How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

Gatso's don't work - cars just slow down for the camera then speed up after it.
Speed bumps/cushions etc don't work.
Chicane's don't work - they only slow down 1 car (the waiting one) while another tries to nip through

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

grass verges,

or having all lawned roads will slow down traffic.

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

i agree somthing needs doing

its a damn disgrace that kids cant play outside their own houses in built up areas because some idiot has to show off how fast his car is or how loud his new shiny exhaust is

maybe we should have hidden traps which pop tires when driven over at over 10mph on a street

it makes me angry when som moron pulls off the main road and continues to drive at 40mph pluss and look disgusted when they have to stop because a child happens to be playing outside its house

i could tell you about the time i was working on my house and a nutter sped up my street and got a hammer thrown at his car for his effort when he stopped at the junction

boy was he upset lol

i think the only way to stop people speeding is to have cociquences that damage their cars as they dont care about fines and points as much as they do their precious paintwork or new big bore exhausts

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

agree something should be done,its not just people speeding down streets,theres a few richard heads round our streets that come out of their homes and set off tyres schreeching like at a formula 1 racetrack- they all seem to be young men/boys that do it as well.

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

look how many speed bumps are around. every street you turn on there are speed bumps and still nothing changes

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

That's probably because they are pretend bumps.

In my younger days when they installed them we used to see how fast we could go over them - anything much above 40 and you didn't feel it.

Now that I have kids of my own I tend to be more careful...

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

How about instead of trying to automate stuff, get plod back on the beat to detect it and give meaningful sentences to those speeding or driving recklessly. Say 1st offence, 30 days without your car. 2nd = 60 and so on. Anyone caught driving whilst 'banned' has license removed for 12 months or goes to clink for 30 days.

As I have said before, if you want to stop crime the punishment has to be a meaningful deterrent. Stop fannying around with civil liberties and do something. If you don't break the law you have nothing to fear.

Ian

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

On Traffic Cops last night, one of the people caught driving while banned had his disqualification increased by 3 years.

I agree there should be a greater Police presence. If I was a policeman I would have caught out so many people who use their mobile phones and generally drive dangerously.

People who are disqualified should be made to resit their test, but make it a much more stringent one

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

Increasing someones ban for driving while banned is a little odd to me. They obviously did not care that they had no licence in the first place. It should be instant prison. When someone get's a ban they should be told that if they drive while disqualified they will have to spend the rest of the ban in prison because obviously they can not be trusted to not drive.

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

That would be a good idea, and train them to drive properly on their release (at the cost of the driver) with a test at the end.

No licence until they pass, and prison again if they get caught again

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

I think drivers should have to re-take their test every so often, as i think alot of people forget how to drive ( or at least how they are ment to drive)!

Maybe if you only let people drive who have children that way maybe they might be a little more underdstanding.

Oh well this will be one of those topics that will never be solved there will always be lunatics on the road who think the road belongs to them and then theres the drink drivers and so on, Things wont change until the people do.

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

We down in Clayton at the Enfield Residents committee have been trying to get something done about the Atlas St rat run. We have suggested all manners of options but it is apparently up to your good local councillors at County Hall in Preston to decide what to do. Anything that costs more than a fiver & forget it. Speed humps are regulated by EEc directives & should stand no more than 100mm high & be no closer than 25 metres from a water course(drain etc). I know, you show me one that meets this reg, it seems councils are happier passing claims for damage on to their insurers that meet legal requirements. Then again, a fatal road accident costs around £250,000 plus to deal with but apparently councillors don't do GCSE Maths or they won't get elected, I presume.

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

:D Well! I think, seen as women are good safe drivers anyway and don't need any incentive to slow down, what about Government funding for pretty, large breasted ladies to stand naked on each street corner to slow the men down!

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

Or pretty men for some? Lollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll ;) :0

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

well if the government are going to bring in this new road tax which monitors using GPS to price sections of road, surely they could use the same system to use GPS with speed limit zones therefore if u drive at 40 in a 30 zone then the system logs this and automatically sends u a ticket with fine and points on license that would stop people, becasue the only way to prevent people from speeding is a strong deterant the best being one which hits them in the pocket where it hurts

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

Back to that persona garinda?

ian

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

I totally disagree with this one. I would not have been able to do my job on community if I wasn't allowed to drive. Some drivers are sensible and do not speed in built up areas. I never do more than 15mph around my own area until I get to the main road. There are always kids playing in the road round where I live which is another issue, as it is no longer safe for children to be playing in roads.

The main culprits for speeding in my area seem to be young men in souped up cars. The law should be changed to prevent anyone under the age of 25 having a car with an engine capacity of over 1000cc. The age at which you can learn to drive and take your test should be increased from 17 to 19 and a mandatory 3 yearly re-test as a refresher. Anyone being banned should automatically have to do a refresher driving course and be re-tested when the ban is lifted.

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

Enforce a 20 mile an hour speed limit in built up areas and prosecute transgressors. First offence should be a substantial fine and two points, second offence should be a substantial fine and a three month ban, and third offence should be disqualification and have your vehicle sold (Proceeds to the local Health Authority) or crushed. You could better employ some of these bloody community and traffic wardens to assist the police in enforcing local speed limits in and around town.

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

I agree with the engine capacity for young/new drivers.

They restrict them for motorcycles; I only bypassed that because of my age and I was therefore allowed to take the direct access test, so that I could buy pretty much what I wanted.

I am a coward, so I went for another 500cc bike, and that was fine for me to start with.

I have been riding for about 4 years now, and feel it is time to move to something bigger, but want a house with a garage before I do that.

But yes, a restriction on cars would be a very good step.

Although I think that people should either spend a year on 2 wheels, or at least do a couple of compulsory basic training courses, one in the dry and another in the wet, to enable them to appreciate different road surfaces and act accordingly.

You tend to find that people who have motorcycles and use them regularly have better roadcraft than those that don't. This opnion is shared by a lot of people, RoSPA included

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

Sorry Tinks but how can you be a safe driver when you can't see over the steering wheel?

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

Cars should be limited to 70mph like trucks are limited.
There is no need for any car to have more power than about 100-110bhp. It is better to limit power than engine size - if not we would soon see 1000cc turbo cars appearing. :D

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

Very simple......bring back trams!!

You can't overtake trams on the outside and you can't overtake them on the inside if they are stopped with their doors open!!

It also has a useful benefit in improving the public transport!!!

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

Can a tram get me to work in preston for 5:45am? Or bring me home at 2am when I get stuck at work?

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

Compusory motorbike use or training! The idea is well meant and has some real roadsense value...BUT compusory?? I too rode a bike for many years when younger, and I always watch out for them and understand their road mannerisms. Uncertainty is the worse driving attribute. As the wife said " I use to be unsure, but now I'm not so certain!"

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

And I wonder what the horsepower of Neils cars are ????????? ;)

I would be in favour of having a few advanced tests, So if you want more than 90bhp cars to drive, you can take an advanced test to prove you can handle it ??
Then another few tests at higher power level's. OK I know it aint never gonna happen :(

But in reality (and it happens) Once that women on the telly(worst driver) or young lad... Passed there test they can go out and (funds permiting)and buy a Ferrari ?????
Surely more dangerous than me doing 80mph on the motorway..

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

I live in a cul-de-sac and the road is made from concrete. Ideal conditions if you are a young lad and love to put your foot down and then do hand0brake skids and turns. This was going on all last summer.
Best bit was when one young lad did it and swerve to badly on the back end and smacked all his back axel in on the kerb !

Now its coming summer and the yobs are out again in their souped up Nova's etc, they are gradually coming back on the road again.

Oh, and they dont seem to bother that our road is full of kiddies average age 6 years old playing !

Idiots, the lot of them. And the ones that do it dont even live on this street. :(

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

Late 80's early 90's a lot of Jap companies created pocket rockets. In Japan if you don't have a parking space you can only has a (very)small car. IIRC it was under 800cc, no more than 4' wide and 9'long. They ended up with 600cc 3 cylinder turbo intercooled things putting out over 100bhp in a car that weighed nowt. I remember jeremy clarkson taking one INSIDE Halfords and driving up and down the isles. To get something off the shelf he just stuck his arm out the passenger window. :)

Automotive power does not corrupt(unlike political power). With appropriate training there is nothing wrong with having 200bhp. I am in the middle of changing my car. I need practical(pram space etc), comfy(long distance 30K+ a year), safe(Mostly on motorways) yet I also enjoy driving so I want something that is rewarding to drive. I'm looking at Volvo V70 T5's, all the erquirements met and 250bhp to boot. It does not mean I will be doing 90mph up willows lane. I also as most bikers do regularly consider their driving/riding to think about if they could have done better.

Training is teh answer, regular retests will help. I agree about having different classes of car license for those who want to drive more powerful vehicles. Unfortuantely these would be unpoopular and costly in teh short term so goverments will never implement them.

Ian

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

90 bhp in the book

There is no need for more power.

But you do 80mph with the caravan on the back:D

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

Pah, my motorbike has more power than that ;)

There is always the need for more power. Theer is no limit on acceleration, this can get you away from trouble as much as it can get you into it. I don't want a nanny state that decides what I can and can't do.

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

Don't worry about the power argument Ian, Neil is obviously not a man if he can make do and be happy with 90 bhp! :P

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

At least I don't drive one of those farm vehicles about - Land Rover :D

Or what about this Roy your current vehicle
http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/a...achmentid=4129

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

We are already told what we can and can't do - we can do 70mph - we can't do 75mph. So why can cars do 150+mph. Its like saying you can have a hand gun as long as you don't shoot anyone.

Trucks are limited and you don't hear people complaining that they had an accident because of it.

Most of us understand bikers mannerisms. They are the idiots that pass everyone on the inside at traffic lights and then turn right in front of the left turning cars. Like the one who did it to me the other week at Church lights. Or overtake down the middle on oncomming traffic - the fool has no idea if something in the gutter or a pedestrian is going to cause the car driver to move a couple of feet and kill the biker (without crossing the white line ).

I am sorry but there is no logical excuse for allowing vehicles that can go faster than 70mph.

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

Blah Blah Blah......................................

I do not strive for top speed.......... But acceleration is a different story...... Wait until I get my Atom.......:) Bet you wanna go ;)

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

You don't, but your wife does. :D

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

Theres one for sale on Pistonheads Simon

http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/list.asp?p=1&s=432

Neil,
whilst there are idiots on bikes(and I am teh first to slag them off as they give others a bad name) teh majority know what is safe and what isn't. If there is ever a class of motorist that is aware of their own mortality then it is teh two wheeled fraternity.

i would also point out that teh view from a bike is totally different to the view you have in your cage. We can see over your car, We can see if you are driving in teh gutter, we can make an INFORMED CHOICE as to whether it is safe to pass you. We are also far quicker when we do pass you due to teh acceleration that we have on tap. In my car it probably takes 15 seconds to pass someone, on the bike its under 2. The exposure time to risk is as you can see far smaller. I doubt anyone who doesn't ride would understand the difference in how you approach overtaking. What may not be safe for you in your car is perfectly safe for me on my bike.

As for filtering. When doing it I am concentrating 150% on what is happening around me. Is that car going to change lanes, has the driver seen me. Is he playing with the stero/having a shave(yes REALLY!), reading the paper etc. Again without being a biker you will struggle to understand.

So..... in teh interest of car/biker relations, I am willing to take you out for a quick ride if you like. I will NOT be trying to scare you, it isn't in my interest to do so. What I will show you is just how easy it is for a bike to overtake, ride through traffic etc. Let me know if you are up for it. I can lend you all teh required safety kit( as long as you are under 18 stone I should have somethin to fit)

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

Yes..it all depends on the timetables. Where I use to live (Leipzig) the trams ran until 00:45 and started again at 04:30. They connected you to trains and buses as well..for lobger journeys i.e. Preston!!

It just a matter of priorities, and planning for the future, not to-morrow afternoon. But that's your typical pollie!!!

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

If you want to slow traffic down, then the solution is quite simple. Bring back cobblestones. Actually, you don't have to bring 'em back...they are still there, underneath all that ghastly tarmac. Just get rid of the black stuff on top.

Makes the place look alot nicer, to....but not very good for the high heels.

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

Funny that is Neil....Here I can drive on the Autobahn at any speed I like. They have some speed restrictions, but in Bavaria, most of the Autobahns don't have a limit. You have to take special care and watch your mirror almost as much as the road in front. Yesterday I drove into Munich (200 kms in 1 hour 15 minutes...not very fast but with care). I was overtaken by hundreds of other cars..some doing at least 240 kms/hour (150 mph to those of us who are not metric).

No problems and no accidents. It all boils down to driver intelligence, road experience, and training!

But on other roads, the speed limits are similar to those in UK, except in areas where there are schools or on estates etc., where the limit is 30 kms / hour (18 mph). and god forbid if you ever get caught exceeding the limit there. Just throw away your licence for at least 3 months!! and if you drive without a licence.....Go To Jail..do not pass go..etc.

However, you're quite right there are also idiots on bikes, over here mainly mopeds etc., they are dangerous...but somehow they don't seem to live long!!

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

Got to agree 100% with what entwisi says about the bikes....

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

Me too!

I have only been riding for 4 years, but I derive far greater pleasure from riding my bike than I do a car

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

The images this conjures up. Tealeaf in high heels, a pretty sight to be sure.

Back to the subject in question. What are all these children doing wandering the streets risking being knocked down by moving vehicles? Why aren't they under parental supervision? Why aren't they playing in one of the parks or children's playgrounds dotted throughout the borough?

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

If the parks up there are anything like some of the ones down here, they are probably populated with 11-13 year old teenagers, hanging around smoking.

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

us town folk likes our kids to play ont street tha knows

you know just owt side thy house where thousands of children have played for years in safety under supervision of their parents

mind you i will consider your advice and send my kids to the park 10 mins walk away so that perverts and weirdos can prey on them while i cook dinner and other home stuff that needs to be done

yup that seem smuch safer than playing outside their own homes

there should be a 10mph limit on side streets , if you want to go faster get on the main road and dont turn off it until you actualy need to and not so that you can speed down an empty side street so you can knock a few seconds of the time it takes to get wherever you are going

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

:s_whizz: they should put them bumps on the road that are really steep, like the ones in blackburn tesco petrol station that'll slow the buggers down!:D

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

Not possible Panther. It would just make an assault course for the morons in their souped up batmobiles & Novas. Also height of bumps restricted by law to 100mm (thats 4" for non eurocrats, sorry that that doesn't suit you Garinda!!!Lol)
As for cars vs bikes: there are always those who will abuse both, however those who have experience on two wheels are more alert & aware that idiots exist around us & what manic driving standards to expect from them when spotted. This is when experience + power can prevent an accident than cause one. Some what like those car drivers in flat caps with 90bhp on tap doing 55 in the middle lane of the motorway with a queue behind them backing down to Cornwall Grrrr.
Women drivers: Nothing against them, they are just like any other normal phsycopath.
Like my mother in law, provisional licence holder for forty years & never passed her test & never had an accident-but she has seen thousands!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

Its a good job they start at 04:30 - it would take over an hour to get me to Preston on a tram :D. When I get to Preston how do I get the 4 miles to work? walk?

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

Got to have trams in Preston, or buses or donkeys...or summat..

I take your point though....We have become dependent on our cars, and anything else is not satisfactory. It's like saying people should walk to work or ride a bike. I use to live in the country 45 miles from my workplace, and there were no buses at all and no trains. So you just had to have a car!

Re: How Can We Slow Down Cars In Built Up Areas?
 

Plenty of donkeys at work :D

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I live 54 miles from work. If I get the first train out of accy I get to work ~11 am. it would cost me £14 a day(plus a taxi for 3 miles at the far end).

Buses don't get any better.

In my car I leave home at just after 6, I'm there by 7 leave at 4 home just after 5, cost in fuel? £6.50