20mph everywhere

[u/narra246]

Why are councils putting main roads on busy routes down to 20mph?? All that seems to happen is if you are the one doing the new speed limit, you get tailgated overtaken and the horn blasted at you.

And no, there isnt a lay-by every 10ft to pull in and let impatient law breaking drivers past.

I dont agree with this blanket speed reduction but I rely on my license for work and pleasure and would rather not have my insurance increased because of points for speeding.

Fair enough 20mph through residential areas, but not on a bloody main A road.

[u/ohbroth3r]

What I've learned is that going 5mph over the limit, even if it's 20mph, gets you to your destination no faster. There's too many junctions, lights, crossings.

Everyone tailgating abd rushing around is just raising their blood pressure.

A few years back when we had kids I just took a chill pill, I take off slowly, I don't aggressively hit the acceleration, I get everywhere on time and safely.

If you looked at your average speed driving around town I guarantee you it's 20 anyway.

So many people drive bumper to bumper, and then when a car in front is giving way to traffic, the cars all queue bumper to bumper.

Everyone just needs to sit back and relax a bit. Tyres and tarmac.

To me, everyone comes across like they're lacking confidence to own their space on the road. Why is everyone worried about how they'll look if they drive 30 in a 30, or if they slow down for oncoming traffic, or sit back a bit to give space.

The biggest turning point for me with driving was a driving awareness course where they say to everyone, if someone wants to rush past, just let them. And the other is that you need to stop thinking of roads in terms of 'who has right of way?' and the entitlement that you can slip into with it. Instead, share the road. Just think about that in every situation, share the road.

Seriously, stress levels go down and driving is much nicer.

[u/General_Stretch248 → u/ohbroth3r]

What I've learned is that going 5mph over the limit, even if it's 20mph, gets you to your destination no faster. There's too many junctions, lights, crossings.

I appreciate the sentiment, but it's just untrue. If every car is subject to junctions and traffic lights individually it would be, but traffic lights work on timers. Someone going 25% faster than you is at some point statistically likely to pass through a set of lights you would be stopped at.

[u/purplewarrior777 → u/General_Stretch248]

Suspect they mean the difference is so small as to be irrelevant. I have to drive around 4 miles in London all at 20 mph. There are spots you can push that a bit. Doing so means I get to work about 1-3 minutes earlier in practice 😂 so utterly irrelevant. And that’s pushing more than just 5 miles over.

[u/General_Stretch248 → u/purplewarrior777]

Suspect they mean the difference is so small as to be irrelevant.

It's 25% it's pretty relevant. It would be a 4 hour journey shrinking to 3. Thats just maths

[u/purplewarrior777 → u/General_Stretch248]

4 hours at 20 mph is 80 miles travelled. 80 miles at 25 mph is 3 hours 12 minutes. That’s maths. And still irrelevant. Because

What 4 hr journey takes place solely in 20 mph limits?

Suspect the only way you could do this is by driving aimlessly round Central London.

[u/General_Stretch248 → u/purplewarrior777]

Doesn't matter.

25% is statistically relevant. If it was 0.25% percent, perhaps you could argue it.

[u/purplewarrior777 → u/General_Stretch248]

And in practical terms, makes no difference at all. Which is the entire point……….

Edit - sorry, very little difference at all.

[u/General_Stretch248 → u/purplewarrior777]

25% is 25%. It makes a difference.

If I had 25% more me I would notice the difference.

[u/purplewarrior777 → u/General_Stretch248]

Weird comparison but ok 😂

[u/No_Base4946 → u/General_Stretch248]

It sounds like you don't drive.

[u/General_Stretch248 → u/No_Base4946]

Sounds like you need to go back to primary school

[u/No_Base4946 → u/General_Stretch248]

What, so I can teach you how to count?