Letters
LISTEN HERE
 Jessica Goyder is the latest musician to put her singles on our site. Listen here
| THE INSIDER
 Get the lowdown inside the corridors of power in Oxfordshire here.
| SEND AN OBITUARY
Send us a tribute to someone who has passed away
| ON YER BIKE
 Get the view from the gutter with cycling group Cyclox in Oxfordshire
|
|
|
|
Everyone speeds
Am I the only driver who sticks to the 50mph speed limit on the A34 through Botley?
No-one else seems to bother these days.
Even some of the flashing lights which reminded everyone to slow down have been removed.
ANGELA WAINWRIGHT
Oxford Road
Abingdon
5:56pm Wednesday 14th May 2008
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: Phil Gale, Oxford on 7:48pm Wed 14 May 08
I'd say that most people slow down to between 50 and 60. That doesn't seem too bad to me.
Especially when the speed limit there is about noise abatement (isn't it?) rather than safety.
I'd say that most people slow down to between 50 and 60. That doesn't seem too bad to me.
Especially when the speed limit there is about noise abatement (isn't it?) rather than safety.
Posted by: Paul, Oxford on 9:29pm Wed 14 May 08
[quote][bold]Phil Gale[/bold] wrote:
I\'d say that most people slow down to between 50 and 60. That doesn\'t seem too bad to me.
Especially when the speed limit there is about noise abatement (isn\'t it?) rather than safety.[/quote] It was introduced following agitation by a few residents in North Hinksey. At the time the police stated that they disagreed with the lower limit and would not be enforcing it. I believe the Highways Agency was also opposed.
To be fair, there was a bad accident a few years earlier when a speeding teenager lost control south of the Botley interchange heading south, crossed the central reservation and was killed. He was ignoring the 70 limit though, so presumably would have ignored the 50 limit as well.
Phil Gale wrote:
I\'d say that most people slow down to between 50 and 60. That doesn\'t seem too bad to me.
Especially when the speed limit there is about noise abatement (isn\'t it?) rather than safety.
It was introduced following agitation by a few residents in North Hinksey. At the time the police stated that they disagreed with the lower limit and would not be enforcing it. I believe the Highways Agency was also opposed.
To be fair, there was a bad accident a few years earlier when a speeding teenager lost control south of the Botley interchange heading south, crossed the central reservation and was killed. He was ignoring the 70 limit though, so presumably would have ignored the 50 limit as well.
Posted by: joe, oxford on 10:04pm Wed 14 May 08
[quote][bold]Paul[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Phil Gale[/bold] wrote:
I\\\'d say that most people slow down to between 50 and 60. That doesn\\\'t seem too bad to me.
Especially when the speed limit there is about noise abatement (isn\\\'t it?) rather than safety.[/quote] It was introduced following agitation by a few residents in North Hinksey. At the time the police stated that they disagreed with the lower limit and would not be enforcing it. I believe the Highways Agency was also opposed.
To be fair, there was a bad accident a few years earlier when a speeding teenager lost control south of the Botley interchange heading south, crossed the central reservation and was killed. He was ignoring the 70 limit though, so presumably would have ignored the 50 limit as well.[/quote] once again the lives of a majority are ruined by a bunch of old biddies... I bet the road was there before them so what gives them the right to complain?
Paul wrote:
Phil Gale wrote:
I'd say that most people slow down to between 50 and 60. That doesn't seem too bad to me.
Especially when the speed limit there is about noise abatement (isn't it?) rather than safety.
It was introduced following agitation by a few residents in North Hinksey. At the time the police stated that they disagreed with the lower limit and would not be enforcing it. I believe the Highways Agency was also opposed.
To be fair, there was a bad accident a few years earlier when a speeding teenager lost control south of the Botley interchange heading south, crossed the central reservation and was killed. He was ignoring the 70 limit though, so presumably would have ignored the 50 limit as well.
once again the lives of a majority are ruined by a bunch of old biddies... I bet the road was there before them so what gives them the right to complain?
Posted by: ErIk, - on 10:07pm Wed 14 May 08
its impossible to go more than 50 through there due to the amount of trucks overtaking eachother! think how slow it will be when the wolvercote viaduct work starts... STATIONARY.
its impossible to go more than 50 through there due to the amount of trucks overtaking eachother! think how slow it will be when the wolvercote viaduct work starts... STATIONARY.
Posted by: Cornelius on 12:31pm Thu 15 May 08
Angela, to answer your original question: yes, I think you are the only one.
The more unrealistically low speed limits that are introduced the more perfectly normal, safety conscious law abiding citizens will be forced to break the law in the course of going about their every day business.
Angela, to answer your original question: yes, I think you are the only one.
The more unrealistically low speed limits that are introduced the more perfectly normal, safety conscious law abiding citizens will be forced to break the law in the course of going about their every day business.
Posted by: Sid Hunt on 1:51pm Thu 15 May 08
[quote][bold]Cornelius[/bold] wrote:
Angela, to answer your original question: yes, I think you are the only one. The more unrealistically low speed limits that are introduced the more perfectly normal, safety conscious law abiding citizens will be forced to break the law in the course of going about their every day business.[/quote] She is not alone, I also travel within the posted limit. As previous comments have stated, the limit was introduced to reduce the disturbance to the residents near to the road. Excessive noise is more than just an inconvenience, it is detrimental to general health. Would you be of the same blasé opinion if you were one of those affected by the road? The 50mph limit last for two miles at most, surely you can obey a law for just over two minutes in the course of going about your every day business.
Also (Joe), the residences were there before the road became dual carriageway and long before the traffic levels became what they are now.
Cornelius wrote:
Angela, to answer your original question: yes, I think you are the only one. The more unrealistically low speed limits that are introduced the more perfectly normal, safety conscious law abiding citizens will be forced to break the law in the course of going about their every day business.
She is not alone, I also travel within the posted limit. As previous comments have stated, the limit was introduced to reduce the disturbance to the residents near to the road. Excessive noise is more than just an inconvenience, it is detrimental to general health. Would you be of the same blasé opinion if you were one of those affected by the road? The 50mph limit last for two miles at most, surely you can obey a law for just over two minutes in the course of going about your every day business.
Also (Joe), the residences were there before the road became dual carriageway and long before the traffic levels became what they are now.
Posted by: BioHazard on 4:24pm Thu 15 May 08
[quote][bold]ErIk[/bold] wrote:
its impossible to go more than 50 through there due to the amount of trucks overtaking eachother! think how slow it will be when the wolvercote viaduct work starts... STATIONARY.[/quote] Absolutly correct. I was going south on the A34 this morning and a whole line of traffic was held up (again) for miles by LGV's trying to overtake and effectively blocking the road. Isnt it time they were banned from using the outside lane. I believe this is being trialed on at least one road in the UK.
ErIk wrote:
its impossible to go more than 50 through there due to the amount of trucks overtaking eachother! think how slow it will be when the wolvercote viaduct work starts... STATIONARY.
Absolutly correct. I was going south on the A34 this morning and a whole line of traffic was held up (again) for miles by LGV's trying to overtake and effectively blocking the road. Isnt it time they were banned from using the outside lane. I believe this is being trialed on at least one road in the UK.
Posted by: Paul, Oxford on 12:19am Fri 16 May 08
Sid, a speed limit makes very little difference to the level of traffic noise. The road surface and type of vehicle are much more important. I visit South Hinksey quite a lot, and most of the A34 noise seems to come from HGVs which have 56mph limiters anyway.
Sid, a speed limit makes very little difference to the level of traffic noise. The road surface and type of vehicle are much more important. I visit South Hinksey quite a lot, and most of the A34 noise seems to come from HGVs which have 56mph limiters anyway.
Posted by: Sid Hunt on 11:04am Fri 16 May 08
European and American studies have shown a correlation between vehicular speeds and road noise. Research shows that a 12-15mph increase in speed results in increased noise levels rising by 4-5 decibels (+10 dB increase is twice the previous noise level, +20dB is four times the previous noise level). Even a reduction of 6mph (i.e. from 56 to 50) will reduce road noise by around 2 - 2.5dB, a car travelling at 31mph makes one-tenth as much noise as one going at 56mph.
There are road surfaces which can reduce road noise but the cost and effort of resurfacing is far greater than reducing the speed limit.
European and American studies have shown a correlation between vehicular speeds and road noise. Research shows that a 12-15mph increase in speed results in increased noise levels rising by 4-5 decibels (+10 dB increase is twice the previous noise level, +20dB is four times the previous noise level). Even a reduction of 6mph (i.e. from 56 to 50) will reduce road noise by around 2 - 2.5dB, a car travelling at 31mph makes one-tenth as much noise as one going at 56mph.
There are road surfaces which can reduce road noise but the cost and effort of resurfacing is far greater than reducing the speed limit.
Posted by: Phil Gale, Oxford on 4:14pm Fri 16 May 08
[quote]There are road surfaces which can reduce road noise but the cost and effort of resurfacing is far greater than reducing the speed limit.[/quote]
And that section has such a surface. It's a joy to drive on (at whatever the speed!).
There are road surfaces which can reduce road noise but the cost and effort of resurfacing is far greater than reducing the speed limit.
And that section has such a surface. It's a joy to drive on (at whatever the speed!).
Posted by: Zacharias Ziegla, Rose Hill on 5:53pm Sat 17 May 08
Well 'Peak Oil' will take care of most of these problems in due course.
Meanwhile the Olduvai Gorge beckons the human race.
Well 'Peak Oil' will take care of most of these problems in due course.
Meanwhile the Olduvai Gorge beckons the human race.
Posted by: Cornelius, Oxford on 5:34pm Thu 22 May 08
I don't agree that forcing traffic to reduce its speed by 20mph to tip-toe past a handful of houses is realistic. I can't imagine the residents are any happier with the noise generated by a 50mph vehicle than they are with one travelling safely at 70mph. This is a main Euroroute for pitys sake, not some residential access road!
I don't agree that forcing traffic to reduce its speed by 20mph to tip-toe past a handful of houses is realistic. I can't imagine the residents are any happier with the noise generated by a 50mph vehicle than they are with one travelling safely at 70mph. This is a main Euroroute for pitys sake, not some residential access road!
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
