On track for 20mph zones across Brighton and Hove

11:30am Thursday 21st March 2013 in News

New 20mph markings in Grand Avenue, Hove New 20mph markings in Grand Avenue, Hove

Council bosses claim they are on track to introduce 20mph speed limits on time.

Brighton and Hove City Council plans to introduce the restrictions across the majority of residential and shopping streets in the city centre from April 8.

Until then the 30mph limits will remain, with some motorists complaining about confusion.

In preparation, teams have been painting markings and installing signs on the affected roads for the past month.

Adverts will also go in bus shelters from Monday to raise awareness about the new restrictions.

The local authority believes the move will improve safety and reduce air pollution.

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Comments(50)

yaddab says...
11:37am Thu 21 Mar 13

What motorists are complaining about confusion, if they are not sure then 20s plenty it is pretty simple really. What do they expect the council to do, update everything at the stroke of midnight or something.

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chrismilo says...
11:43am Thu 21 Mar 13

Driving round in 3rd gear will add to pollution
Is it possible to do more than 20 in Grand ave anyway ?

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chrismilo says...
11:44am Thu 21 Mar 13

Does the 20mph speed limit apply to cyclists on the pavements too ?

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Tailgaters Anonymous says...
11:45am Thu 21 Mar 13

..and what about aggressive black cab drivers who fail to observe 40 & 30 limits. One pratt the other week delighted in nearly taking out the rear of my car, undertook and tried to force me to crash into his cab's rear-end??

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LongDistanceRunner2 says...
11:45am Thu 21 Mar 13

If vehicles travel 33% slower does this mean that journeys will take 50% longer, congestion will be 50% higher and pollution will be 50% higher?

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s&k says...
11:47am Thu 21 Mar 13

"Until then the 30mph limits will remain, with some motorists complaining about confusion." Who? When? And how did they complain to the Argus?

Sounds like journalistic licence.

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NickBtn says...
11:50am Thu 21 Mar 13

Some of the major roads have been signed to be 20mph. I was on a bus yesterday doing up to 30mph (measured with GPS) in what will soon be a 20mph zone. Will be interesting to see if/how this changes.

This has been sold to us as residential streets. But even in the council's own description below "significant or arterial routes" have new 20mph signs.



"Most major roads and the more significant or arterial routes beyond the Phase 1 central area are proposed to remain at their current limits, including the A259 seafront road, Old Shoreham Road, New Church Road, Ditchling Road, London Road and Lewes Road" Source: Council 20mph city website

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mrroddis says...
12:01pm Thu 21 Mar 13

Well done to the council for implementing this safety measure. I hope the number of accidents causing damage to cars/cyclists/pedest
rians are decreased as a result.

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vogon1 says...
12:03pm Thu 21 Mar 13

I'm going invest in the dust mask business. I can see sales in Brighton rocketing a Gusillion percent!

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Old Ladys Gin says...
12:04pm Thu 21 Mar 13

30kph limits have been commonplace in our neighbouring countries for a long time; along with pedestrian priorities and traffic free zones (including bikes).
These limits are frequently ignored but often enforced.
The UK motorist/cyclist who has had the road pretty much to themselves for decades is going to have to change.
Butch up loves and get used to it.

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Brighton Living says...
12:09pm Thu 21 Mar 13

This is a JOKE, you drive at 20mph and then 30mph in different parts that is very confusing!! Kings road is 30mph ‘don’t most accidents happen here’ and the old stein 20mph, nobody is taking any notice as whilst driving on this road everyday people are driving over 30mph and not taking any notice of the 20mph limit. I drive around Brighton now in second gear at 4 to 6 rpm ‘not very environmentally friendly!

The Green party are a joke who will in the end spend more money putting the speed limit back to 30mph.

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paulbton says...
12:11pm Thu 21 Mar 13

Lewes road has just gone down to 30 from 40 but very few stick to that so when it goes down to 20 how is it going to be policed with so few police on the streets as it is.
Also why is this a 24hr speed limit?
and when lewes road goes down to 1 lane you would dream of reaching 20 at rush hour.

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charlie smirke says...
12:12pm Thu 21 Mar 13

This may be a silly question, but are all the roads affected, clearly marked 20mph?

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HJarrs says...
12:13pm Thu 21 Mar 13

I have seen vehicles already applying the 20mph speed limit as marked on the road surface before it is even implimented. It made walking along and crossing the Level a far more pleasant experience than the usual racetrack.

A success before it even starts!

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bikerjimbo says...
12:32pm Thu 21 Mar 13

Some people comment that this is a joke, and I agree, but it is a very expensive joke. Pollution will increase but I also think that most people will drive 'normally'. Around the town I have been watrching the speedo and on most roads 20 mph is almost a norm due to sheer weight of traffic. However the A259, for instance, will remain at 30mph no matter that the 20mph limit is introduced, those doing 20mph will easily be overtaken which may lead to more accidents due to impatience. It will be interesting to see how this develops but lets hope its not long before common sense takes over and this 'plan' is defunct, maybe in 2 years/ until the next election?

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cookie_brighton says...
12:32pm Thu 21 Mar 13

I have seen the new signs placed about 7 feet up on lamp posts around where I live..........they are no bigger than a dinner plate.

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mrroddis says...
12:33pm Thu 21 Mar 13

Brighton Living wrote:
This is a JOKE, you drive at 20mph and then 30mph in different parts that is very confusing!! Kings road is 30mph ‘don’t most accidents happen here’ and the old stein 20mph, nobody is taking any notice as whilst driving on this road everyday people are driving over 30mph and not taking any notice of the 20mph limit. I drive around Brighton now in second gear at 4 to 6 rpm ‘not very environmentally friendly!

The Green party are a joke who will in the end spend more money putting the speed limit back to 30mph.
If you're engine is going at 4 to 6 revolutions per minute then I'm amazed if you're doing 20 metres per hour!

Or is this the joke you're referring to?

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Hoarder12345444 says...
12:40pm Thu 21 Mar 13

chrismilo wrote:
Driving round in 3rd gear will add to pollution
Is it possible to do more than 20 in Grand ave anyway ?
yes it is, I do 40mph. I will not be doing 20mph in 2nd gear, it is uneconomical for me thanks all the same council.

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Noah Lott says...
12:44pm Thu 21 Mar 13

Brighton Living wrote:
This is a JOKE, you drive at 20mph and then 30mph in different parts that is very confusing!! Kings road is 30mph ‘don’t most accidents happen here’ and the old stein 20mph, nobody is taking any notice as whilst driving on this road everyday people are driving over 30mph and not taking any notice of the 20mph limit. I drive around Brighton now in second gear at 4 to 6 rpm ‘not very environmentally friendly!

The Green party are a joke who will in the end spend more money putting the speed limit back to 30mph.
"nobody is taking any notice as whilst driving on this road everyday people are driving over 30mph and not taking any notice of the 20mph limit"
So they shouldn't. It doesn't come into effect until the 8 April.

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Automaton says...
12:47pm Thu 21 Mar 13

I have noticed nobody takes any notice of the 20mph speeding restrictions in Nevill Road that have been in force for quite a while now. And nobody has policed this

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holly1977 says...
12:52pm Thu 21 Mar 13

I would like to know how much of our council tax this has cost to implement? all those signs, roads being painted...and for what? if this is due to road safety, what principles have been applied to choose which roads are 20mph? and who will be enforcing the 20mph limit? i this really the best use of police time? esp at a time when police numbers are being reduced?? This wont generate any income from fines! is this really the best time to spending council tax money on a 'vision' idea, when other public departments are reducing services to the most needy? (perhaps our increase in council tax is paying for this 'green' vision!)

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Noah Lott says...
12:55pm Thu 21 Mar 13

Fair enough, in the Lanes and those tight rat-run routes through the town, 20mph is *probably* the right limit, but on the main arterial routes through Brighton and Hove, this is just plain ridiculous!

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Automaton says...
1:02pm Thu 21 Mar 13

holly1977 wrote:
I would like to know how much of our council tax this has cost to implement? all those signs, roads being painted...and for what? if this is due to road safety, what principles have been applied to choose which roads are 20mph? and who will be enforcing the 20mph limit? i this really the best use of police time? esp at a time when police numbers are being reduced?? This wont generate any income from fines! is this really the best time to spending council tax money on a 'vision' idea, when other public departments are reducing services to the most needy? (perhaps our increase in council tax is paying for this 'green' vision!)
I believe its in the region of £1.5 million

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spankdex_clod says...
1:03pm Thu 21 Mar 13

Hoarder12345444 wrote:
chrismilo wrote:
Driving round in 3rd gear will add to pollution
Is it possible to do more than 20 in Grand ave anyway ?
yes it is, I do 40mph. I will not be doing 20mph in 2nd gear, it is uneconomical for me thanks all the same council.
Its amazing the justification motorists come out with for breaking the law, whilst at the same time criticising cyclists for minor indiscretions like riding on the pavement (mostly to avoid the traffic!)

Its just not possible to drive everywhere at whatever speed you like in a densely populated city like Brighton, there is not enough room for the traffic.

The Green party are aware of this and are discouraging car use as much as possible, whilst making public transport, walking and cycling more convenient.

The only towns that have successfully used driving as the main method of transport AND avoided gridlock are new towns like Milton Keynes, which have a radically different road layout and sprawl over a much greater area.

Seems to me theres two options...
- knock down the buildings and build more roads and roundabouts
- try and discourage car use

Irritating as it is if you need to use a car, the 2nd option seems the most sensible to me.

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Hoarder12345444 says...
1:08pm Thu 21 Mar 13

spankdex_clod wrote:
Hoarder12345444 wrote:
chrismilo wrote:
Driving round in 3rd gear will add to pollution
Is it possible to do more than 20 in Grand ave anyway ?
yes it is, I do 40mph. I will not be doing 20mph in 2nd gear, it is uneconomical for me thanks all the same council.
Its amazing the justification motorists come out with for breaking the law, whilst at the same time criticising cyclists for minor indiscretions like riding on the pavement (mostly to avoid the traffic!)

Its just not possible to drive everywhere at whatever speed you like in a densely populated city like Brighton, there is not enough room for the traffic.

The Green party are aware of this and are discouraging car use as much as possible, whilst making public transport, walking and cycling more convenient.

The only towns that have successfully used driving as the main method of transport AND avoided gridlock are new towns like Milton Keynes, which have a radically different road layout and sprawl over a much greater area.

Seems to me theres two options...
- knock down the buildings and build more roads and roundabouts
- try and discourage car use

Irritating as it is if you need to use a car, the 2nd option seems the most sensible to me.
Listen pal, I'll drive whatever speeds I like if the conditions are right for it. I pay enough to on the road so I will not abide by stupid Green laws thanks. Some areas in Brighton you can't do over 20mph, like at rush hour, whilst many other areas at other times, you can quite happily do 40-50mph, safely.

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rolivan says...
1:15pm Thu 21 Mar 13

Are the Council allowed to do this without the need for legislation.Was this part of their Mandate?

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Cass says...
1:32pm Thu 21 Mar 13

"The local authority believes the move will improve safety and reduce air pollution."

Says it al really, Muppets!!!!

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HJarrs says...
1:33pm Thu 21 Mar 13

Hoarder12345444 wrote:
spankdex_clod wrote:
Hoarder12345444 wrote:
chrismilo wrote:
Driving round in 3rd gear will add to pollution
Is it possible to do more than 20 in Grand ave anyway ?
yes it is, I do 40mph. I will not be doing 20mph in 2nd gear, it is uneconomical for me thanks all the same council.
Its amazing the justification motorists come out with for breaking the law, whilst at the same time criticising cyclists for minor indiscretions like riding on the pavement (mostly to avoid the traffic!)

Its just not possible to drive everywhere at whatever speed you like in a densely populated city like Brighton, there is not enough room for the traffic.

The Green party are aware of this and are discouraging car use as much as possible, whilst making public transport, walking and cycling more convenient.

The only towns that have successfully used driving as the main method of transport AND avoided gridlock are new towns like Milton Keynes, which have a radically different road layout and sprawl over a much greater area.

Seems to me theres two options...
- knock down the buildings and build more roads and roundabouts
- try and discourage car use

Irritating as it is if you need to use a car, the 2nd option seems the most sensible to me.
Listen pal, I'll drive whatever speeds I like if the conditions are right for it. I pay enough to on the road so I will not abide by stupid Green laws thanks. Some areas in Brighton you can't do over 20mph, like at rush hour, whilst many other areas at other times, you can quite happily do 40-50mph, safely.
Clearly, you are one of those people who should have your license revoked as you are not only inconsiderate but a danger to others.

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Boing Boing. says...
1:42pm Thu 21 Mar 13

20 YARDS per hour in an inch of snow!!( if you're lucky!)

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NickBtn says...
1:52pm Thu 21 Mar 13

spankdex_clod wrote:
Hoarder12345444 wrote:
chrismilo wrote:
Driving round in 3rd gear will add to pollution
Is it possible to do more than 20 in Grand ave anyway ?
yes it is, I do 40mph. I will not be doing 20mph in 2nd gear, it is uneconomical for me thanks all the same council.
Its amazing the justification motorists come out with for breaking the law, whilst at the same time criticising cyclists for minor indiscretions like riding on the pavement (mostly to avoid the traffic!)

Its just not possible to drive everywhere at whatever speed you like in a densely populated city like Brighton, there is not enough room for the traffic.

The Green party are aware of this and are discouraging car use as much as possible, whilst making public transport, walking and cycling more convenient.

The only towns that have successfully used driving as the main method of transport AND avoided gridlock are new towns like Milton Keynes, which have a radically different road layout and sprawl over a much greater area.

Seems to me theres two options...
- knock down the buildings and build more roads and roundabouts
- try and discourage car use

Irritating as it is if you need to use a car, the 2nd option seems the most sensible to me.
I support 20mph for small residential streets. However this has gone way to far by including the arterial roads (this classification from the council)

This means that bus routes are part of the 20mph routes. So buses will now be slower and either run less frequently or cost more (as more buses will be needed to keep same frequency). So how is this helping encourage a move to public transport?

Key routes such as the Lewes Road, Old Shoreham Road, London Road and Ditchling Road should not be 20mph.

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kopite_rob says...
1:55pm Thu 21 Mar 13

I'll be delighted if I can drive at 20mph in Brighton from the 8th April.
A marked improvement on the 5mph average I currently do in the evenings.

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fab5482 says...
1:56pm Thu 21 Mar 13

rolivan wrote:
Are the Council allowed to do this without the need for legislation.Was this part of their Mandate?
My question exactly. I thought that the legislation was, that Councils could ony introduce 20 mph outside schools and hospitals. National speed limits can only be changed by the Government. Has this changed???

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spa301 says...
2:14pm Thu 21 Mar 13

Hoarder12345444 wrote:
spankdex_clod wrote:
Hoarder12345444 wrote:
chrismilo wrote: Driving round in 3rd gear will add to pollution Is it possible to do more than 20 in Grand ave anyway ?
yes it is, I do 40mph. I will not be doing 20mph in 2nd gear, it is uneconomical for me thanks all the same council.
Its amazing the justification motorists come out with for breaking the law, whilst at the same time criticising cyclists for minor indiscretions like riding on the pavement (mostly to avoid the traffic!) Its just not possible to drive everywhere at whatever speed you like in a densely populated city like Brighton, there is not enough room for the traffic. The Green party are aware of this and are discouraging car use as much as possible, whilst making public transport, walking and cycling more convenient. The only towns that have successfully used driving as the main method of transport AND avoided gridlock are new towns like Milton Keynes, which have a radically different road layout and sprawl over a much greater area. Seems to me theres two options... - knock down the buildings and build more roads and roundabouts - try and discourage car use Irritating as it is if you need to use a car, the 2nd option seems the most sensible to me.
Listen pal, I'll drive whatever speeds I like if the conditions are right for it. I pay enough to on the road so I will not abide by stupid Green laws thanks. Some areas in Brighton you can't do over 20mph, like at rush hour, whilst many other areas at other times, you can quite happily do 40-50mph, safely.
Totally agree.
I've been driving for over 30 years without any points, accidents or even parking tickets.
I am more than capable of assessing the road conditions and driving accordingly. I do not need some naive, idealogically driven bunch of idiots telling me to drive at 20 mph.
The Green 'experiment' has been farcical and I'm counting the days until they're consigned to history.

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mustaphaLeeko says...
2:17pm Thu 21 Mar 13

Well the Police aren't going to actively enforce the 20mph zones, and they don't support the blanket imposition of such either unless there are good reasons for doing so.

Go check the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership website..

http://www.sussexsaf
erroads.gov.uk/safer
-speed/20mph-speed-l
imits.html

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deltaP says...
2:34pm Thu 21 Mar 13

The shower that is the Green Party has just one aim in life - to make life as difficult as possible for motorists. It is only necessary to see the very expensive, un-necessary and grossly under-used cycle lanes they have created alongside their other traffic "improvements". All paid for out of our Council Tax monies. Parking charges are about to be hiked back up again and for unsuspecting visitors to the town they are charged every day, including Bank Holidays. That's why no one where I work in Surrey will come to Brighton, either shopping or for a day out now-a-days. The Green Party will be the final sad nail in the coffin of Brighton.

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Crystal Ball says...
2:52pm Thu 21 Mar 13

Will all traffic cameras within the 20mph zones be adjusted to top-up the Council coffers? I mean, enforce the speed limit.

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wexler53 says...
3:07pm Thu 21 Mar 13

You can't expect common sense from a gang of ideological zealots.
Nor apparently, can we expect anything beyond limp hand wringing from any of the opposition parties.
When exactly are these buffoons going to stand up for the beleaguered taxpayers of the city?

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HJarrs says...
3:22pm Thu 21 Mar 13

wexler53 wrote:
You can't expect common sense from a gang of ideological zealots.
Nor apparently, can we expect anything beyond limp hand wringing from any of the opposition parties.
When exactly are these buffoons going to stand up for the beleaguered taxpayers of the city?
I agree, the petrol heads are clearly beyond reason, they think they have the right do do what they want with no consideration of anyone else.

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HJarrs says...
3:23pm Thu 21 Mar 13

Amazing that this article has 39 comments, yet one about defending our NHS from the Tories has only 4. Just shows sadly where some people's priorities lie.

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thevoiceoftruth says...
3:29pm Thu 21 Mar 13

Travelling on a short stretch of the Lewes Road yesterday took 20 minutes due to it being down to one lane. Seems the Green Party don't want visitors or residents in Brighton and would rather it turned into some eco biosphere. All the other biosphere zones are in rural parts of the country, not cities! Like most people, I support 20mph zones but not on the main arteries. Mind you, reaching 20mph on the Lewes Road will soon be an impossibility. Buses can't go any faster, so how this will encourage people to travel by bus is beyond my comprehension.

The Green Party don't seem to think they are accountable to the electorate. Just look up what Chris Hawtree said regarding not giving comments to the Argus after council meetings because he doesn't like the comments on this website. Surprised the Argus didn't report it, but it has been reported elsewhere (including The Guardian blog under 'A politician who wants his local paper to stop quoting him') Honestly, you could not make it up!

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thevoiceoftruth says...
3:33pm Thu 21 Mar 13

HJarrs wrote:
Amazing that this article has 39 comments, yet one about defending our NHS from the Tories has only 4. Just shows sadly where some people's priorities lie.
So what are your priorities? Not getting to work, clearly.

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spa301 says...
3:43pm Thu 21 Mar 13

HJarrs wrote:
Amazing that this article has 39 comments, yet one about defending our NHS from the Tories has only 4. Just shows sadly where some people's priorities lie.
4 of the 39 comments on this subject are yours!!
Get back on the NHS story and try and boost its popularity then you sad little troll.

Report this post »

Phani Tikkala says...
3:51pm Thu 21 Mar 13

spa301 wrote:
HJarrs wrote:
Amazing that this article has 39 comments, yet one about defending our NHS from the Tories has only 4. Just shows sadly where some people's priorities lie.
4 of the 39 comments on this subject are yours!!
Get back on the NHS story and try and boost its popularity then you sad little troll.
Hear hear

Certainly brings the green loonies out.... perhaps HJarse is one of the green PR bods....

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just-a-person says...
4:18pm Thu 21 Mar 13

chrismilo wrote:
Does the 20mph speed limit apply to cyclists on the pavements too ?
It seems cyclists are a law unto themselves. They should have tax, m.o.t and insurance.

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John60 says...
4:43pm Thu 21 Mar 13

I can't wait to knock a cyclist off their bike when they appear from nowhere out of the blue breaking all road rules and going faster than my car. Yeah! bring it on!

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All 9 of me says...
5:51pm Thu 21 Mar 13

keyboard warrior central

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salty_pete says...
8:49pm Thu 21 Mar 13

My understanding is that any prosecution for non-observance will be in a civil court and not criminal court, as this by-law is only enforceable by council officers and not police. I will watch with interest the first time a driver refuses to pay a fine and see if the council will take a driver to court. What equipment will the council use to measure speed ? I don't expect it to be the same that the police use. This could get interesting.

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Wooleyespull says...
4:43pm Fri 22 Mar 13

Walk

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nocando says...
11:53am Sat 23 Mar 13

Ah well, if everyone's got to slow down it'll make it even easier for me to overtake on my motorbike. None of this congestion nonsense applies to me.

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ghost bus driver says...
12:14pm Mon 25 Mar 13

salty_pete wrote:
My understanding is that any prosecution for non-observance will be in a civil court and not criminal court, as this by-law is only enforceable by council officers and not police. I will watch with interest the first time a driver refuses to pay a fine and see if the council will take a driver to court. What equipment will the council use to measure speed ? I don't expect it to be the same that the police use. This could get interesting.
Lets see who used the calibration argument. I think if the council started doing that they'd really have to do their homework first. There are loopholes, as the police found out.

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