THE ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH DRIVERS

IN SCOTLAND

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TAYSIDE CAMPAIGNS

Letter to The Montrose Review

Dear Sirs,

Hillside, Dun and Craigo Community Council's seeming obsession with the introduction of a 50 mph limit on the Brechin to Montrose road is misguided, naïve and inappropriate and merely panders both to the prejudices of the anti-car brigade and to the current government policy of reducing the complex subject of road safety to the single issue of speeding on clear, open roads.

Firstly, both the limited volume of traffic plus the fact there are only 2 double bends between Brechin and Montrose renders a 50mph limit for the whole length massive overkill. If this road became a 50mph limit then virtually every road in the UK would have to be thus limited. Secondly, if the main road was limited to 50mph we would merely witness the ludicrous spectacle of people taking to alternative minor roads and still being allowed to drive at 60mph. But most importantly, the increasing use and enforcement of inappropriate speed limits, especially outside built-up areas, is already bringing the whole system of speed limits plus the police officers that have to enforce them into contempt and disrepute.

However, if the Community Council remains determined to campaign on the issue of speed limits, they should take on board some simple, basic facts. A fundamental one of these is that many more accidents resulting in injury occur in 30mph and 40mph limits, making these areas much more dangerous than open roads, and they would therefore undoubtedly be doing much more useful work if they were for example to urge the police to enforce more rigorously the eminently sensible 30mph limits on the 2 main roads through Hillside village.

Yours etc.

 

Eamon Scott,

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