A31: Bring in 50mph limit now, say campaigners (From Bournemouth Echo)

nobbjockie wrote:
With the speed limit at 70mph joining traffic at the numerous slip roads and side roads causes brake action that following vehicles react to, that then creates a chain of brake action that causes the queues. Drivers sadly refuse to keep an adequate distance from the vehicle front where a simple speed adjustment without braking would suffice. Reducing the spped to 50 will assist in reaction time and reduce brake action and the obvious effects of queue causing. The 'no overtaking for vehicles over 7T on uphill gradients' on the M42 in Staffs works excellently well and reduced queuing and frsutration by 78%. Thats all they need to do at Poulners and the other steep gradients through the forest section. And all at minimal cost of traffic orders and road signs!

palexgo wrote:
I drove on the A31 for 10 years to work near Southampton. I suspect that most of the accidents on the A31 near Ringwood are caused by drivers inexperienced of the trip when it is busy. On many occasions I found myself behind old people driving as slowly as 30mph! The police should grab the incompetent people driving slowly rather than reduce the rod speed to 50mph.

catseye wrote:
Am I the only one who has to take avoiding action going eastbound on A31 when cars and white vans join from Verwood and immediately cross 3 lanes of traffic to take up their rightful place in outside lane. Of course whilst doing this indicators are optional. As said by others main problem is poor driving but why not reduce number of junctions by closing Hightown, and the Fish, and then spend money on improving the remainder

Letcommonsenseprevai
l wrote:
Can we have some meaningful figures? What will be the benefit of reducing the limit to 50mph? or 40? or 30? or 20? or 10? or banning cars altogether? What is trying to be achieved? Knee-jerking an instand reduction to 50mph seems to be very blinkered...........

...................

nosuchluck54 wrote:
I was waiting for our 2 regular "professional" drivers to join in but cannot wait any longer.Of course a 50mph limit should be introduced and also applied on all 2 lane carriageways and an 80mph on all 3/4 lane motorways.As for the ageists on here a commenter recently suggested re-tests for 50year olds then every 3 years, i agree that would reduce the amount of older drivers on our roads and certainly improve safety

Stop Press wrote:
The dice with death manoeuvre that is pulling out on to the A31 from any of the Ringwood slip roads have always required a leap of faith. Selfish & aggressive drivers not getting themselves into the outside lanes away from the potential danger don't help. Reducing the speed limit to 50 mph should have happened years ago. The roads aren't a racetrack they're a method of getting everyone (young & old) from A to B safely. What's your rush? Speed kills, slow down.

Stop Press wrote:
The dice with death manoeuvre that is pulling out on to the A31 from any of the Ringwood slip roads have always required a leap of faith. Selfish & aggressive drivers not getting themselves into the outside lanes away from the potential danger don't help. Reducing the speed limit to 50 mph should have happened years ago. The roads aren't a racetrack they're a method of getting everyone (young & old) from A to B safely. What's your rush? Speed kills, slow down.

Hessenford wrote:

nosuchluck54 wrote:
I was waiting for our 2 regular "professional" drivers to join in but cannot wait any longer.Of course a 50mph limit should be introduced and also applied on all 2 lane carriageways and an 80mph on all 3/4 lane motorways.As for the ageists on here a commenter recently suggested re-tests for 50year olds then every 3 years, i agree that would reduce the amount of older drivers on our roads and certainly improve safety

Retesting of over 50s would break equality legislation.
An RAC foundation report in 2010 found that mandatory re-testing for elderly drivers would do little to reduce road accidents.

nosuchluck54 wrote:

Hessenford wrote:

nosuchluck54 wrote:
I was waiting for our 2 regular "professional" drivers to join in but cannot wait any longer.Of course a 50mph limit should be introduced and also applied on all 2 lane carriageways and an 80mph on all 3/4 lane motorways.As for the ageists on here a commenter recently suggested re-tests for 50year olds then every 3 years, i agree that would reduce the amount of older drivers on our roads and certainly improve safety

Retesting of over 50s would break equality legislation.
An RAC foundation report in 2010 found that mandatory re-testing for elderly drivers would do little to reduce road accidents.

But it would reduce it and remove a considerable amount of distraction off our roads as most 50+ year olds would fail the re-test making it safer for others

rayc wrote:

Stop Press wrote:
The dice with death manoeuvre that is pulling out on to the A31 from any of the Ringwood slip roads have always required a leap of faith. Selfish & aggressive drivers not getting themselves into the outside lanes away from the potential danger don't help. Reducing the speed limit to 50 mph should have happened years ago. The roads aren't a racetrack they're a method of getting everyone (young & old) from A to B safely. What's your rush? Speed kills, slow down.

Perhaps we need Give Way road signs at the end of slip roads as the French do.They are also marked "You do not have Priority" and French drivers will sit their until it is clear for them to proceed.
Perhaps it is not those drivers who are on the main carriageway who are selfish and aggressive but those entering from the slip road.
Of course the main problem is poor engineering but putting that right would cost money.

rayc wrote:

nosuchluck54 wrote:

Hessenford wrote:

nosuchluck54 wrote:
I was waiting for our 2 regular "professional" drivers to join in but cannot wait any longer.Of course a 50mph limit should be introduced and also applied on all 2 lane carriageways and an 80mph on all 3/4 lane motorways.As for the ageists on here a commenter recently suggested re-tests for 50year olds then every 3 years, i agree that would reduce the amount of older drivers on our roads and certainly improve safety

Retesting of over 50s would break equality legislation.
An RAC foundation report in 2010 found that mandatory re-testing for elderly drivers would do little to reduce road accidents.

But it would reduce it and remove a considerable amount of distraction off our roads as most 50+ year olds would fail the re-test making it safer for others

I very much doubt what you say. My company had all their drivers attend a Defensive Driving Course and assessment. The ones who got the best ratings were over 50.
Why not target those drivers in the age range that insurance companies consider the most likely to be involved in a collision. They have extensive records and their premium policy reflects the risk.

nosuchluck54 wrote:

rayc wrote:

nosuchluck54 wrote:

Hessenford wrote:

nosuchluck54 wrote:
I was waiting for our 2 regular "professional" drivers to join in but cannot wait any longer.Of course a 50mph limit should be introduced and also applied on all 2 lane carriageways and an 80mph on all 3/4 lane motorways.As for the ageists on here a commenter recently suggested re-tests for 50year olds then every 3 years, i agree that would reduce the amount of older drivers on our roads and certainly improve safety

Retesting of over 50s would break equality legislation.
An RAC foundation report in 2010 found that mandatory re-testing for elderly drivers would do little to reduce road accidents.

But it would reduce it and remove a considerable amount of distraction off our roads as most 50+ year olds would fail the re-test making it safer for others

I very much doubt what you say. My company had all their drivers attend a Defensive Driving Course and assessment. The ones who got the best ratings were over 50.
Why not target those drivers in the age range that insurance companies consider the most likely to be involved in a collision. They have extensive records and their premium policy reflects the risk.

Yeah this is all old ground we all know that stats can be manipulated to help the user, when challenged i found a survey by a leading motoring organisation which showed that incidents/accidents at junctions more often than not involved a driver over 50.I base my opinions and thats all they are on my own observations and if you research the recent incidents that have made headlines most were older drivers

Hessenford wrote:

nosuchluck54 wrote:

Hessenford wrote:

nosuchluck54 wrote:
I was waiting for our 2 regular "professional" drivers to join in but cannot wait any longer.Of course a 50mph limit should be introduced and also applied on all 2 lane carriageways and an 80mph on all 3/4 lane motorways.As for the ageists on here a commenter recently suggested re-tests for 50year olds then every 3 years, i agree that would reduce the amount of older drivers on our roads and certainly improve safety

Retesting of over 50s would break equality legislation.
An RAC foundation report in 2010 found that mandatory re-testing for elderly drivers would do little to reduce road accidents.

But it would reduce it and remove a considerable amount of distraction off our roads as most 50+ year olds would fail the re-test making it safer for others

And what age range do you come under I wonder, probably under 30 driving some souped up car you cant handle, younger drivers attract higher insurance premiums because they are a higher risk by way of experience and stupidity.

Felpro wrote:
Yes - make it 50mph. About time. And a traffic camera please.

nosuchluck54 wrote:

rayc wrote:

nosuchluck54 wrote:

Hessenford wrote:

nosuchluck54 wrote:
I was waiting for our 2 regular "professional" drivers to join in but cannot wait any longer.Of course a 50mph limit should be introduced and also applied on all 2 lane carriageways and an 80mph on all 3/4 lane motorways.As for the ageists on here a commenter recently suggested re-tests for 50year olds then every 3 years, i agree that would reduce the amount of older drivers on our roads and certainly improve safety

Retesting of over 50s would break equality legislation.
An RAC foundation report in 2010 found that mandatory re-testing for elderly drivers would do little to reduce road accidents.

But it would reduce it and remove a considerable amount of distraction off our roads as most 50+ year olds would fail the re-test making it safer for others

I very much doubt what you say. My company had all their drivers attend a Defensive Driving Course and assessment. The ones who got the best ratings were over 50.
Why not target those drivers in the age range that insurance companies consider the most likely to be involved in a collision. They have extensive records and their premium policy reflects the risk.

Yeah this is all old ground we all know that stats can be manipulated to help the user, when challenged i found a survey by a leading motoring organisation which showed that incidents/accidents at junctions more often than not involved a driver over 50.I base my opinions and thats all they are on my own observations and if you research the recent incidents that have made headlines most were older drivers

amor46422 wrote:
so typically reduce the limit cos its the laziest thing to do which in turn will NOT make it much safer never mind whether the majority will respect the new limit for such a high quality stretch of road, like the Dorset Way 50mph and 40mph Wessex Way it seems more people will just bunch up more and lane hog, its poor inconsiderate and inattention human errors that are the prime accident causes, all this reduce the speed limit till it eventually becomes 0mph god sake get a grip people you have no sense it dosent mean to say we have to drive that fast if its not safe but unrealistic limits mean more people will ignore it and make all the safety issues worser, this is whole much of the UK have become since many councils have a 50mph limit obsession with all rural roads and now even manyt high quality dual carraigeways that even a 70mph is outdated in the safest of conditions for it is stupid, i don't say its right or allowed to drive like a formula one driver on these roads but with all this unrealisticness and thinking of safety in a logical numerical way that driving below a certain number of mph means the difference between not crashing and having a fatal how about focus on distraction idiots who lane hog, drive too close etc they're the ones who cause bunchups, rear collisions and real danger on the roads as well as the uninsured, reducing the speed limit will not solve any of these issues end of

Village Idiot wrote:
Load of old rubbish. It's the drivers that cause accidents, not the road system! Those advocating closing the various sliproads are oblivious to the complexity of the minor road system in and around the Town.
Perhaps it's time for drivers to be taught to drive as oppossed to just passing a test!
The inability of a huge number of drivers to see and appreciate what is going on around them defies believe. They have in their control, which is very debatable in some instances, a killing machine!
Stirling Moss once said, I believe, that if there was a spike in the middle of the steerring wheel and no seatbelt, people would take a great deal more care of their position on the road and of their braking distances!

rayc wrote:

Stop Press wrote:
The dice with death manoeuvre that is pulling out on to the A31 from any of the Ringwood slip roads have always required a leap of faith. Selfish & aggressive drivers not getting themselves into the outside lanes away from the potential danger don't help. Reducing the speed limit to 50 mph should have happened years ago. The roads aren't a racetrack they're a method of getting everyone (young & old) from A to B safely. What's your rush? Speed kills, slow down.

Just for the record does anyone know the number of fatal collisions in the last few years between Picket Post and the spur road roundabout and the ages of the drivers responsible for the collision? Please do not include any who have driven into lay byes and collided with vehicles parked up.
I drive through there regularly in a vehicle limited by law to 60 mph and very few drivers are going faster than that.

rayc wrote:

Stop Press wrote:
The dice with death manoeuvre that is pulling out on to the A31 from any of the Ringwood slip roads have always required a leap of faith. Selfish & aggressive drivers not getting themselves into the outside lanes away from the potential danger don't help. Reducing the speed limit to 50 mph should have happened years ago. The roads aren't a racetrack they're a method of getting everyone (young & old) from A to B safely. What's your rush? Speed kills, slow down.

Just for the record does anyone know the number of fatal collisions in the last few years between Picket Post and the spur road roundabout and the ages of the drivers responsible for the collision? Please do not include any who have driven into lay byes and collided with vehicles parked up.
I drive through there regularly in a vehicle limited by law to 60 mph and very few drivers are going faster than that.

terry jerrard wrote:

rayc wrote:

Stop Press wrote:
The dice with death manoeuvre that is pulling out on to the A31 from any of the Ringwood slip roads have always required a leap of faith. Selfish & aggressive drivers not getting themselves into the outside lanes away from the potential danger don't help. Reducing the speed limit to 50 mph should have happened years ago. The roads aren't a racetrack they're a method of getting everyone (young & old) from A to B safely. What's your rush? Speed kills, slow down.

Just for the record does anyone know the number of fatal collisions in the last few years between Picket Post and the spur road roundabout and the ages of the drivers responsible for the collision? Please do not include any who have driven into lay byes and collided with vehicles parked up.
I drive through there regularly in a vehicle limited by law to 60 mph and very few drivers are going faster than that.

Strange request and obviously you were not on that road a week ago friday when 2 coaches were driving in convoy way faster than anyone else and completely inappropriate for the conditions

jobsworthwatch wrote:
The proper solution is to extend the M27 to Bere Regis!

Hessenford wrote:

nosuchluck54 wrote:

Hessenford wrote:

nosuchluck54 wrote:
I was waiting for our 2 regular "professional" drivers to join in but cannot wait any longer.Of course a 50mph limit should be introduced and also applied on all 2 lane carriageways and an 80mph on all 3/4 lane motorways.As for the ageists on here a commenter recently suggested re-tests for 50year olds then every 3 years, i agree that would reduce the amount of older drivers on our roads and certainly improve safety

Retesting of over 50s would break equality legislation.
An RAC foundation report in 2010 found that mandatory re-testing for elderly drivers would do little to reduce road accidents.

But it would reduce it and remove a considerable amount of distraction off our roads as most 50+ year olds would fail the re-test making it safer for others

And what age range do you come under I wonder, probably under 30 driving some souped up car you cant handle, younger drivers attract higher insurance premiums because they are a higher risk by way of experience and stupidity.

bournenbred wrote:
There is no such thing as a dangerous road !

Its idiot drivers that create danger !!

There is no need for any speed limits !!!

Traffic volumes dictate speed limits, you cant go any faster than the person at the front of the queue

But there are too many single cell amoebas with a driving licence !!

miketheplumb wrote:
For goodness sake, let's look at the problem, which (according to the echo is) "to improve the safety record on the road....."
So the very first thing the locals advise is "REDUCE THE SPEED LIMIT"
Whilst it is acclaimed that speed cause the majority of accidents, this is HUMANS, i.e. cause accidents. An dthis can be generate by a multitude of reasons NOT PURELY SPEED.
So get of your **** horse and think logically, there's a multitude of reasons why this stretch of road may have traffic problems, not least it was designed and implemented long BEFORE current traffic volumes.
Think sensibly an define appropriate resolutions before you jump on ONE bandwagon, because you THINK it will cure things.
IT WILL NOT, as there are many reasons for your problem.

tricky1007 wrote:
the road where you join from Ringwood onto the A31 is the problem, it was not thought out well, to have a petrol station, and pub not far away, and traffic coming up over the flyover to be greeted by traffic coming out in front of them!

speedy231278 wrote:
Why should everyone have their journey time extended just because a few idiots can't drive and insist on having careless and often reckless crashes? Speed doesn't kill. Shockingly poor driving and lack of observation does.

steve518 wrote:

speedy231278 wrote: Why should everyone have their journey time extended just because a few idiots can't drive and insist on having careless and often reckless crashes? Speed doesn't kill. Shockingly poor driving and lack of observation does.

Agree with you 100 percent. I believe slow drivers actually present more danger in most cases.

martin225 wrote:
Bournemouth and Poole conurbation has around 300,000 people this road is a sub-standard. Best option would be to add additional lane each way which would not be full size but a limit of 60mph. Its a disgrace that the main road in and out of Dorset, the day transport get taken seriously in this country is when our economy can compete.