THE ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH DRIVERS

IN SCOTLAND

---

 

ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH DRIVERS
SCOTTISH MEMBERS
http:\www.abd.org.uk

c/o XXXXXXXXX XXXX
MUGDOCK
GLASGOW
G62 XXX
Tel/Fax: 0141 956 XXXX
Scotland@abd.org.uk
23rd September 2006
Attention: Mr Mark Magee
Head of Speed Management Branch

Department for Transport
Zone 2/13
Road User Safety Division
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
LONDON

SW1P 4DR

 

Dear Mr Magee,
Decision Letter Following Consultation - Setting Local Speed Limits

We thank you for your letter of the 19th instant, but regret that it not only shows no attempt to give any attention to the true statements in our letter, but also introduces further errors of fact. We are therefore ignoring the second paragraph of your letter, for the reasons set out below. The start of your statement under reference in each case is shown in italics.

1. "Criterion 4 of the Cabinet Office Code of Practice..
You have misunderstood, or misconstrued Criterion 4 of the Cabinet Code of Practice. You claim that "In line with Cabinet Office guidance, the Department has given due attention to the views expressed by Traffic Authorities....". That is not what the guidance says: it says ".....organisations representing groups especially affected." (Our italics). It should not be necessary to point out to you that "groups affected" means those on whom the proposals are being imposed, not the Traffic Authorities who are doing the imposing. We are a good example of the "groups affected".    Taking this into account, the responses were not finely balanced, 59% opposed the proposal, while only 13% were in favour. A large majority against your proposal.

2. "With the exception of Motorways,...
You have wilfully misconstrued our point that "The speed limit on a road only affects vehicles capable of that speed and not other road users." The point is that the speed limit only applies to vehicles capable of that speed: it does not affect pedestrians or others. Speed limits are not, and should not be used to control vehicle speeds in the vicinity of pedestrians, horses, etc. That is a matter of education and good driving.

3. "To an extent,...
This is gobbledegook. We can advise you that drivers already consider many limits to be too low, and there is no possibility that the new guidance will "improve respect for speed limits".

4. "Mean speeds are routinely used....
The figures given in TRL511 have been disproved and discredited many times, and the ones you quote do not even add up. We understand this has been accepted by TRL. Please do not waste our time with it.
Instead, much more attention should be paid to the fact that the 85th percentile method was and is an important part of the regime that resulted in our long-term record of the safest roads/drivers in the world.

We simply do not need your intervention, which is counter productive, and if there is now still no sign that you recognise that, we will be forced to take the matter to higher authority. We hope this will not be necessary.

 

 

Yours faithfully,
For: The Association of British Drivers, Scottish Members,

 

 

 

(Peter M Spinney) Chair.

 

cc. The Hon. Mrs Anne McGuire MP
    Cabinet Office.

 

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