Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

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I hope that you don?t view this as misuse of the website, but I believe that this is something that you may well be interested in. There is a proposal to reduce national speed limits to 50 MPH (& even restrict all the currently de-restricted country roads to 40 MPH). This is a massively na?ve proposal, that will not serve to significantly reduce deaths or improve emissions , but will in many cases increase journey times and reduce the country?s efficiency and so I urge you to sign it. This does imply that you condone speeding, just that you don?t want your motoring to become more restricted by inappropriate speed cameras and legislation?

Please click on the link below to sign the following petition:

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/noNSLreduction/

The petition reads:

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to NOT reduce the national speed limit to 50mph. Following the announcement that the government is planning to reduce the national speed limit to 50 miles per hour, we the undersigned oppose this, since it will make no difference to road deaths and the cut in carbon emissions is so insignificantly small it's laughable.

The following are links to articles that appeared in The Times and Autocar

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/drivin ... 864847.ece

http://www.autocar.co.uk/forums/t/5231.aspx

I'm not advocating speeding but if this one slips through we may as well have a man walking in front of the car with a red flag.

The only good news is my 1972 VW camper might just be able to keep up with the traffic, but on balance I will vote no to a 50 mph speed limit!

Kim

Done

John

I would if I could but I can't.
No UK address (yet)
John

Sorted.

Alex B...

I sent this message to all my address book UK contacts only to be told that we're too late.

Actions have already taken place - apparently Oxfordshire have completed the task and Warwickshire are 90% complete.

I'm sure more that two counties are taking actions.

I think the difference is that under the current legislation, each council can elect to set a reduced limit on any road, but:

- it's up to them;
- the default, if they do nothing, is that the relevant national limit applies.

The proposal is for national legislation that compels them to reduce the limit to 50, except in cases that they can demonstrate there isn't a risk. In general they will be reluctant to do this - apart from the issue of cost, they might also be exposed to the risk of litigation if there was an accident and an enquiry cited speed as a contributing factor.

I haven't read anything that says the proposed national legislation is in force (but I haven't looked exhaustively and could easily be wrong).

Paddy

I think that the 9 points that I accrued for speeding during my 4 year stay in GB will now have been wiped off my licence.
Nevertheless the talk of regulation changes makes me nervous because I'm planning to drive to GB in April.
Can somebody let me know what speed limits are in force for all types of roads please.

By the way, I think that 3 points per offence is offensive enough; especially when you only have 12 to play with.
Over here they are not so harsh with dishing out the points.

Cheers
John

If you see a '30' or a '40', then obey...other wise go for it. UNTIL you come across a huge sign which says 'speed camera' on it. Then look out for a large box on a pole, painted a very bright yellow...you really can't miss them.....then slow down to 50. Once past by 100 metres or so, speed up again. It couldn't be more straightforward!

Some chums came over from Melbourne last year, and really did think that these cameras were a joke. How can anybody be caught by them with all the warnings? If they are caught, are they done for being asleep? In Melbourne, you get done for doing 62kph in a 60kph zone.

I think I'll stick to the UK system. We'll soon have the police on the side of the road jumping out to warn us of a speed trap ahead.

Mark

The new proposed cameras measure average speed

Paddy

Elanintheforest wrote:.............. Then look out for a large box on a pole, painted a very bright yellow...you really can't miss them.....

Mark

In the area where Cleggie the Cloggie lives there are some Gatsos which the council has cunningly painted in khaki; they never bought into that paint 'em yellow idea.

Mottram in Longendale, in case you were wondering.

Bugger!

Back to plan B. Transpose 2 digits on the rear numberplate...and easy mistake to make when you put the new plate on 10 years ago.....
OR
Stop and have a little rest just before the next camera
OR
James Bond alternate plates

Swindon council are getting rid of their cameras altogether, as they claim that they are not effective, and I understand many other authorities are looking to do the same. Average speed cameras must be pretty expensive, as they need some sort of comms and a system to hook into. Can't see them on every road in the near future.

As for khaki cameras, the lads around here would paint them black...across the lens. I'm pretty sure they have to be yellow or they are non-compliant, and if so, then surely any nabs can be contested?

Mark

These cameras are not really about reducing speed or cutting down on deaths etc. they are about watching us, who we are , where we are and at what time we were there. This is for the new future when there may be `public unrest` for whatever reason. The excuse at this time is for our security against terrorism and to reduce deaths on the roads.
The A.A. and R.A.C. were formed to protect the motorist they were the `union` of the day now they only want your money for insurance, maps and waste of space crap.
Rant over..............Regards John.

Pete
Those "khaki" cameras around Mottram are run by the council and don't come with speeding fines......the council say that if they find people blatantly speeding on a regular basis they will pass on the information to the police for action......and I have treated them with disregard for the past few years....still point free on my licence...

John

Those "Gatso's" were not the robbers that took my 9 points; it was those grey little men in civvy cars with bloody cameras in them.
What was so annoying, was that my speed was, let's say, only marginally over the limit. Subsequently the fines were not that high. But 3 points each time, that's scandalous.
I ended up driving around like a Granny, just to hang on to my remaining 3
You just can't tell if one of those buggers is parked up around the next bend.
In fact any other car on the road is, in my oppinion, highly suspect.
You just don't know who's around you these days. Gestapo tactics.
Oh & it's the same here, but the consequences are not so severe

Cheers
John

One question re Elan Front Number plates.

Given that the numbers are buried in the air intake, are they actually visible from the lens of a head-on-facing Camera ?

Richard