Have your say on speed limits
Wednesday 1st July 2009, 2:56PM BST.
MOST people will know at least one road plagued by speeding motorists, or will have had a close encounter with a reckless driver while out cycling or walking.
Now residents are being given the chance to help improve safety on Jersey’s roads as part of an Islandwide review of speed limits.
A group chaired by St John Constable Graeme Butcher wants as many people as possible to share their thoughts on speed limits on all roads, from major routes to green lanes.
A questionnaire has been drafted and is available at a number of public buildings, and everyone is encouraged to attend a public meeting on speed limits at St Lawrence Parish Hall on Monday at 7.30 pm.
The questionnaire is available at the customer services centre at Cyril Le Marquand House, the Library, parish halls, the Transport and Technical Services offices at South Hill and the parking control office in Sand Street. It can also be completed online on the States website www.gov.je.
All questionnaires should be returned to TTS or the customer services centre at Cyril Le Marquand House by the end of this month.
Read the full story in the Jersey Evening Post. Click here for subscription details. Individual editions are also available online.
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There are many parts of the island where the actual speed limit is not clear. One can drive past a sign and be concentrating on other traffic or it can be obscured by a tree or a hedge or even a large vehical.
We do need a lot more of the small repeater signs that are in some areas but they should be in many more places.
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I hope also the report will look at a growing minority of reckless cyclists who ride on pavements,ride the the wrong way down one way streets, fail to stop at Zebra Crossings endangering pedestrians and cut in and out of traffic with no regard to other road users. It should also consider the minority of Motor bike riders who think that the road is in fact a race track and that speed limits apply to some one else. Its not just car users that are a problem!
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Once more the “answer” to speeding seems to be reviewing speed limits.
What is forgotten is that the minority who blast your windows out dont care if the limit is 40 or 30 or 20, reducing the limit WILL NOT stop them speeding only penalise those law abiding motorists who stick to the existing limits who are just trying to get from A to B. The “Speeding” issue is not really with those who may stray to 45mph once in a while but those who feel that their super human driving ability excludes them from complying with the limits imposed on roads.
I live on a 30 mph zone on a main Island Road and all day and night cars and vans fly past without a care for the existing limit. Further reducing the limit to 20 will not stop this and the PC politicians and civil servants who govern these need to realise this before the Islands drivers crawl to a halt under unnecessary limits.
I do agree the Island needs a wholesale review of the existing limits and the limit be applied with consistancy across the Island by one body, not imposed by Parishes on an ad hoc basis – it is a joke that main Island arterial roads have their limits reduced when you turn off onto small lanes the reduced limit ends
Will they listen or will they impose a blanket 30mph Island limit ?? sadly I think the latter has already been decided and this questionnaire is most likely to be another wasted consultation.
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How about the police checking the cars that have been modified for speed? It’s obvious that they are going to… Also why don’t they hang around the hire car firms. Their drivers are mad!
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This is a bit late now that he’s already earmarked funds for roadcrossings etc. The traffic would naturally slow down when motorists became aware that a road crossing was just ahead. One of the worst problems is for pedestrians trying to cross the roads.
Despite the pleas of St Saviour residents TTS still refuse to provide more crossings along Longueville Road – what does it take to achieve this – someone getting seriously injured?
There is also a major problem with the Longueville Manor junction – if there was a pedestrian crossing by Miladi Farm then this would naturally provide halts in the traffic to allow access to the main road from minor roads.
Traffic problems need to be examined as a complete package not piecemeal.
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Tricky, get on your bike….and you will see the how often a wreckless driver nearly wipes you out !
Improved cycle lanes in the town area would benefit all.
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I quite like the French’s approach, in that it is an offense to pass too close to a cyclist when overtaking.
Re: Tricky (2) – going against the flow of traffic and flying through zebra crossings is a fair point. But as a keen cyclist, you simply have to hop the odd pavement; the standard of driving over here is scary from our point of view.
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I’d just like to agree with Tricky (No 2)I hope they look into the cyclists. They have no regard for anyone on the road. I had an experience 3-4 months ago in St Helier where a cyclist cut inside me whilst going aound 25-30mph. I was stationary at a red light. He fell off his bicycle as he failed to avoid the traffic light sign and was knocked out cold. I called an ambulance and they arrived and looked after him, the police also arrived and decided to give ME 20 questions, where had I been, had I eaten in the last 20 mins, did I smoke, had I been drinking etc etc and then breathylised me. This was 6 o’clock on a winters evening on my way home from work. The cyclist had no lights on the cycle and I found out from a friend of his later that he had been drinking all afternoon and yet the police had asked him no questions whatsoever. The cyclists ride around the town at 25mph+ up no entry roads, pavements, King St etc and no questions are asked.
They may want to look at the moped and scooter riders also. Apart from speeding they weave in and out, cut inside etc. Also someone may want to tell these riders, “If you want to make a noise with your exhausts, do it properly, buy a HARLEY!
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Good point Tricky (2)- its not just cars and vans but also motorbikes that fly along the road I live on in blatant disregard to the 30mph limit
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oh dear we are going to hound the poor old motorist again.
ask any taxi driver with a trip meter,he will tell average speed is 17 mph.
if we are to do anything lets improve the flow of traffic.
or just simply bring back the red flag, it could be a job creation scheme for the growing line of unemployed.
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3 – “yet again” I agree, but the solution is simple, not a policeman wearing a very bright high vis jacket with a speedgun. But a single movable camouflage speed camera and decent fines.
Sadly the Police or states will probably be too scared to police speeding to that extent.
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Why won’t they come clean and simply state there are too many cars on the roads and this will be a good way to make some extra money and hopefully reduce the traffic problem !!!
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Once upon a time, Jersey had an all island speed limit of 40 mph, cars had drum brakes and cross ply tyres, drinking and driving was sort of acceptable, and people did not wear seat belts. The result; up to 20 road deaths a year on the islands roads !
Now, we have an island littered with speed limit signs, the speed limits posted do not make sense, levels of traffic that generally do not allow speeding, and it is deemed we have a major ‘speeding’ problem. I don’t think so !
What we do have is a small number of drivers who ‘gun it’ in inappropriate places and spoil it for everyone else, the majority of whom are quite capable of driving from A to B in a safe manner.
I can be fined for driving at 40 mph through the underpass, but feel unsafe driving at such a speed along St Clements Coast Road ? The islands current speed limits just dont make sense !
The Green Lane system is a complete joke. Any road without a central white line should automatically be 25 mph. Other roads could be 35 mph and some areas could be 45 mph, such as the Five Mile Road.
Police should target thouse bad drivers who follow too close and overtake in inappropriate places. Thouse who have accidents such as hitting a wall or driving into the car in front should be prosecuted.
The stopping distance of Heavy Goods Vehicles and busses is significantly greater than a car, and a low speed limit does not always guarantee road safety.
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I welcome a review of speed limits, whether they go up or down, as long as the limit is appropriate and applied consistently.
And please, will everyone stop having a go at motorists every time a motoring-related story comes along!
As a driver, cyclist and pedestrian, I can quite impartially say that EVERYONE could be doing far better when it comes to road safety and having consideration for other road users, be they buses, cars, vans, motorcycles, bikes or pedestrians.
Pedestrians will still dash across the road in front of traffic or walk along roads at night improperly dressed. Cyclists will still ride along oblivious to the fact they’re backing up queues of cars. Drivers will continue to drive down the inside lane of the avenue at 30mph, regardless of whether they plan to turn off or not, encouraging others to undertake – my personal pet peeve.
As for Bernard’s comment, any car can be driven dangerously, whether “modified for speed” or not. The fact that a car has been “modified for speed” is irrelevant as long as it is road legal and driven appropriately.
Yes, the motorist has a greater responsibility because their vehicle has the potential to cause greater harm, but that doesn’t absolve anyone else from their responsibility as a road user, even if they’re just crossing to the other side.
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It’s not more laws we need, it’s enforcing the ones we already have and parents teaching their children to be more considerate of other people and setting the right example themselves. The amount of times I see parents walking down one way roads with their children on bikes on the road at their sides – what is this teaching them apart from it’s ok to break the law?
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Skeptical Bean 7
I dont think Tricky 2 ( or the majority of us))is overconcerned about a cyclist ocasionly hopping a pavement, after checking there are no pedestrians on it.
Its the heads down, backside up, mobile clamped to ear,couldnt care less cyclists who race the footpaths of town.
You can veiw this species in St Helier from 07.00 to 09.00 as they make their way to work ( I asume they are late)
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Oh dear here we go again bash the motorist. This is such a waste of money and time.I would like to know before any public money is wasted on road signs and traffic calming measures just what the road accident and fatality statistics are for any stretch of road where pedestrians allege there is a specific problem?
As has been proved for many years driving in Jersey is totally different to driving in the UK. It involves reading the road, knowing exactly how wide your vehicle is, being able to reverse well,and in a manual car being able to use your gears to slow the car down. I would suggest that competant reversing ability and spacial awareness in drivers is a top priority and should be accented in the local driving test.That might reduce the number of drivers on the roads immediately.I hope this does not mean we are going to suddenly see our lanes and roads disfigured by the sudden appearnce of enormous luminous road signs on every bend and junction as happened in the UK.This was EEC inspired again and a German “expert” was employed to drive all over the UK in a specially equipped van specifying road signage. The result was such a proliferation of luminous road signs that even in country lanes if you put your headlights up you got third degree burns. In several instances these signs caused crashes as motorists were temporarily blinded or else were so busy reading the information they missed the sharp bend they were being warned about. It is time to say enough is enough, there has to be a point where a driving licence counts for something, after all you do have to take a test to get one, which suggests a certain degree of common sense/intelligence is in evidence. As for those who speed, in quite a few incidents where accidents have occurred I am prepared to bet a full driving licence has not been in evidence or else drink or some other distraction has been involved.And let’s stop lionising the pedestrian, just because you are walking does not mean you can leave your brain at home!I have on several occasions during my long and thankfully accident free years of motoring had ladies of a certain age arrive spreadeagle on my car bonnet on driving through St Helier because they have been so busy nagging their husband or upbraiding their children they have forgotten to lookout for themselves. Fortunately no one hurt to date!
As for motorbikes and bicycles I wholly agree with the comments above. There was a time when bicycles locally had to have a licence plate and an official number? That should be coupled to an official test of riding competance such as the cycling proficiency scheme in the UK.Investigation should also be made into people riding around on Provisional licences without supervision? Oh and all mopeds where the silencer has been removed or “Adapted” should be confiscated and crushed!
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Why don’t the States allow the police to install static speed cameras at speeding ‘ hot spots’ like they have in the U.K. Those caught speeding should then be given automatic fixed penalty fines and points should be added to the offender’s licence. As it is speeders are dealt with in an ‘ad hoc’ manner by Centeniers at Parish Hall enquires; some offenders are given written cautions, some fined by the Centenier and some sent to the Magistrates’ Court. There also needs to be a central ticket office to co-ordinate all the fines and the money raised could be used to pay the States members allowances…..of rather shared out amongst the parishes where the offences occur.
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Bernard(4) Define modified for speed. In most cases the cars I believe you are referring to have bodykits and loud exhausts that weigh the cars down and actually sap power – the result is that these cars are slower but driven hard – this is the driver not the car. Education backed up with harse penalties is the only way to deal with this issue. I actually own a car that you would probably say is “modified for speed”, it sits in my garage under a sheet, and comes out for car shows, the odd track day and motoring event and about once or twice a month for a few hours driven on the road – are you suggesting that as I have poured many many of my hours, blood, sweat and tears into producing a car for my enjoyment in a safe environment I am to be discriminanted against by being catagorised as a “boy racer” (I am almost 40 by the way !). The car I drive to work every day acccording to the manufacturer capable of 0-60 in under 7 seconds and 150mph – if I want to speed I dont need a car modified for that purpose and neither do the people who do think that speeding is ok – you can speed and drive dangerously in almost every car. Its these people that give true car fans and petrolheads a bad name and thats not fair as our MO is at opposite ends of the scale to that of speeders.
Nellie Macon (5) Yes, a complete package is what is needed so desperately but will we get it ??? I doubt it.
Annie du Feu (11) Thanks for the support but I’m sorry I cant agree with you. We have what you suggest already, the police spent, I believe £70K on a fully specced up Volvo with this equipment… was it employed outside schools or at accident blackspots?? No, it was mostly seen along Victoria Avenue and the underpass – a cynic would suggest they needed to pay for the car by a quick fix on easy targets. A great big visible speed camera is an excellent deterrent (yes a car fan favouring speed cameras) BUT they need to be placed fairly and consistantly (not on Avenue and Five Mile road but outside schools, in town centre, at dangerous junctions etc). Take my road for example, a mobile camera there for 6 hours would catch many people but would not stop the underlying speeding issue along the road, whereas a bright yellow fixed camera would go a very long way to doing so. Sadly I doubt the introduction of cameras would be rolled out in such a fair way, instead used to milk motorists at easy places.
Mogit (12) The number of cars on road has nothing to do with speeding. On this issue though, the number of cars is set to rise as Jersey high and mighty insist that increasing the popluation is the only way. As said before I own more than one car yet I can still only drive one at a time – any attempts to reduce car ownership would be purely political and be of no actual benefit to the Island. The traffic problem and substandard Public Transport are an argument for a different day.
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I don’t think speed limits are the real issue. It’s the blatant disregard for them and traffic lights by some drivers.
I live just off St Saviours Road and it’s nothing short of race track and I’m surprised more people haven’t been injured. Particulary at the junction of St Saviours Road and Simon Place (Belmont Road).
Drivers race through this junction, regularly jumping red lights and as I said previously I’m surprised more people haven’t been hurt.
Speed limits aren’t the issue, it’s the disregard by drivers and the inability of the Police to enforce them.
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in a country 9by5 .why so many car,s tourist.michigan.home of the car.
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16.PJG One cyclist came down our road the wrong way (one way road) on the pavement and missed me by a fraction as it whizzed past our gate (high walls either side) – not an apology or anything was forthcoming.
Perhaps before TTS spend Xthousand£s revamping the speed limits they might get together with the police and see if they can do a better job by enforcing the speed limits we already have and keeping an eye on the cyclists too!
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ZBD – absolutely couldn’t agree more, why don’t we have speed cameras.
Actually given the states appetite for milking any possible money making scheme I would have thought it an obvious cash maker ( sorry deterrant )
I’m pleased we don’t have them as it permits me to obey the instructions on my driving licence and tear down the dotted line.
The last paragraph was a joke before you send round the men in white hoods with the burning cross.
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Generally, the current speed restrictions were introduced through the enactment of the Road Traffic (Jersey) Law 1956 and subsequent orders. Since then the technology incorporated into vehicle safety and design (eg ABS, airbags and bodywork softening) mean that todays vehicles are a magnitude safer than the hard bodied beasts of 1956, which steered like a cow and could brake in the same distance as an oil tanker. Most people today, if they are honest, find keeping to 40mph difficult as modern vehicles are so smooth to drive. I would advocate increasing the speed limit to 50mph with a minimum lower speed for built up areas at 30mph (with other relevant calculated speed restrictions at black spots). These speeds are not unrealistic or unsafe and the current enforcable limits are observed in the breach as opposed to the observance. For the record I am a qualified advanced driver.
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Oh dear the nanny state again… I hope every concerned person completes the online survey, which by the way is lead by the questions again as every State survey is.
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what do you expect from cyclists when we have one parish constable openly allowing them to cycle the wrong way down the streets of st. helier thus breaking the law
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I know…lets employ another 20 Police Officers who’s sole aim is to track those devil motorists that dare to go 1mph above the speed limit and then lets lock them up and throw away the keys….with league tables for officers that catch the most speeders…lets totally ignore all other crime….and at the same time lets give our honourarys direction to avoid all crime apart from cars going to fast….after all we have such a speeding problem in the Island..damn the curse of motorists…..
At the same time lets introduce laws for on the spot fines for all people walking above 3.5 mph or less than 2 mph – set up speed cameras in King Street with undercover cops monitoring…what a cash cow this could be……
Oh sorry we are already doing that….!!!…nearly
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The problem with the speed limits are that when they are enforced, as for in the underpass many hundred of up to now law abiding citizens who have never had so much as a parking ticket become criminals for driving at speeds below 40mph on a dual carriageway with no pedestrian access. Meanwhile what I would consider to be the true danger, being those driving superfast turbo charged cars at speeds of over 100mph remain at large. Even in the centre of town it is not uncommon to hear the scream of the turbo charger a squeal of tyers as a boy racer tests the ability of the old to get our of his way. Our police force seem only interested in the quantity of convictions rather than the quality.
Yes, lets rationalise our speed limits and certainly make them a lot clearer. It should be possible for a motorist to work out the safe speed to drive which should be in line with the speed limit. Even 30mph is too fast on a very busy road or when there are pedestrians present, so speed limits can only ever be a guide for conviction, not a fail safe solution. We could and should do a lot more to make our roads safer but we have enough criminal already so please don’t let this become another exercise in making even more.
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I agree with both of your comments Nellie. As with many of my posts concerning the police force, they never seem to be around when you need them. I can’t remember the last time I saw a bobby walking the streets of St Helier during the day or traffic police keeping an eye on the roads. Why is that? What are they doing instead? What are we paying them for?
Countless times traffic is obstructed by cars or heavy scaffolding lorries parking willy nilly on yellow lines. This can cause major problems on roads like Queens road for instance (a stones throw from the police station) and right next to a major roundabout, but nothing is ever done and this causes major tailbacks …. and possible accidents.
The same goes for the morons who insist on parking right outside Indigo House (not far from a bend) when there is a car park immediately across the road…..this is selfish, totally inconsiderate….and illegal!
If the SoJ police force want to raise more funds then fining for these illegal actions may help!
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The speed limits are fine – they just need to be enforced.
The roads are now really dangerous, thank you council of monkeys for your constant importation of yet more people – what is it going to be like when there are over 100,000?
Enforce the speed limits – have speed cameras and take the licences away from habitual speeders.
How about doing something about the boy racers who scream around the roads late at night?
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30. Overpopulated – excellent point re noisy racers – not only cars though but also mopeds – particularly those which have removed their exhaust sound mufflers – there was one the other night going round and round the block until past 10.30pm and there are a lot of children and old people in our area – totally inconsiderate.
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There are far more ways to drive dangerously than just by speeding, but as usual the easy target gets aimed at.
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Indy #8
Ah yes Harley Davidson; the only motorcycle manufacturer in the world to have mastered the art of producing loads of noise without enough power!
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Yes Nellie the “Modified Moped” as I said should be given one chance to be reunited with it’s exhaust muffler after which the police should have the power to confiscate it and have it crushed!One passed me on Victoria Avenue the other evening making more noise than a Eurofighter taking off!And there is a habit amongst large and powerful motorcycle owners, especially ones who park behind Sand Street car park to announce to the world their departure home at 4.30p.m.by pulling away at full throttle and then hitting the brakes!One day shattered glass from a fourth floor window is going to take out somebody as a result of this behaviour.I am not a spoilsport in fact I am a lover of speed, properly controlled and in the right place.If your idea of an ideal commuting motorbike in and out of St Helier is something that Mr Rossi would be at home on all well and good, just take it to Brands or the Isle of Man if you want to let it go, not Sand St.
As for speeding cars, my experience is that whenever something undertakes or overtakes me above the speed limit making alot of noise on this Island it normally has a wing on the back,a large add on exhaust with again no discernable siliencer, and it looks as if it has been assembled from about four other cars, one of which was once a Subaru or a close Japanese relative.Not too difficult to spot I would have thought?
The other thing we all need to remember as drivers, particularly with more Continental visitors coming over on short visits is that when crossing roads these pedestrian’s natural instinct is to look the wrong way first when stepping off a pavement.There is however no excuse for locals who step off without looking at all!
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On the subject of speed limites, what about giving the majority of responsible motorists some credit !
Today I was driving along a lane in St Saviours which had a posted speed limit of 40 mph. But I was actually doing about 20 mph because that was the speed that I felt was safe for the conditions. However, approaching a narrower part of the lane, I reduced my speed to about 6 mph. Why? Because a young mother pushing a double buggy was walking the other way!
However, at some point in the day, I drove through the underpass and along the esplanade. Along with other traffic, I was possibly exceeding the 30 mph speed limit ! The reason that I don’t know if I was ‘speeding’ was that I was not looking at my speedometer, but looking where I was going and taking into account the possible actions of other road users, which included other cars as well as pedestrians and cyclists !
Without stating the obvious, this is what safe, responsible motoring is all about !
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Give yourself a pat on the back Warren J.
I however, would not like to be stuck behind you doing 20 in a 40m mph zone. People going too slow are as bad as the speeders in my opinion.
What “conditions” would you be referring to?
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the isle on man have it right, just have speed limits in the towns and near schools.
or just clamp down on taxi drivers
There should also be a law for driving to slow
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34 Nick
That is trus. Some pedestrians (and we are all pedestrians too) are completely ignorant. I was driving past Grande Marche when a couple with their shopping crossed the road without even looking. Not only that, but they crossed at such an angle that they took what seemed like 10 minutes to cross. Why can’t people cross a) at the pedestrian crossings or b) in a way that they get across the road inthe shortest distance/time !!
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some of the speed restrictions are warranted as in built up areas…but some people think they own the road and can drive accordingly. give the offenders the right punishment and things might be improved.
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Re #36, the conditions you were asking about, they were a very narrow lane, which was probably narrowere than the majority of those dreaded Green Lanes !
Worry not, you will not generally be stuck behind me in a 40 zone doing 20 – As I said, I drive to suit the conditions.
Many years back, I was driving as conditions allowed. However, some gentlemen in a white Ford Cortina (yes – some time ago!) with a blue light on top dissagreed as a result I had to visit the Parish Hall! The duty Centineer apologised because my recorded speed was over 55 mph and he had no option other than to refer me to the Police Court who relieved me of £30 ! (Incidentally, the court took into account that it was a dry road, and there was no one else around, save of course of the guys in the white Cortina!
Incidentally, on the Autoroute between Le Val and Le Mans, there is a lovely straight bit which I am sure, if you have a reasonably tasty BMW, or a 600cc bike, you could probably get up to 130 mph. If speed really does kill, why am I still here ????
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To be frank, I don’t take any notice of speed limits, but just drive with common sense and discretion. For instance, I drive at 40mph from the top of Trinity Hill to Trinity Church, even though it’s only a 30mph limit, as this limit doesn’t make sense to me seeing as St John’s Main road, which runs parallel, is 40 mph. Conversely, I believe that the majority of Mont Cochon’s limit is 40mph, but I tend to go a maximum of 30mph, because you have so many little driveways branching off it and the road narrows very regularly.
I was once stopped by a Centenier in the Green Lane which runs between Les Mielles Golf Course at midnight, as I was doing about 20mph. Who exactly was I endangering at that time of night at 5mph over the limit?
On the subject of cyclists, the one thing about them that winds me up more anything is when they ride 2 abreast, whilst ambling along and having a nice chat. It’s just blatant disregard for other road users.
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Nellie, excellent point. Those little mopeds should be banned between 8pm and 9am, they are ridiculously noisy.
Also, traffic light jumping has become a massive problem just in the last year. The junction of Gloucester Street and the Avenue is one of the worst.
People, this is Jersey, get a hold of yourself, you’re not getting stuck in hours of traffic on the M1. If you miss the light you’ll get the next set a few minutes later and you’ll get where you’re going.
As for the police, I really wish they would stop targetting speeding per se and start targetting BAD driving. This may or may not involve speeding, often it doesn’t. The worst driving I’ve seen in Jersey has had nothing to do with speed, just lack of skill or care.
I can imagine that some harm could also be reduced by better signposting in Jersey. Clearly indication that your turning is coming up would stop people slamming on their brakes last minute and taking the junction on the wrong side of the road.
Still, what they really want to do is just make money out of law-abiding citizens who happen to drive cars, so they really are not going to care what we think.
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Anyone driving at 20 mph in a 40 zone is a danger to other road users and I would overtake with frustration at the first opportunity.
If your driving skills are so poor that you need to drive at half the speed limit to feel safe then you should not be behind the wheel.
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Speed is not the problem. Once again the states prove they have no idea!
Modified mopeds and cars making ridiculous amounts of noise are a problem!
If I walked around the streets making the same amount of noise as these modified machines I would be arrested for making a disturbance. Why are these people not arrested?
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I have to say, I usually moan about the police because I never see them and do not know what we actually pay them for these days.
However, the same can go for Traffic Wardens.
There are so many cars illegally parked on yellow lines every day…..they could make a killing if they really bothered. Then the roads would be clear for traffic to flow properly plus there would be less hazards for pedestrians.
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my point 45…..there would be no need to target so-called “speeders” to earn more money for the coffers!
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MJG, I have learned that in Jersey breach of the peace is not a crime as long as it takes place in the town, where apparently we choose to have it happen to us because we live in town! No… we live in town expecting the law to be enforced.
BS Deluxe, they are getting onto it, I’ve spotted them of late. Back home they are called the Blue Meanies so it amuses me that they walk about here dressed virtually identical to policemen.
#43 Dick you are totally correct, driving too slow for the road can be particularly dangerous and other nations will prosecute it as a vehicular offence. However, in Jersey there are tractors and cycles on relatively narrow roads so it is always a possibility that you will come up behind a slow moving vehicle. I have only driven particularly below the speed limit once in Jersey and it was due to the fragility of what I was carrying in the car but I was completely aware of what I was doing, I suspect some are not and therefore drive without the proper care and attention to the danger they could be causing.
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Speeding is only part of the problem, bad driving which includes speeding is the route cause. To drive well in Jersey you need to read the road and constantly assess the conditions. Speed limits can only provide guidance to increase safety. Some of our country roads have many twists and turns with entrances hidden yet the speed limit is 40mph, good judgement is needed to take this into account.
Cars are safer than they have ever been and braking distances are less than half of what they were when current speed limits were introduced. This means that on some roads it is perfectly safe for a competant driver to travel at 50 or 60 mph but how do you legislate for competance.
The most dangerous people on our roads are the very young inexperienced drivers with no sense of mortality or those whose eyesight is failing and they don’t want to give up their transport, one travels far too fast and the other far too slow causing frustration and potential accidents.
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This is crazy,
I ride a bicycle responsibly and the amount of cars that overtake hard to then brake hard in front of me is shocking.
A hard overtake followed by a hard brake is bad driving.
Being the victim of a bad overtaking manoeuvre by a driver who was trying to get to a red light 20 metres in front of me is crazy.
Don’t overtake to brake and racing to a red light is pure stupidity the speed you do this at is irrelevant.
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There have been countless times I have been following a reckless, tail gating, speeding Moped driver or biker . . . I have always wanted to take thier J reg and head straight to the police to report them for reckless driving.
I remember follwing two younger bikers through St Ouens one day, both on 50cc’s, they were following a people carrier very closely. Naturally the driver of the car was getting very annoyed as they were revving thier engines and sitting with thier front wheel pretty much on her back bumper. The fact the driver had passengers and children in the car made this even worse. Slowing right down the mopeds ended up overtaking in a very iresponsible manner leaving me behind the people carrier . . .
I had left the correct amount of room between the car in front and myself. Even when the car slowed down even further I maintained the correct distance. But I found myself being tarnished with the same brush that day.
Im 22 and I ride a Moped myself.
We are not all stupid on the road – some of us do value the fact we are very vulnerable.
It just really annoys me that these other riders dont see how stupid they are being! so if you are ready this and you ride a bike of some description – next time your sitting too close to a car think twice.
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Annoyed (50)
I once read a letter, to the CSMA motoring magazine, which was the best remedy for tailgating ever. It has never failed to work for me since then.
Do not react in any way that makes the person aware that you are displeased – such as heavy braking. Drop to a lower gear (if auto, engage hold). As long as it is safe, progressively and alternately speed up and slow down. Try to do this without making it obvious. If you are seen to be reacting to intimidation you have lost the game.
Believe me it works. Try it. The tailgater will drop back.
Be considerate to people who want to overtake and afford them the opportunity to do so when it is safe.
Once they go past give them a V sign, but low down in your car so that only you can see it. (I do the same for people who don’t thank me for giving way)
This is very satisfying as there is really no point in telling someone what they undoubtedly already know about their character.
A good way of getting speed into perspective is to walk a journey that you normally drive. Wheels are an immense privilege over repeatedly putting one foot before the other and being able to travel at even the posted speed limit is an inestimable boon.
I am over 22 but never rode a moped due to concerns for my own safety. I wouldn’t like to meet a typical Jersey driver coming into a lane hugging the offside corner. Especially if it’s a granite wall. Ouch!
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Expanding on R B Bourgourds #51 helpful comments here’s how to get rid of a two wheeled tailgater Annoyed… Simply clean your windscreen with your wash. Most of it gets sprayed over the top of your roof and splattered over the menace. Works even better (and serves them right) if they are not wearing appropriate biking attire.
How do I know this… well I’m often on two wheels myself.
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