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PostPosted: Sat Jan 27, 2018 5:06 am 
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Not strictly a trade-related story, but probably of interest to some.

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/ ... -1-4673355


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PostPosted: Sat Jan 27, 2018 7:12 am 
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Location: Stamford Britains prettiest town till SKDC ruined it
another site I can't access so no idea what it is all about could someone paste the text please

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PostPosted: Sat Jan 27, 2018 7:36 am 
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edders23 wrote:
another site I can't access so no idea what it is all about could someone paste the text please


Couldn't highlight the text on that website for some reason - here's the text from another site:

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/1589 ... diculous_/

BOSSES at one of Scotland’s largest councils have been branded “ridiculous” after claiming the roll out of 20mph speed limits helps combat loneliness.

Slower speeds will be ushered in across the vast majority of Edinburgh’s road network from early March – with only a few 30mph and 40mph streets exempt.

But the council’s claim this will “boost local communities and combat loneliness” has come under fire from critics.

Nick Cook, Edinburgh’s Conservative transport spokesman, said the comments “risk trivialising” genuine efforts to tackle mental health problems.

He said: “We all must play our part in combating social isolation. However for Edinburgh Council to claim that it’s controversial 20mph scheme is now apparently a mechanism to combat loneliness is as disappointing as it is ridiculous.

“Edinburgh Council have failed to convince the public of the claimed safety and environmental merits of its multi-million pound scheme.

"Tenuous new claims such as this risk trivialising genuine efforts by the Scottish and UK governments to tackle mental health issues and social isolation.”

Neil Greig, director of policy and research at IAM RoadSmart – formerly the Institute of Advanced Motorists – insisted the evidence of the overall benefits of 20mph zones “remains weak in many cases”.

He added: “A major study has been commissioned to assess the effects in Edinburgh and Belfast and councillors should wait for the results before making claims about speed limits solving problems such as loneliness.

“We remain to be convinced that roads that look exactly the same with a new limit have major impacts on driver and resident behaviour.”

The fourth and final phase of Edinburgh’s 20mph roll-out will come into force on March 5 – leaving 80 per cent of the city’s roads covered by the new rules.

Campaigners have hailed the ambitious plans, insisting they will make the city’s streets safer and more pleasant for pedestrians and cyclists.

But others have criticised the "blanket" approach to the scheme and raised concerns over a lack of enforcement.

Lesley Macinnes, Edinburgh Council’s transport leader, said its own research had demonstrated the benefits of lower speed limits for improving “social connections”.

She said: “Social inclusion, amongst many other benefits, is frequently referenced by public health professionals as a reason for lowering speed limits, and is well-evidenced, particularly in a study by Appleyard, who found that people living on streets with heavy traffic had fewer social connections than those living on light-traffic streets.

“We know from our own research too, particularly into the 20mph pilot in south central Edinburgh, that lower speed limits encourage more walking and cycling, creating a more ‘liveable’ streets, in turn getting people out of their houses and interacting with other people.”

Charity Age Scotland backed the claims, arguing elderly people can be reluctant to leave their homes due to road safety issues.

Director Keith Robson said: “I’d welcome this move which could help make our streets safer and more pleasant for people of all ages.

“Evidence shows that older people, especially those with mobility issues, can be reluctant to leave their homes because of fears about road safety.

“They may choose to avoid streets with fast traffic, which can contribute to social isolation and prevent them playing a full part in their communities.

“The new speed limits send a clear message about the importance of pedestrian safety. We hope it will encourage older people to stay active and get out more.”


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PostPosted: Sat Jan 27, 2018 9:38 am 
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It would seem that 20MPH blanket speed limit is more deadly than a normal 30 MPH zone:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/12/17/20mph-limit-dangerous-costly-reverse-council-admits/

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/20mph-speed-limit-manchester-stopped-12706663

History would suggest It's driver impatience that causes more accidents than speed in itself, you would think the SNP (Or SS-NP as one of the articles contributors calls them) would hire an honest group of road safety advisors and not a bunch of traffic hating grant seeking advisors that are little more than a treehugging anti car group that won't be happy until every vehicle is banned from every city.

Maybe they would learn more about road safety if the came and asked those of us drive the streets and roads of our once great country for a living...I'm sure they would glean more practical and beneficial advice from us that they ever would from the radical car hating groups they so adore.

they would rather turn the roads over to the 15% of city commuters who Cycle or Walk to work than to the other 85% who use or have to use vehicles.

The way some councils spend money on ill thought schemes is nowt short of breathtaking...the peoples money at that.


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PostPosted: Sat Jan 27, 2018 7:19 pm 
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StuartW wrote:
Not strictly a trade-related story, but probably of interest to some.

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/ ... -1-4673355

20mph is the latest green craze, and it's all bollocks.

We have had it down here for about 5 years now and it's unenforceable, and no one takes a blind bit of notice about it.

Just had a quick look at the collision and casualty numbers from pre 20mph to now, and it's virtually unchanged.

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PostPosted: Sun Jan 28, 2018 2:51 pm 
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Several known effects of 20mph limits: an increase in accidents; an increase in noise and pollution, especially on bus routes. most buses now are auto boxes and will change gear at between 18-22mph. so at 20 they're either revving their bollox off in 3rd trying to change into 4th, or struggling in 4th and slowing down to change into 3rd. At 20 they're doing about 2200rpm, at 30 in 4th they're doing about 1200 rpm and using far less fuel. There's also bee a noticeable increase in drivers' back injures, I know as one of the routes I do goes over 220 speed humps per shift. Maintenance costs increase as steering and suspension components wear out a lot quicker as do tyres, there's been a noticeable increase in passenger injuries.

Not to mention damage and delays to emergency vehicles.

Any 20mph zone proposals need to challenged.


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PostPosted: Sun Jan 28, 2018 4:18 pm 
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The stats from round here show that pedestrian collisions have increased since the introduction of 20mph zones, but the injuries have been less severe.
This has been put down to the fact that on a 30mph or higher road pedestrians stop and check to see if traffic is coming, in a 20 zone they feel safer so just step out without looking.

Vehicle collisions have remained the same, but it is reckoned that there have been more but they are'nt reported due to lack of damage.

But there has been a big increase in complaints about boy racers and loud exhausts because now they are constantly speeding up and slowing down for speed humps whereas previously they remained at a constant and lower noise level along the road.

And the only prosecution for exceeding 20 was because they were followed by a police car, but they didn't do them for speeding but driving without due care instead ! Probably because there's no device been given home office type approval for measuring speed less than 30mph.


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PostPosted: Mon Jan 29, 2018 7:15 am 
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Location: Stamford Britains prettiest town till SKDC ruined it
Quote:
He said: “We all must play our part in combating social isolation. However for Edinburgh Council to claim that it’s controversial 20mph scheme is now apparently a mechanism to combat loneliness is as disappointing as it is ridiculous.

“Edinburgh Council have failed to convince the public of the claimed safety and environmental merits of its multi-million pound scheme.


I would love for this bloke to be called before the parliamentary select committee to explain how that works :lol:

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