To want the speed limit properly enforced?

[SpeedLimitCompliant]

Name changed as this could identify the area where I live.

Our area is in the process of changing over to a 20 mph speed limit on virtually all the roads, and has begun with a couple of quite busy roads that are my routes to work. I comply with it because, well, it's the law, but the vast majority of drivers seem to be happily ignoring it. That means that I'm constantly being tailgated and/or am at the front of a queue of traffic comprising drivers who are plainly itching to get past me. No effort seems be made to enforce the limit, though I think there was recently an event where the council/highways authority tried to recruit volunteer monitors. No idea if they succeeded, but if they didn't, it's not very evident.

Whilst I don't wish ill on anyone, I do feel that, if the authorities want this speed limit to work, the only thing that will get it through to drivers will be a realistic threat of prosecution. If they're not interested, they should forget the whole idea. AIBU to wish that they'd pull their fingers out, actually employ someone go go out and enforce the law proactively, and show that the speed limit should be complied with?

I really think that if road authorities want to put these speed limits in, they should be prepared to put their money where their mouths are and put effective enforcement in place.

A job lot of average speed cameras will do the trick.

However, that said, is there a case for scrapping laws which aren't effectively enforced ? Like knife laws, drugs laws, etc etc?

Why do people who speed feel it's in any way a justifiable law to break ? You drive at the speed limit because it's the law. The same way you don't carry a knife because it's the law. by all means, feel free to play your cards right with the criminal justice system (speeding ... higher or lower than parking on a double yellow ?) but don't complain when other people with a different hierarchy of crimes take a different view ....

But reduces the chances of a fatality if a pedestrian is hit by a car

Well to be fair, why are pedestrians in the road? And I ask that as someone who goes mad with car drivers who don't give way to me when I am crossing a side road that they are turning into. I am definitely not an apologist for drivers. But barring some horrible accident where someone drives on the pavement (happened a few years ago in my town when someone was killed because the driver had had a heart attack and ended up on the pavement) a driver will only hit a pedestrian if they walk out into the road in front of the car.

Dogs: keep on leads and your gates shut

Children: hold their hands and keep your gates shut

I don't like cars dawdling, even as a pedestrian. The 30 limit is fine.

Not really sure why speed limiters (mine is never off) aren't required accessories on new cars

I have a hybrid and keeping it in electric mode works really well as a speed limiter. I have noticed I definitely drive more slowly now in urban areas.

A job lot of average speed cameras will do the trick Yes.

Well to be fair, why are pedestrians in the road?

Not really sure this is the place for victim blaming.

But barring some horrible accident where someone drives on the pavement (happened a few years ago in my town when someone was killed because the driver had had a heart attack and ended up on the pavement) a driver will only hit a pedestrian if they walk out into the road in front of the car.

The problem is children can misjudge things. If you're happy to accept that as a Dawinian process to thin out those with poor judgement, then feel free to campaign for higher - or no - speed limits. But until then I like the idea we've done our best as a society ...

Highways can't enforce the speed limit though, that's the job of the Police.

The police can only prosecute if "Highways" got all the legals sorted to make the limit legally enforceable. Lots of local authorities don't bother and just rely of people complying with their signs etc which don't actually carry the force of law unless all the statutory/legal obligations have been met. They can't just put up signs and make something legally binding - they need the statutory instruments/regulations legally enacted.

This is from my local authorities website, the use of the word enforced suggests to me that it is enforceable. The area I drove in behind a police car was in an area described below where the new signs were visible.

‘When signage is installed it is initially covered. However, when the area is complete, the covers are removed and the 20mph limit is live in that area, and therefore enforced. In certain key points e.g. near schools, there will also be road markings. ’

Well to be fair, why are pedestrians in the road?

Pedestrians are allowed to cross the road. In doing so, they tend to make an automatic calculation taking into account the speed of the traffic. If one car is travelling substantially faster than the rest of the traffic, accidents can happen.

user1497207191, do you know how people could go about finding out whether local speed restrictions are legal enforceable? Would the fact that they are recruiting local people to check with speed guns indicate that they are?

do you know how people could go about finding out whether local speed restrictions are legal enforceable?

If the council has gone through the correct process, a FOI request should quickly provide details. It's what I did when 20mph zones started popping up over Birmingham. I got a whopping spreadsheet listing hundreds of roads and dates of the roll out.

There's one 20 zone I go through quite a lot, and it has two alternate roads that lead to the main road. I've seen a couple of cars nip off behind a car doing 20, to go 30+ along the alternate. Which is all very well, but will be picked up on an average speed camera ....