Emily Price In the Senedd yesterday evening the Welsh Conservatives have failed in their bid to scrap the introduction of the new 20mph speed limit set to come into force this weekend. A debate was led by the Tories on Wednesday (September 13) in an attempt stop the new speed limit which will see restricted roads […]

The Conservatives in Wales lose their last ditch attempt to stop the speed limit change from 30mph to 20mph. The change will be coming into force on the 17th September

  • TWeaKEnglish
    59·
    1 year ago

    Here’s the thing about your comment: police don’t run speed traps on 20 roads. You’re talking bollocks.

    • KalChoedan@kbin.social
      8·
      1 year ago

      Here’s the thing about absolute statements: they only need a single counter-example to be falsified. There’s a 20mph road about 200m from my front door. There’s a police speed trap there roughly once a month. You are talking bollocks.

      • TWeaKEnglish
        26·
        1 year ago

        Interesting, that’s the first I’ve heard of it - at least, aside from temporary 20 zones around schools and the like. I think most forces are avoiding 20 limits because it’s legally not that well tested, there’s a slightly higher potential for someone to come up with a novel defense. I guess that doesn’t stop revenue coming in from people who just take the fines without challenging them.

        Could you please tell me, which country are you in? England/Wales/Scotland.

          • TWeaKEnglish
            12·
            1 year ago

            think it’s pretty clear that due to budgetary constraints enforcement is lacking in all areas

            It is and it isn’t. I’ve noticed a hell of a lot more police on the roads over the last year or so. Speed traps come and go, but often those aren’t run by police but private contractors - it’s less about budget constraints and more about profitability. Like I say, there’s a higher risk that someone will get off a 20 speeding charge, in which case they not only miss the revenue but also incur court costs.

            Cheers for the information though, it’s nice to hear updates in their practices, and how it varies across the country. Like, in a couple places I’ve seen some really deceptive looking cameras - not in a van but on tripods. There’s definitely an element of trying to catch people out, while more or less skirting within the bounds of the law.

    • hobovisionEnglish
      3·
      1 year ago

      What the heck? In your other comment you say they make these 20 zones to fund corrupt police running speed traps on them… Which is it?

      These reductions in speed limits are primarily political, while corruptly funneling money to overpriced contractors and police running deceptive speed traps.

      • TWeaKEnglish
        1·
        1 year ago

        These reductions in speed limits are primarily political, while corruptly funneling money to overpriced contractors and police running deceptive speed traps.

        I’m talking generally about speed limit reductions here. Not just 30 to 20, but 60 to 50, 40 to 50 or 40 to 30. Sometimes it’s done with valid safety intentions, backed up by data. More often than not it’s done as part of some bullshit political project.

        From another of my comments:

        The limits are assigned so politicians can pat themselves on the back and maybe score some votes. Sometimes also so some new speed trap locations can be created, catching people out in areas where the road feels like it has a higher speed limit (although this is perhaps less true for 20 zones).

        I’m not aware of police extensively enforcing 20 zones, but I am aware of police enforcing speed limits in areas where it has been reduced for arbitrary reasons. Quite often these involve civil works that are ludicrously overpriced and under-delivered, which reeks of corruption.