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The Association of British Drivers
Five Oak Green 40 limit
An article in the Kent & Sussex courier on 14th February 2003, revealed that average speeds in Five Oak Green — a village near Tonbridge in Kent — had increased since the introduction of 40mph speed limits on roads that were previously NSLA.
View a map of the village
Senior traffic engineer Andy Smart is quoted as saying "I'm at a slight loss to understand it."
The ABD's Malcolm Heymer, a retired traffic engineer, comments:
The fact that the traffic engineer responsible for the scheme is at a loss to understand why speeds have risen with the introduction of the speed limit, speaks volumes about the shambles we are in today where speed limits are concerned.
In the absence of a speed limit (or where the national speed limit is so far above what is safe that it is irrelevant), drivers have to think for themselves and select a speed according to the conditions. If someone then puts up 40mph signs, drivers assume that they can travel at that speed — someone else has done the thinking for them. If speeds were previously below 40mph, this then leads to an increase in speeds and an increase in accidents — the latter not necessarily as a result of the increased speeds but because drivers have 'switched off' from the need to be careful.
This phenomenon was known to the pioneering traffic engineers, such as J J Leeming in the 1950s and 1960s. All their good work has been thrown out of the window by the ignorance of those in charge today.
