In addition to Stanstead Rd’s problem with speeding we have another menace in the form of motorised scooters (driven by delivery drivers and local teenagers racing) who use the segregated cycle lane. It’s incredibly dangerous and anti social. I’ve raised it before with council and police and suggested camera enforcement of the cycle lane but they don’t seem unduly bothered…
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I would think camera enforcement of a cycle lane might be quite difficult. Although as a regular cyclist I agree with the sentiment and the issue.
Mopeds as a whole when in the wrong hands are a total menace, but so very hard to deal with. Speed limits will do very little to them.
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WON’T SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!
(sorry, couldn’t resist)
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I’m really quite amazed at the free market approach that people have towards speed limits. Let the cars go as fast as they like without regulation because even if you tell them to, they wont slow down anyway!
I drive only very occasionally, as I don’t see the need to use a car for regular life in London - but when I do I follow the speed limit, whatever it may be. I’m of the opinion that if you can’t follow the rules of the road, you really shouldn’t be driving (this is also the law btw).
Honestly, if people in cars cant seem to follow a speed limit on a piece of road, then why don’t we close the road to cars? The busses would certainly benefit and it would be considerably safer.
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I drive quite regularly and I can’t bear 20mph zones. When I created this thread I fully expected an occasional driver might pipe up to defend 20mph limits and tell me I’m wrong. 
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I don’t think it’s so much free market, than realistic.
Its nice to believe that posting a speed limit means everyone will abide by it. It’s also great to believe that everyone breaking the limit can be caught and he) d to account, every time.
I too, using many forms of transport these days follow the rules set for me, but see many others who don’t.
Telling people smoking kills doesn’t get the message across, they still smoke… Drinking, eating bad foods, not exercising. Driving is no different.
Some are susceptible to having things impressed upon them, speed kills etc. Many others are simply too selfish and cocooned in their private bubble to bother paying attention.
Limits can be lowered, signs can be put up everywhere, bit enforcement is the key. Hence the community speed project suggested.
As for 20mph limits… My road is 20mph and has speed cushions which zig zag down the road. A car travelling at 30mph on the same road without speed cushions is LESS likely to have an accident IMO. Rather than 20 and swerving about all over the place.
Enforcing school zones, halving the speed limit when lights are flashing etc (like the US) is more appropriate
Blanket 20s are silly.
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Telling people smoking kills may not get the message across but in order for it to stop killing others, it was banned from pubs, cafes etc. If driving is no different, then…
I’m making this comment only half tongue in cheek, really - why do so many people feel the need to drive everywhere? and so fast?
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No idea to that question. I am happy to cycle, run, walk, drive, use public transport. Whichever is most fitting for the journey.
Driving shouldn’t be frowned on, the idiots that abuse the privilege should. Just like casual drinkers vs binge drinking 'violent thugs.
As for the speed, many reasons, but none acceptable.
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Please bear in mind we sit on the Forest Hill ward SNT panel, not Perry Vale. At our last meeting I was almost at a loss to list roads in Forest Hill ward where speeding is a problem. Kirkdale was one (but I think the traffic calming has helped), south end of Dartmouth Road may also be a bit of a problem, but there aren’t many other roads where speeds much above 30mph are possible.
Perry Vale is a bit different - Woolstone Road, Houston Road, Stanstead Road, Perry Vale, Westbourne Drive all seem to suffer from a minority of people going too fast on occasion.
I very much doubt the camera on Sydenham Hill will send you a ticket if you are going at 30mph. I suspect that 20 mph limit would not actually be enforceable by a camera. Has anybody here ever got a ticket for going above 20mph (but below 33mph) in a 20 mph zone?
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Maybe we can have a chat about this to see where we can help x
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I live on Honor Oak Road, where it’s definitely possible to exceed 30mph (and plenty of cars do). Rarely have I felt like shaking my fist at someone though – It doesn’t feel too dangerous to me. As a resident, I think I would rather have the smooth swish of the cars zooming past, than the slowing down and accelerating that continuous speed bumps must generate.
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I don’t think it’s a free market approach at all. It’s simply asking for common sense. As I asked earlier, why not 15mph? Why not 10? If 30mph has been safe enough for (presumably) decades, why all of a sudden do we need a blanket drop to 20? I completely agree that there are plenty of narrow residential streets that are unsafe at 30 (kids popping out from between parked cars comes to mind), but there are also plenty of roads where 30 is a completely sensible, and safe, speed limit.
So I’m not advocating free market, I’m advocating common sense.
I found a passage that much better describes my feelings about this. It’s from a book called The Principle of Fairness and Political Obligation, by George Klosko (apologies for the image, it wouldn’t let me copy/paste):
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@Michael Given the last survey had the average speed on Manor Mount at 40 mph I would say there is a case. That 40 mph was the wrong way down Manor Mount BTW. Mich
Maybe it was safe enough in a golden past when road deaths of 8,000 a year were acceptable,
but a better world is possible.
The probability of someone being killed by a car rises dramatically when the impact speed rises from 20 mph to 30 mph
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The reason for a general speed limit is because it makes implementation easier, and defines what over time will become the acceptable norm.
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Do people want to take a general discussion on road safety to another thread? I don’t want to start splitting things here because many of the posts are about specific roads in our area.
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I didn’t include Manor Mount as this is primarily a problem with people going the wrong way. The speed issue is secondary.
Agreed but Waldenshaw/St. David’s is an issue. As I said, the last time we had a policeman and a radar gun was 2004. I live there so will obviously have a bias but will also be able to lay testament to the fact that there is a lot of speeding on the road.
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Absolutely. Just saying it’s an option if people want a more wide ranging discussion (with graphs 
). I’m not going to split anything off from here as it’s all relevant.