Motorway speed limit 70 mph - Average speed 80 mph
Motorway speed limit 80 mph - Average speed 90mph

Road speed limit 30 mph - average speed 40 mph
Road speed limit 20 mph - average speed 30 mph.

I would have thought that the 20 mph limit in London won't make a lot of difference to average speeds druring busy times, the last average speed figures I saw were about 7 or 8 mph If I remember correctly. I'm not convinced it'll significantly change the Bike rider injury rate either.

I've always thought that re-educating bike riders would make the biggest difference to the death rates. From what Ive seen over the years, the biggest danger to bike riders is themselves ignoring common sense and the rules of the road. This, of course, applies to a small, but significant, proportion of riders.

+1

As seen from the comments made in the link that Chris provided - It seems that many cyclists feel that speed limit & other vehicular regulations do not cover them. Think they need to brush up on the Highway Code & the Road Traffic Act!

As for the 20mph speed limit throughout London, that's all good & well as most of the time, it's practically impossible to get above 15/20mph.

However, should the local councils start changing the sensors on speed cameras, that will cause major problems causing your shopping costs to rise - think about it.

More things the US and UK have in common.

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

Speed Limits at least in CA are, 25mph for School zones, in areas where Businesses are at the limit is 45mph, on the 2 lane Blvd in front of the park, the speed limit is 55mph(though since the street is so straight, 55mph isn't always observed as the limit), the Freeway(Interstate Highway) has a limit of 70mph, except in areas where the population is higher than a certain amount(I forget what that is exactly, it could be 60,000), then the limit is 55mph. In some areas speed limits of 25mph also apply to residential areas.

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

If pedestrians would just stay on the footpath, out of the way where they're supposed to be, rather than blithely walking into moving traffic whenever they feel like it, road safety would be much improved and there'd be no need to reduce the speed limit in town.

Nearly hit two such clots this morning, blew the horn at one and he flicked the v at me, part of me dearly wanted to stand on the throttle at this point and show him the error of his ways. I don't drive on the footpath, he shouldn't walk on the road (except at designated points).

[/rant]

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Life on earth is the global equivalent of not storing things in the fridge.

I agree with you Simon. It seems they let the most idiots out here on Humpday.
One of my biggest gripes is, the red light runners on a major intersection. Seeing four plus on my way to work and home is common. Most are male drivers (Sorry), but some are female with kids in the back.
Most the time, I get where I am going at the same time and don't put any life in danger.

@Vic, here in Stockton, the biggest speedlimit I have seen is 45 mph on a mostly Business Route.

Most of I 5 here is under construction, so please drive sensibly.

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Pluto will always be a planet to me.

Seti Ambassador
Not to late to order an Anni Shirt

I was always taught that the speed limits are just an academic legal maximum. You should always drive at a safe speed according to the road conditions and the level of traffic.

That's how the California Vehicle Code reads, but a large majority of drivers take the posted limit and add 5 or 10 mph, even in the rain or fog.

In dry, clear conditions, the cops will usually give that much leeway, as long as you are not otherwise being stupid or unsafe, like weaving through traffic.

In rain or fog, they crack down hard, but still we have boxcar pile-ups when people don't slow down to a safe speed.

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Donald
Infernal Optimist / Submariner, retired

Very similar over here Donald, as my little chart earlier showed i.e. +10mph. The usual speed limit on dual carriageways is 70mph, many are being dropped to 50mph because of accidents. Single lane roads are 60mph but some are now 40mph.

One of the complexities of modern driving is the multiplicity of speed limit zones, and frequency with which they change. If I make a 5-mile round trip to my nearest shopping centre (visible in direct line of sight from my living room window), the applicable limits in MPH are (if I can remember them all):

20, 30, 20, 30, 20, 30, 50, 70, 40, 30, 20, 30, 20

- 12 changes in 5 miles. All I need is a 60 to call bingo!

Unless you are familiar with the area in advance, it's very difficult to catch every notice of change and observe them all. Many drivers pick what they think is a happy medium and drive at that speed unless it's very obviously wrong. Sometimes that standard speed is 35, sometimes it ... isn't.

Suicidal cyclists - there is one less in the UK for a short time - he decided to attempt to gain a Darwin Award by riding into the side of a car. The car was driven by a lady who works in our office block, a rather ponderous driver who was turning right, with the traffic lights when said cyclist ignored the red light and, head down, rode into the side of her car - he cleared the car and nearly ended under the front of a bus. Lady said he was most abusive, but shut up when he saw the video from a lorry dash cam, waiting at the lights.... His injuries are not life threatening, but will ensure he doesn't ride bike for some months to come - two compound fractured legs, both arms broken, a few ribs cracked and loads of skin removed. The lady didn't know if there were any head injuries, but given he flew over a car, and was loaded with great care into the ambulance...
Clad them in Lycra (or Spandex) give them two wheels, a chain and some peddles and there are some that don't think the traffic laws, or the laws of physics apply to them :-(

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Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

Cycle idiots, get that runners "high" and I do believe they become under the influence.

Reminds me of some years ago an "organized" ride where they passed freeway ramps at a controlled signal. Signal changed. Riders ignored it. Speed limit on freeway 65. Speed limit on street the riders were on 55. Cars accelerate from the left turn pocket (right for brits) to enter freeway. Fortunately a loud horn got them to look up, but they had this look of WTF are you doing wanting to go? Can't you tell we are an "organized" ride and the road is .... oh S***!, better stop for a red light, it isn't a closed course.

At least here in California bike riders get a rude surprise with their ticket when they find out it goes on their driving record and their car insurance goes up!

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I like the idea of cycling offenses counting against the driving license.

As Chris said it is not politically correct to criticize cyclists over here, but far, far too many of them have no regard for the rules of the road and ignore all road signs and markings - worst one I had was a few years ago in London when a cyclist going, at speed, the wrong way on a one way street head butted the front of the truck I was driving (at the time I was sitting waiting for another truck to move out of the loading access so I could get in and load up). Didn't do his front wheel or front teeth any good, and left blood on my nice fly spattered paint work, which was most upsetting as I had to wash it off....

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Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

As Vic said, the limit on interstates is 55 in dense population areas. Otherwise, in most states it's 70. In all the driving I've done recently, I keep seeing 65 or 70, but then there's a sign that says trucks over 4 tons 50, and then another sign that says minimum 45 or something.

And there are some roads that are not fully up to interstate standards (i.e., they have signals and intersections), but are 4+ lanes with medians, and the limit is 60, but it drops to 55 in advance of each intersection.

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

As Vic said, the limit on interstates is 55 in dense population areas. Otherwise, in most states it's 70. In all the driving I've done recently, I keep seeing 65 or 70, but then there's a sign that says trucks over 4 tons 50, and then another sign that says minimum 45 or something.

And there are some roads that are not fully up to interstate standards (i.e., they have signals and intersections), but are 4+ lanes with medians, and the limit is 60, but it drops to 55 in advance of each intersection.

CA-58 is not fully up to interstate hwy standards yet, this is not surprising really, considering recent history and who had power of the purse in CA, close to maybe 1/4 or so of that hwy is still old 2 lane road(one of a few highways of death in the desert, with 1 lane for each direction and lots of traffic, most of it trucks), the rest is already upgraded, Caltrans when it has the extra money, does some more work to close 2 gaps and an interchange with the US 395 needs to be constructed soon with state and county funds, all this so the I40 fwy can go to Bakersfield thru the Tehatchapi Pass to terminate at CA-99, the route west of the CA-99 hwy to get the I40(CA-58 currently) to the I5 fwy from the CA-99 has not been straightened out yet.

Once a state hwy becomes a fwy, the money(funds) to maintain the fwy comes from the Federal Government, in CA Caltrans does the maintenance work and/or contracts the work to private contractors.

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

I like the idea of cycling offenses counting against the driving license.

As Chris said it is not politically correct to criticize cyclists over here, but far, far too many of them have no regard for the rules of the road and ignore all road signs and markings - worst one I had was a few years ago in London when a cyclist going, at speed, the wrong way on a one way street head butted the front of the truck I was driving (at the time I was sitting waiting for another truck to move out of the loading access so I could get in and load up). Didn't do his front wheel or front teeth any good, and left blood on my nice fly spattered paint work, which was most upsetting as I had to wash it off....

I had a similar close encounter with a Darwin Award candidate the other day. Going home from a meeting, about 2030 hours. West-bound on a one-way street with a marked one-way Bike Lane on the right. Moron heading eastbound against both the traffic and the Bike-Lane Arrow. No lamp or reflectors, dark clothing. and then he veers out of the Bike Lane into MY lane. Thought I saw earbuds fly off when he reacted to my horn. Almost became a hood ornament, he did. But gave me the finger after I was past him. Where's a cop when you want one?

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Donald
Infernal Optimist / Submariner, retired

I like the idea of cycling offenses counting against the driving license.

As Chris said it is not politically correct to criticize cyclists over here, but far, far too many of them have no regard for the rules of the road and ignore all road signs and markings - worst one I had was a few years ago in London when a cyclist going, at speed, the wrong way on a one way street head butted the front of the truck I was driving (at the time I was sitting waiting for another truck to move out of the loading access so I could get in and load up). Didn't do his front wheel or front teeth any good, and left blood on my nice fly spattered paint work, which was most upsetting as I had to wash it off....

I had a similar close encounter with a Darwin Award candidate the other day. Going home from a meeting, about 2030 hours. West-bound on a one-way street with a marked one-way Bike Lane on the right. Moron heading eastbound against both the traffic and the Bike-Lane Arrow. No lamp or reflectors, dark clothing. and then he veers out of the Bike Lane into MY lane. Thought I saw earbuds fly off when he reacted to my horn. Almost became a hood ornament, he did. But gave me the finger after I was past him. Where's a cop when you want one?

I'm not sure how many bike riders have this stupid idea of riding against traffic, but I know when I rode a bicycle, I rode with traffic, heck on a 10 speed bike that I built, I not only rode with traffic, I kept up with cars doing the speed limit on Del Amo Blvd in North Long Beach CA and in Lakewood CA. I wish they would get ticketed, it's dangerous, a car is much stronger than their bicycles are, not to mention faster out of the hole on startup, a good idea is if one has a passenger in the car, to take the riders pic with a camera showing them to be riding against traffic and give that pic to the police, be careful that you aren't using a cell phone camera while moving.

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

You can get a HD Video Car Dash Vehicle Recorder for under £10 in the UK.
Try search for "in car camera recorder"

JEFFERY BELLINGER, 13, FATALLY STRUCK BY FREIGHT TRAIN IN CEDAR LAKE

CEDAR LAKE, Ind. (WLS) -- A teenage boy was struck and killed by a freight train while walking home from school on Tuesday afternoon in Cedar Lake, police said.

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Police said the train sounded its horn, but it's believed the victim was wearing ear phones and didn't hear the train coming. Police said it appears the boy was taking a shortcut home from school.

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There is more history here that I would like to give, but I don't have the time. In short, Union Pacific and Canadian Pacific tracks parallel each other here. UP installed bridges over Irving Park Road. Now CP is doing the same. http://www.bensenville.il.us/index.aspx?NID=530 The road was closed this last weekend for some of that work and opened Sunday night.

Note where it says "Please be advised that IDOT has been informed by the ICC that in the event that this bridge is struck by a semi truck/trailer neglecting the height restriction, they WILL NOT hesitate to close the roadway completely to ALL traffic until the truck detour can be safely lifted." That occurred multiple times within hours of the road opening Sunday night. http://abc7chicago.com/traffic/bensenville-underpass-closed-after-semi-crash/570031/ The road is indeed now closed to all traffic for four months.

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

Clad them in Lycra (or Spandex) give them two wheels, a chain and some peddles and there are some that don't think the traffic laws, or the laws of physics apply to them :-(

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The mind is a weird and mysterious place

News regarding the Germanwings crash in the French Alps.

May see some changes in the cockpit door and/or cockpit manning over this.

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Donald
Infernal Optimist / Submariner, retired

As I wrote in Italian Cafe a captain should always have the power to enter the cabin, no matter what others may do.Those who wrote a regulation forbidding this should be treated as criminals.
Tullio

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Already hearing news that some airlines are putting procedures in place to ensure two in the cockpit at all times.

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Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?