Road markings

[Della]

I drove round Thornycroft Roundabout tonight (something I don't do very often) and I was really impressed with how clear the new road markings are. OK it might take a barbed wire fence to keep some cars in the correct lane but these road markings are a step in the right direction.

Let's hope such clear road markings appear at a few other roundabouts too.

[pianoesmeralda]

Do other towns have these detailed road markings on roundabouts? Or is it just an idiot's guide for Basingstoke? Or, did they get the layout of the big roundabouts wrong so that people were too confused to travel round them safely? Seems rather ridiculous...

[seamatt]

(07-03-2010 08:12 AM)pianoesmeralda Wrote:  Do other towns have these detailed road markings on roundabouts? Or is it just an idiot's guide for Basingstoke? Or, did they get the layout of the big roundabouts wrong so that people were too confused to travel round them safely? Seems rather ridiculous...

Yes other towns do have similar road markings and yes it is ridiculous. As long as the approached road has lanes marked and there is a sign of the roundabout showing the exits there should be no excuse for being in the wrong lane. What I’m seeing is a mixture of arrogance and ignorance when it comes to using roundabouts, people turning right using the nearside lane on a dual lane approach need there head examining, do they not see the potential accident they are likely to cause and where are the police to enforce the laws? When was the last time you saw a traffic cop patrolling the roads around the town?

[keepontriking]

(07-03-2010 08:12 AM)pianoesmeralda Wrote:  Do other towns have these detailed road markings on roundabouts? Or is it just an idiot's guide for Basingstoke? Or, did they get the layout of the big roundabouts wrong so that people were too confused to travel round them safely? Seems rather ridiculous...

There are now many initiatives, particularly on the continent, to remove ALL road markings, with a move towards the Shared Space concept where everyone uses common sense instead of being directed what to do and where to go.

It seems to be working with reduced accident rates as it makes road users think and work situations out for themselves.

As is so often the case the UK is a long way behind such progressive thinking.

[Della]

It sounds like a good idea in principle but I am concerned that it would result in 'boy racer' types taking the shortest queue etc. If such actions were severely punishable, then perhaps the free-for-all would be fairer - there are no road markings but if you use the left hand area of the road to turn right because the queue is shorter just the once, you could expect to be banned for many years.

[Chester]

It's all in The Highway Code. There shouldn't any need for 80% of the white paint and signposts on our roads. Perhaps the MD of White Road Paint Ltd made some donations!

I'd like to see the police stop people for breaches of the HC apart from speeding. Every day we see people in the wrong lane, cutting people up, not indicating, etc. and nothing happens. Drift a couple of mph over the limit however and you're done.

[keepontriking]

(08-03-2010 09:56 AM)Chester Wrote:  I'd like to see the police stop people for breaches of the HC apart from speeding.

Is this a wind-up?

[Chester]

(08-03-2010 01:18 PM)keepontriking Wrote:  

(08-03-2010 09:56 AM)Chester Wrote:  I'd like to see the police stop people for breaches of the HC apart from speeding.

Is this a wind-up?

Why not? Contrary to propaganda accidents are not caused by speeding but by incorrect driving. The consequences are worse with higher speed but that's nothing to do with the cause. And yet the only thing the majority of drivers get done for is speeding. It's because it's easy - fixed cameras and held-held radar guns are easy.

How many times have you been cut up by some idiot in the wrong lane or jumping the queue, etc? How many times have you had to take evasive action? A few weeks ago I was cut up by a police car in the wrong lane on Brighton Hill roundabout.

Dangerous driving usually goes unpunished unless speed or alchohol are involved. Start punishing stupid driving and accidents will be reduced and perhaps speed limits can rise to sensible levels.

[keepontriking]

(08-03-2010 01:57 PM)Chester Wrote:  

(08-03-2010 01:18 PM)keepontriking Wrote:  [quote='Chester' pid='18635' dateline='1268038617']

I'd like to see the police stop people for breaches of the HC apart from speeding.

Is this a wind-up?

Quote:Why not? Contrary to propaganda accidents are not caused by speeding but by incorrect driving.

Err...Contrary to propaganda speeding IS incorrect driving.

Quote:The consequences are worse with higher speed...

So enforce it even more strongly.

Quote:And yet the only thing the majority of drivers get done for is speeding. It's because it's easy - fixed cameras and held-held radar guns are easy.

Good. At least some of them are being caught.

Quote:Dangerous driving usually goes unpunished unless speed or alchohol are involved.

Yep. More enforcement is needed for all other bad driving too.

Quote:Start punishing stupid driving and accidents will be reduced and perhaps speed limits can rise to sensible levels.

Speed is already too high - certainly in urban areas and on rural roads.
Limits on these should be reduced. That will help reduce the dreadful toll of deaths and injuries.

[Chester]

OK, perhaps I was trolling - sorry. But I see you agree with my key point viz the fourth quote of five.

There is an obsession with speed in this country and in particular the enforcement or over-enforcement of it. In my opinion and that of a lot of motoring groups and safety organisations such as RoSPA the real causes of RTAs lies elsewhere. There was a massive campaign a few years ago where some government department claimed that 90% (or something high) of accidents were caused by speed. After a very heated debate that arose very swiftly the government backed down to "Speed was a factor in 90% of accidents where someone was injured" - two subtle differences.

So let's ensure that speed violations are enforced - there is no defence for breaking the law after all. But at the same time let's try to improve driving standards across the board by enforcing the bits of the HC that when broken cause accidents. And secondly lets stop using scameras as a source of revenue and set speed limits to sensible levels for the specific roads.