Road Safety Law Reforms – Where's the Limit?
So the rules of the road may become more draconian under new laws proposed by the Government yesterday. The default speed limit on rural single carriageway roads is likely to be reduced from 60mph to 50mph, with councils obliged to give good reasons for retaining the higher limit speed limit. There will also be more limits of 20mph in residential zones, random breath tests and tougher fixed penalties under the plans. The Home Office would approve …
So the rules of the road may become more draconian under new laws proposed by the Government yesterday. The default speed limit on rural single carriageway roads is likely to be reduced from 60mph to 50mph, with councils obliged to give good reasons for retaining the higher limit speed limit. There will also be more limits of 20mph in residential zones, random breath tests and tougher fixed penalties under the plans. The Home Office would approve cameras that detect average speed, covering all exit and entry points to residential areas.
The stated aim of the reforms is to cut the number of road deaths by a third reducing them by at least 1,000 from the current 3,000 a year. The new rules should also make traffic policing more efficient, reduce paperwork and allow officers to deal with offenders more quickly.
Although the news has been welcomed by road safety campaigners, many motorists are feeling increasingly persecuted and are sceptical about the new proposals. The feeling is that such blanket measures are a just another revenue raiser for a cash strapped government to be being pinned on the motorist under the halo of safety…
On the day of what looks to be the gloomiest budget announcement since WW2, who could be so cynical?
April 22, 2009
This is clearly a revenue generator which will be equivalent to pi$$ing in the wind. Spending cuts are what is really required and the only way this country is going to get out of this mess is to work hard. There will be no place in such an economy for bureaucrats, spin doctors, public sector consultants, inspectors, traffic wardens, outreach workers and all the ilk whose jobs populate the Guardian vacancy advertisements.
April 22, 2009
Labour attacking individual freedom. What a surprise.
April 22, 2009
Improving road safety is good, there are so many a$$holes on the roads and driving in London is especially unpleasant.
April 22, 2009
Stricter limits in built up areas make sense but elsewhere? More cameras, more surveillance, more fines, more misery