Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,904
Hopefully in this case flash 20mph.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 686- Registered: 5 May 2009
- Posts: 556
I must have missed this topic the first time around so please excuse me if adding my 2d's worth rubs salt into an old wound.
With any wide and well-used road, such as Barton Road, reducing a 30 mph limit to 20 mph is going to make little difference; other than winding up already frustrated motorists even more. The resulting gridlock could, potentially at least, bring the entire town to a halt.
In my opinion two things need to happen:
1. Ensure the existing speed limit is enforced, and
2. Educate the motorists.
The first is easy to do using speed cameras, much as I hate that idea, or speed-triggered repeater signs. Barton Road is often targeted by the Police with speed guns and random checks but perhaps these need to be more frequent and at times when the route is busy.
The second item is harder to achieve despite various advertising campaigns on TV warning of the dangers of speeding in built-up areas.
It is very difficult to stop eejits doing stupid things and, to my mind, putting up safety barriers is not the answer either - they only server to corral pedestrians who then leap over them into the path of oncoming traffic in any case.
Phil West
If at first you don't succeed, use a BIGGER hammer!!
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
With 2 threads tied to this subject at the moment I thought I would pick this one to add........
I sometimes sit on the wall for a quick break outside the Grammar school by the main gates. some of the cars I see speeding and using a mobile phone is rediculous, this afternoon was no exception.
A black Suburu came round the bend and by the time it passed me it must have been going between 50 - 60 mph.
OK schools out for summer but I think Sunday morning should have been a wake up call for somebody at the top.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
Ian I think I was passed by the same car,it shot over at Cherry Tree trying to beat the red lights at possibly 70mph and then shot off down Barton Road I was waiting for the bang,luckily I was walking up the road,not cycling down the road at the time.
The Mercury (Graham Tuthill) has been in touch,and because we cannot prove the car was speeding he has to be careful what is said,but once again I pushed not only for 20mph outside Schools,but for something to be done at the Barton Road/Frith Road Junction.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
My sister and bro in law were involved in a crash last year in the same area and it was horrible , all due to a speeding stupid woman
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
ian
mobile phome drivers i see every day at the junction opposite me turning right, usually with children on board.
this then extends to the next right turn into the folkestone road.
the best i have seen recently in town was a bloke coming out of kfc in market square, getting into his car, phone to his ear, food in his gob then drove off without indicating causing two cars and a bus to screech to a halt.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
Phil West, spot on mate, everything I said in my other posting`s. Reducing speed limit does nothing, enforcing current speed limit, yes, narrowing of road, no. Ian and John, exactly as I said, Sunday speeding which no narrowing of road`s would ever cure. It has to be speed camera`s. Kath, dummy or warning camera`s, no. The one out Alkham valley had an effect at first, but now it does nothing. All regular driver`s know about it, and they`re the one`s who exceed the speed limit, including myself at times while keeping up with the traffic flow.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
the road through alkham valley is a death trap, why nothing is done is beyond me.
colin is right here, everyone has to keep up with the traffic flow to survive, i seem to remember our victor campaigning about this very thing some years ago.
he got arrested for it.
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,709
Ian sounds like the same Subaru that roars up London Road with alarming regularity, often racing with some muppet in a Nissan, Peugeot or Golf
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 694- Registered: 22 Mar 2010
- Posts: 778
flipping heck.. wrote a whole load passage and it didnt want to do it..
critical points..
1) Alkham valley is only dangerous if you drive like a looney or drive at stupid slow speeds and others get fustrated behind you...
2) Flashing signs dont work.. ones in Whitfield are ignored ( nearly got taken out by two boy racers racing side by side the other day)
3) Bus drivers do speed, I saw one doing 55 in a 30 zone as a passenger and SC just went.. yes well, you cant prove it...
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Too right Jen, nowt wrong with Alkham Valley - other than the odd 40 bit, the limits are about right
Also don't know why crash barriers are needed, they will only bounce an accident into the opposite carriage.
Back to Frith Road, the main problem is that the road bottlenecks as it goes around the bend, you are forced into watching your back/sides rather than the road ahead.....
Been nice knowing you :)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
or simply going too fast??
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
Nothing wrong with Alkham Valley, please tell that to the familys who have lost members killed along that Rd. And some were not speeding but sorry I have no wish to go over all that again.
The road is okay Vic, it's the people that use who are the problem. One of those killed drove a black Beemer as I recall. News of his demise was cause for a minor celebration in my house as he'd nearly driven me, and a few others, off the road at least twice. He got his just deserts.
As I said, it's the people not the tarmac..
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
we all remember your efforts there vic.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
Sorry but I will not talk about the valley anymore.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Sadly any road can have accidents - it is 1% the road, 99% the drivers. There is very rarely a 'dangerous' bit of road. the only bit I can think of to hand is the bit coming out of the Roundhill Tunnels, Dover bound, where there is often a patch of standing water.
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 686- Registered: 5 May 2009
- Posts: 556
Scotchie wrote in post #77: "where there is often a patch of standing water." Which has two signs warning of the possible hazzard!
howard mcsweeny wrote in post #68: "the road through alkham valley is a death trap, ". Sid has it about right - it's not the road it's the people that (ab)use it, much as I dislike the stretch of 40 mph which I think is too low. It should be 50 mph or NSL.
As for Frith Road! I thought I'd bought it not too long ago when two complete [insert your choice of Anglo-Saxon here] came hurtling around the bend into Charlton Green just after I had crossed Bridge Street. One bounced off the curb on his way round and missed me by a matter of inches. I came close to polluting the river...
Phil West
If at first you don't succeed, use a BIGGER hammer!!
Guest 694- Registered: 22 Mar 2010
- Posts: 778
Vic,
I have lost two people i know to that road, and I still say its not a dangerous road..
Frith Road is a nightmare especially at school chuck out time... its horrendous with all those bus stops etc...
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
"Scotchie wrote in post #77: "where there is often a patch of standing water." Which has two signs warning of the possible hazzard!"
Yes that is right, but I am having a terrible problem thinking of anything that is the actual road itself that is the problem ?? Can anyone think of one ?
Been nice knowing you :)
