problem with appropriate speed bumps.

But ones which are going to cause significant discomfort or even damage if you take them at the speed limit are just wrong, and are far too common IME.

If they want traffic travelling 10mph below the current limit, then they should first change the limit to that speed, then they can introduce speed bumps that can only be taken at that speed or lower.

In the examples I gave, the speed limit is, invariably, 30kph.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Even better in my experience of French villages, they have speed bumps which mean business! Attempt more than 30kph (20mph approx) and your vehicle is wrecked! 😊 plus speed bumps are full width, no way to avoid them.

Or they have the metal lane narrowers. A bit too fast and careless and you’ll scrape your paintwork. If there’s anything that’ll cause drivers to slow down it’s that.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

nes which are going to cause significant discomfort or even damage if you take them at the speed limit are just wrong, and are far too common IME.

Not really, as you shouldn’t be trying to hit the speed limit in those places. But making it 20, 30, 20, 30, 40, 60, 40, 60 would be a right pain etc.

 

[Drago]

Make minor speeding infringements a mandatory 28 day ban. That'll make drivers suddenly pay attention.

We don't bow to shoplifters or pickpockets complaints when the law is tightened up, and wouldn't be cowed by road criminals that bleat about 20 limits. After all, if so many of them hadn't torn the arse out of the 30 limit then there wouldn't be the imperative to turn the screw and drop it to 20 - they brought this upon themselves.

 

[Gillstay]

I hear a lot of the guff about picking on UK motorists, but go to Switzerland and you can get a fine for 1 klm over the limit.

Makes the winging over here feel a nonsense.

 

[Gunk]

After all, if so many of them hadn't torn the arse out of the 30 limit then there wouldn't be the imperative to turn the screw and drop it to 20 - they brought this upon themselves.

completely agree