The thorny issue of speed – do we need to be more radical?

I have driven around 600 miles over the weekend, and I have experienced some speed limits that can only have been devised by brain-dead bureaucrats. No other conclusion is possible – they certainly can’t have been inspired by road safety, economics, aesthetics, or any other desirable motivation!

So what is my problem?? Well, where you have a speed limit that bears little relationship to the demands of the road conditions, let’s consider what happens. I contend that the driver spends all his attention trying to stick to the limit and avoid points on his licence, and suspends all use of his critical faculties in his appreciation of the road conditions and requirements of sensible driving.

Consider Plymouth, which is regulated to the hilt, and enforced by bright yellow taxation boxes at every turn. So when you drive through Plymouth you spend much of your attention in sticking rigidly to the speed limit – dare I say even when that limit is higher than the conditions really demand, although to be honest that is never a problem in Plymouth!

A perfect example is the A38 exiting to the west of Plymouth over the toll bridge and through the tunnel. There is a rigidly enforced 30mph limit when 40mph would be much more natural to most drivers. The 30 limit even continues some way onto a semi-urban dual carriageway! Much of the next few miles is regulated to 50mph when 60mph would be far more sensible.

Please don’t get the idea that I am saying all of that road can support 60mph – what I am saying is that drivers should adjust their speed to what is safe – and that falls between 60mph and 40mph on that road. Sticking rigidly to 50mph, which is what happens, is actually too fast for bits of that road!

So do I have a radical solution? Of course I do! I would like to see all speed limits scrapped everywhere, and the emphasis be returned to driving skill. What are we taught about speed in our driving lessons? Stick to the speed limit at all costs – nothing else! Part of the Institute of Advanced Motorists test is to drive a set route as fast as you safely can, and I would like to see that in the main test, possibly as a third phase added to the existing test.

My proposal would require the police to be more present on the roads, and to have football-referee like powers of enforcing “gentlemanly conduct”. Maybe it seems strange to trust out police like that – but 50 years ago it was normal and natural to trust the police.

And in case you think I am mad, consider one of the major speed hazards in many areas – joy riders. Which is more likely to catch a joy rider – a bright yellow tax box or a policeman?

Is it me or is the rest of the world mad?

I went into Asda today, with the simple objective of picking up some photos I ordered online.

I made a wise choice, or so I thought - I went to the counter labelled "Photo Desk"

When the nice lady asked if she could help me I said I wanted to collect an order, would she like my reference number.

"In a bit, I need to log on first" says she. So I wait, and wait, and wait. It must be some impressive security with the number of things she has to type, but eventually she asks for the order number, and I quote my 9 digit number from the email I had received.

"No, that's not right", says she, "you need a number starting 01". "Well, it's the only one I have" say I defensively. "There must be another" she says, but I plead anxiously that it really is the only one I have, so with a heavy sigh she tries it anyway. Neither of us are surprised when it fails. I check the email carefully on my phone, and even show her the phone, which she looks at a bit like the sole of my shoe.

Sniffing in a superior manner she turns. "George" she says "chap here has an order with an invalid number" as if it were my fault. George takes my phone suspiciously and peers at it at some length. And finally he pronounces "Ah, it's a photo order".

"Oh right" says my original protagonist "you want a photo order. I thought you were after a furniture order". "Well", said I, feeling as if I should apologise, "this is a photo counter"

"Yes" says the accusing woman "but we do Asda Direct orders here too" as if any fool should have known that.

So is it me??? Or is it the rest of the world?

Integrated Transport Policy? HUH!

OK, so I decided that integrated transport policy is the way to go. And I started out - in a modest way.

Case study one - a shopping trip to Falmouth. The easy and lazy way is a car trip. 2.5 miles round trip - £1 at government approved rates - and 3 hours in the Quarry car park - £2.50. So that is £3.50 for two people.

The bus must compete with that surely?? And if we walk in to town (a 1.7 mile walk the less-hilly way) we can save money AND get fit.

Having walked into town and spent a happy time wandering the shops we headed back for the bus. We had to wait 45 minutes for it, so we had a cup of tea in Wetherspoons right by the bus stop, but it wouldn't be fair to add that to the cost would it?

Eventually we caught the bus - and the cost for two tickets one way was - £3.60!

So much for the fit and green approach

Case study two - a trip for two to Truro

The only "approved" integrated transport method is to drive to the Park and Ride at Threemilestone (the other side of the city from Falmouth) and get the bus to the city centre. The cost is 22 miles return or £8.80 at government approved rates, plus £2.40 for the park and ride bus - £11.20

But it has to make sense to use the train surely. Day return for two is £6.80. Unfortunately the station is 3/4 of a mile out of the city (up a hill which one could do without when laden with shopping on your return) so the bus helps out - cost £3 for two people. So we are up to £9.80. At least that is cheaper!

However, there is a better approach surely! The Park and Ride bus stops at the station and is only £2.40 return for two people. Only a 60p saving, but it is frequent, and designed for the job. And yes, you can use it for this bit of the journey, but only if you have already bought a ticket two miles away at the park and ride car park! Huh???

So on this occasion public transport wins, but I am glossing over the fact that at the home end the station is 0.6 miles away, with a nasty sharp hill in each direction. In fact the final hill climb on the way home is a real killer for Mr Grumpy.

There is a bus from outside our door to Falmouth, and Falmouth to Truro, but given that the Falmouth leg will cost us £7.20 return I don't even think I will begin to go there!

So there you have it. Integrated transport??? Try again Cornwall! Until you do I shall stick with my car.

Mr Grumpy

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