Sorry Steve, but you've totally mis-construed my point. You seem to have assumed that it's me who cannot identify a 30mph restricted area. As it happens, I have no problem at all with indentifying a 30mph limit (or any other limit) and with obeying it. I am also exceptionally aware of what's around and ahead of me, and therefore completely capable of determining a safe speed for any given situation.
My problem is with the idiots who drive down this road, outside my house, at 60mph plus with no regard for the offset junction, parked cars or anything else besides. There is going to be a horrendous RTC soon.
A while ago the limit was 40mph, which, I think was sufficiently low. And, because is was 40mph, there WERE REPEATER SIGNS EVERYWHERE. Therefore the speed limit was generally obeyed. The average speed has increased since the introduction of the 30 limit and the subsequent removal of repeater signs. Progress, err, not in my opinion.
Ah, you have misunderstood my reply. I would have been very surprised if you didn't understand the law re speed limits. That's why I was careful to say 'they' rather than 'you'
Playing with speed limits is an art, not a science. You are having to consider driver perception, have a degree in psychology and manage the unrealistic expectations of local residents.
Drivers tend to drive at a speed they feel comfortable with, regardless of the posted limit. Trying to change this is difficult.
On de-restricted country roads the 85%ile speed (the speed at which 85% of drivers travel at or below) is usually around 45-48mph. If, after long drawn out campaigns by locals, the speed limit is reduced to 50mph, the 85%ile speed often increases as drivers see the 50mph sign (as it states a speed as opposed to the de-restriction sign) as a target rather than a maximum speed. The complete opposite to what was intended.
So, yes, lowering the speed limit can actually increase vehicle speeds.
The 85%ile is used so that roads can be compared fairly (as opposed to comparing only the fastest vehicles which are the minority). There is a good chance that these drivers can be persuaded to moderate their speed. The remaining 15% are your idiots, the 'I won't be told how to drive' brigade, boy racers etc and changing their habits, frankly, is nigh on impossible.
Unfortunately, these are the drivers that residents hear going past their properties and are the ones they want us to stop! The only way, apart from constant enforcement with police and cameras
, to slow these down is with physical vertical deflection - ie speed humps and cushions
However, we have removed this type of speed control from some locations because the residents decided the environmental impact was worse than the occasional speeder.