mickle
innit
- Location
- 53.933606, -1.076131
Hi Sheree, thank you for your comprehensive response to my email and sorry for the delay in getting back to you.
The figures you provided are very interesting - The only conclusion that we can draw from them is that speeding, mobile phone use and other offences are endemic. The NYP obviously have an uphill struggle dealing with the sheer volume of offences. Particularly with your resources under the constant threat of where the cuts will fall next.
I was particularly struck by your response to the subject of York's 20mph zones. Frankly I'm shocked by your response. I'm no expert in these matters. I do try to follow the news and keep myself informed, but it came as a big surprise to me that the NYP can refuse to enforce the newly installed 20mph zones. The councillors which implemented these lower speed zones made it part of their manifesto. As part of the democratic process, they were voted in on the strength of the content in their manifesto, so it's logical to conclude that the people who voted them in did so because they desired safer streets. This is all self evident isn't it? Am I missing something?
So I really struggle with your statement, that: "Many of these 20mph limits were installed against the advice of NYP, as the areas did not reflect the new speed limit."
"The areas did not reflect the new speed limit?" What does this actually mean? I am to conclude that the NYP have a set of predetermined criterion by which they judge a road to be suitable for conversion to a 20mph? if this is the case it would seem to be at odds with - well - democracy. The population of York voted to increase the number of 20mph zones and the NYP refuse to recognise them.
'Road danger' is one of the features of modern life. There is - globally - an increasing awareness of the importance of reduced urban traffic speeds in the reduction of danger and the improved quality of people's lives. Reduced traffic speeds encourage more walking and cycling and this has a measurable positive impact on people's health. So I have to wonder - whose side are the NYP on? By refusing to accept the democratically imposed 20mph zones you're literally going against the will and best interests of the people.
You say that 20mph zones should be 'self enforcing'. Well I have an big issue with this. 'Self enforcing' means speed bumps, chicanes and other traffic calming measures. Well, they might reduce the average speed of traffic using a road but they create their own problems. You only need to look at Hezlington lane where cars swerve widely to aim themselves astride the 'sleeping policeman'. Some cars do slow - but others, those with less concern for the comfort of their passengers and the longevity of their suspension - ignore the speed limit and the bumps and cruise on through at +/-30mph. So then we end up with a situation - past a school! - where some cars can be predicted to travel at the posted speed limit and others ignore it. What hope for children and senior citizens crossing the road with these enormous speed disparities? You may as well have left it at thirty - at least then everyone would know what speed to expect. And chicanes? if ever there was a thing that would encourage people to speed up and race through gaps, to 'play chicken' with other drivers this is it.
My point is, that the 'self enforcing' theory is wholly inadequate. But how would you know? The NYP isn't looking at 20mph zones. I wrote my original letter to you on the subject of the new 20mph zone which includes Hospital Fields Road. In six years of living in this area I've never seen an officer checking the speed of vehicles within the ring road. 30mph/20mph whether 'NYP approved' or not. And I've seen no shortage of speeders. You could stand outside Fishergate School and count them through. Virtually every car exceeds the 20mph limit.
I seriously think that NYP's policy in this area is totally wrong. It serves no-one. With some drivers obeying the 20mph and others ignoring it, we've made the roads potentially even more dangerous than before. Engineering doesn't work, and so the only effective method bust be education backed up with enforcement. It worked for seat belts. It worked for drink driving.
We live in a country where people can disobey the rules of the road every day and with impunity. As I mentioned in my previous email, I've lost count of the numbers of red light jumpers, mobile phone users, speeders etc etc etc I see every single day. If these drivers had an inkling that there was even the tiniest chance of a Polis seeing them they'd be less inclined to break the law. So all you'd need to do is turn up once or twice a year on any given arterial into the town. A police presence. Because whatever you're doing now simply isn't working. I feel like I take my life in my hands every time I get on my bike. My neighbours would love to cycle but refuse to because Fulford road is so hellish. The answer to the danger posed to vulnerable road users cannot be for them to stay away. We need to address the danger. I really wish you had a strategy that would make a difference.
Thanks for the opportunity to share my thoughts!
All the best,
Mick
Just to add to my previous email. Based on today's activity on Hospital Feilds Road, just around the corner from York Nick, not only are NYP not policing the 20mph speed limit, they're not policing 30mph or 40mph, or even 50mph, judging by the outrageous speeds which some motorists are driving down our road today. It's absolutely obnoxious to people using or crossing that road on foot or by bike. There's going to be a death on this road one of these days and I'll not take any pleasure in saying I told you so.
Regards,
Mick
The figures you provided are very interesting - The only conclusion that we can draw from them is that speeding, mobile phone use and other offences are endemic. The NYP obviously have an uphill struggle dealing with the sheer volume of offences. Particularly with your resources under the constant threat of where the cuts will fall next.
I was particularly struck by your response to the subject of York's 20mph zones. Frankly I'm shocked by your response. I'm no expert in these matters. I do try to follow the news and keep myself informed, but it came as a big surprise to me that the NYP can refuse to enforce the newly installed 20mph zones. The councillors which implemented these lower speed zones made it part of their manifesto. As part of the democratic process, they were voted in on the strength of the content in their manifesto, so it's logical to conclude that the people who voted them in did so because they desired safer streets. This is all self evident isn't it? Am I missing something?
So I really struggle with your statement, that: "Many of these 20mph limits were installed against the advice of NYP, as the areas did not reflect the new speed limit."
"The areas did not reflect the new speed limit?" What does this actually mean? I am to conclude that the NYP have a set of predetermined criterion by which they judge a road to be suitable for conversion to a 20mph? if this is the case it would seem to be at odds with - well - democracy. The population of York voted to increase the number of 20mph zones and the NYP refuse to recognise them.
'Road danger' is one of the features of modern life. There is - globally - an increasing awareness of the importance of reduced urban traffic speeds in the reduction of danger and the improved quality of people's lives. Reduced traffic speeds encourage more walking and cycling and this has a measurable positive impact on people's health. So I have to wonder - whose side are the NYP on? By refusing to accept the democratically imposed 20mph zones you're literally going against the will and best interests of the people.
You say that 20mph zones should be 'self enforcing'. Well I have an big issue with this. 'Self enforcing' means speed bumps, chicanes and other traffic calming measures. Well, they might reduce the average speed of traffic using a road but they create their own problems. You only need to look at Hezlington lane where cars swerve widely to aim themselves astride the 'sleeping policeman'. Some cars do slow - but others, those with less concern for the comfort of their passengers and the longevity of their suspension - ignore the speed limit and the bumps and cruise on through at +/-30mph. So then we end up with a situation - past a school! - where some cars can be predicted to travel at the posted speed limit and others ignore it. What hope for children and senior citizens crossing the road with these enormous speed disparities? You may as well have left it at thirty - at least then everyone would know what speed to expect. And chicanes? if ever there was a thing that would encourage people to speed up and race through gaps, to 'play chicken' with other drivers this is it.
My point is, that the 'self enforcing' theory is wholly inadequate. But how would you know? The NYP isn't looking at 20mph zones. I wrote my original letter to you on the subject of the new 20mph zone which includes Hospital Fields Road. In six years of living in this area I've never seen an officer checking the speed of vehicles within the ring road. 30mph/20mph whether 'NYP approved' or not. And I've seen no shortage of speeders. You could stand outside Fishergate School and count them through. Virtually every car exceeds the 20mph limit.
I seriously think that NYP's policy in this area is totally wrong. It serves no-one. With some drivers obeying the 20mph and others ignoring it, we've made the roads potentially even more dangerous than before. Engineering doesn't work, and so the only effective method bust be education backed up with enforcement. It worked for seat belts. It worked for drink driving.
We live in a country where people can disobey the rules of the road every day and with impunity. As I mentioned in my previous email, I've lost count of the numbers of red light jumpers, mobile phone users, speeders etc etc etc I see every single day. If these drivers had an inkling that there was even the tiniest chance of a Polis seeing them they'd be less inclined to break the law. So all you'd need to do is turn up once or twice a year on any given arterial into the town. A police presence. Because whatever you're doing now simply isn't working. I feel like I take my life in my hands every time I get on my bike. My neighbours would love to cycle but refuse to because Fulford road is so hellish. The answer to the danger posed to vulnerable road users cannot be for them to stay away. We need to address the danger. I really wish you had a strategy that would make a difference.
Thanks for the opportunity to share my thoughts!
All the best,
Mick
Just to add to my previous email. Based on today's activity on Hospital Feilds Road, just around the corner from York Nick, not only are NYP not policing the 20mph speed limit, they're not policing 30mph or 40mph, or even 50mph, judging by the outrageous speeds which some motorists are driving down our road today. It's absolutely obnoxious to people using or crossing that road on foot or by bike. There's going to be a death on this road one of these days and I'll not take any pleasure in saying I told you so.
Regards,
Mick
