Category: Traffic

The Somerset Council Promise “We are always ready to support communities who wish to fund … the introduction of speed limits where appropriate. In all cases the call for a 20mph… limit has come from local people, for very valid safety reasons. We’re really pleased to be able to support this.” Councillor Richard Wilkins – Lead member for Transport and Digital Since this statement they have signed up 15 Somerset villages for 20mph limits. The call for a 20mph limit has come from local people In Wedmore, local people have been consistently calling for a 20mph limit for 23 years.

Speeding occurs in two locations: We need Village Gateways in Wedmore Wedmore is particularly vulnerable to speeding traffic entering at its Gateways, as it is on a major ‘crossroad’ between 4 larger population centres: North/South, travelling from Cheddar/Bristol to and from Glastonbury/Street; East West, travelling from Wells/Bath to and from Mark/M5 J22. And the growing use of route optimization software (sat-nav) means motorists are guided from A to B by the shortest route – i.e. through Wedmore, making it a ‘rat run’.

The main beneficiaries of this change are the drivers themselves. 20mph improves traffic flows. 20mph limits can actually shorten journey times, rather than making them longer. New research from Prof Dr Niels Benedikter at the University of Milan confirms 30 km/h (18.5 mph) as the optimal speed limit for minimising time wasted due to traffic congestion. The assumption that 20mph limits increase journey times is wrong. Since most urban speeds are well below 20mph owing to congestion and junctions, traffic can flow more freely at 20mph due to: All road users – on foot, on a bicycle, or in a

In summary, a habitual speeder is a bad driver who thinks they are a good driver. Only 10% drive dangerously out of disregard for their safety or that of others (these are the reckless ‘nutters’) but the 90% who think they are good drivers are full of excuses: “I didn’t know what the speed limit was; I was just keeping up with the traffic” “I was in a hurry/late for work/late for appointment” “The speed limit is too low” The growing numbers of couriers in vans speed because they face significant pressure to meet strict delivery schedules and quotas, often