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Original poster

20mph speed limit

32 replies

WhosAfraidOfLittleOldMe · 08/08/2024 19:18

In the city I live in there is a residential road next to a park where the speed limit is 20mph. Clear signage on the road and plenty of signs.

Every time I drive up it, at 20mph, there is a car (usually a BMW) right up my arse.

Today DH is driving up it (in his BMW 😂), I’m a passenger. I don’t know exactly how fast he was going, but it felt fast so I reminded him that it was a 20 limit. He slowed and at first said he didn’t realise, but then went on to lecture me about how 20mph speed limits aren’t enforceable. AND has the cheek to say my Dad (retired police) even told him so.

Now I have the kind of brain that remembers every conversation, and I remember DH going on a speed awareness course 10 years ago and coming back telling me that he was shocked to learn 20mph limits are actually enforceable.

Is this a common thing to think they aren’t? Where has it come from? I thought the BMWs up my bum were just being BMW aubergines, but is this also a thing that people don’t think they have to do 20 in a 20mph zone?

OP posts:
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Himitsu · 09/08/2024 18:43

The only time I’m ever up someone’s ass in a 20 is when they decide to do 10mph. That is infuriating. 20 is plenty slow enough!

NeedToChangeName · 09/08/2024 18:40

LondonQueen · 08/08/2024 21:35

Unfortunately 20mph zones are enforceable, my brother has been caught more than once in the local city's 20mph zone.

If he was speeding, I'd say he deserved to be caught. No "unfortunately" about it

LondonQueen · 08/08/2024 21:35

Unfortunately 20mph zones are enforceable, my brother has been caught more than once in the local city's 20mph zone.

GracieAndPedro · 08/08/2024 21:28

Terriblegizzard · 08/08/2024 19:34

This sounds like the old 10% plus one myth.

Some police forces state that they enforce at 10%+1 on their websites and the calibration of the cameras is such that there has to be a tolerance. I used to have to provide calibration certificates for police prosecutions.

Bananananananananana · 08/08/2024 21:04

My DH got caught twice on the same stretch doing 24 and 26mph. Speed awareness course.

I can't believe anyone thinks it's not enforceable.

Recently we drove on that road, some idiot yells to us 'the speed limit is 20, not 17'. People are stupid. Usually racing to get to the next red light.

And it's always BMWs, audis, range rovers and teslas who want to get up your arse.

EvilNextDoor · 08/08/2024 20:58

@dontbenastyhaveapasty true, but not all new developments have them..as the developers haven’t applied for the TRO

LlynTegid · 08/08/2024 20:56

Speed limits are seen as a minimum by too many people. The only exception seems to be those who only drive in the middle lane on motorways.

I have to cross a road where only a few people turn left into it. If a BMW comes along, I know 99% will not indicate when turning left.

Until we start viewing crimes committed whilst behind the wheel and have no leniency in banning people, it will not change. The petrolheads talk about a 'war on the motorist' which is utter nonsense, except when it comes to parking charges.

One of the Tory leadership candidates was banned from driving in 2022, and regardless of his policies, that makes him unfit to be leader.

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 08/08/2024 20:51

"in the BMW handbook" 😆Is not bothering to use the indicators in there too?
We live in a 20mph zone. Plenty of people speed, which can be hairy since there aren't pavements and I walk a dog. Bottom line is that they just don't want to stick to the speed limit.

dontbenastyhaveapasty · 08/08/2024 20:43

EvilNextDoor · 08/08/2024 19:53

They are only enforceable if the correct Traffic Relief Order (TRO) is in place, the majority of councils who insist on 20 mph zones they are done with the TRO, if there is no TRO the 20mph speed limit is not enforceable.

Having spent decades working for local authorities, I can assure you that if a highway authority has managed to get to the point of putting up all the 20mph signs, the TRO will definitely have been done!

TimeFlysWhenYoureHavingRum · 08/08/2024 20:35

You "D"H sounds like a dangerous idiot who shouldn't be driving.

PollyPeachum · 08/08/2024 20:28

Is it an invitation to a debate then? Prat!

Flossflower · 08/08/2024 20:21

My husband had to do a speed awareness course as he was doing 24 in a 20mph zone.

Jamstones · 08/08/2024 20:19

GravitasShortfall · 08/08/2024 19:28

My mate got done doing 25 in a 20. It’s absolutely enforceable otherwise why would they bother with it?!

All the ones I drive through are by schools. It infuriates me that some idiots still speed through them, knowing it’s there to protect kids.

I think these are exactly the ones that more people think are not enforceable, as if it mustn't always be necessary.

There aren't lights or timings, but they think it only applies when large groups of children are being picked up or dropped off and it's their own judgement otherwise.

Chocolateorange22 · 08/08/2024 20:15

Can I add that all BMW drivers do not act like this

Our almost ten year old one has a speed limiter on it. It's very good at screaming at you when you go over the limit that you've set.

Pumpkinz · 08/08/2024 20:12

NeedToChangeName · 08/08/2024 20:09

I thought this was true, on the basis that car speedometers aren't entirely accurate?

Show quote history

It is true.

NeedToChangeName · 08/08/2024 20:09

Terriblegizzard · 08/08/2024 19:34

This sounds like the old 10% plus one myth.

I thought this was true, on the basis that car speedometers aren't entirely accurate?

Pumpkinz · 08/08/2024 19:58

Re signage: Black writing, white background with red ring = enforceable. Black writing, white background, black ring = advisory and not enforceable.

EvilNextDoor · 08/08/2024 19:53

They are only enforceable if the correct Traffic Relief Order (TRO) is in place, the majority of councils who insist on 20 mph zones they are done with the TRO, if there is no TRO the 20mph speed limit is not enforceable.

DelilahBucket · 08/08/2024 19:44

The police often stand with speed guns in the 20 zones in my town. It is definitely enforceable and enforced. There is a reason for the 20 limit and people who think they are above those reasons are morons.

ScottBakula · 08/08/2024 19:36

My residential short road is 20mph yet idiots floor it, most doing around 30 but some 50+ , the police put a temporary speed camera up and caught close to 100 breaking the limit in 6 weeks. With a few going 60+
I have no idea how they actually get up to that speed so quickly, it's a T junction at both ends and only about 100 houses long .

pasta · 08/08/2024 19:34

I did a speed awareness course with a room full of people who had been going at 23 or so in a 20 mile zone

Terriblegizzard · 08/08/2024 19:34

This sounds like the old 10% plus one myth.

Original poster
WhosAfraidOfLittleOldMe · 08/08/2024 19:33

This was my reasoning too! Why would it not be?? His response was that it was just something everyone knew. I am really curious as to whether this is something that other people believe!

Had some disagreement especially when he said my dad had told him as well, which is obviously not true.

This road is by a park where there are always children so it makes sense to go slowly enough go that you wouldn’t do as much damage if a child unexpectedly jumped out.

Maybe it’s in the BMW handbook because it certainly isn’t from the Highway Code…

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 08/08/2024 19:33

YANBU.
Your DH is a silly aubergine.

Terriblegizzard · 08/08/2024 19:33

What would be the point of an unenforceable speed limit? Does he think it’s just a suggestion?

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