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Drivers thrown by new speeds

15th May 2003, Page 13
15th May 2003
Page 13
Page 13, 15th May 2003 — Drivers thrown by new speeds
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

• Truck drivers are suffering—even to the extent of losing their jobs—as a result of the arbitrary decisions made by some councils to change speed limits.

That is the opinion of the Association of British Drivers which claims that there is too casual an attitude on the part of councils, police and highway authorities towards speed limits and signing.

In one of the most severe cases that the ABD has seen in the last year a truck driver lost his job when he exceeded a 30mph speed limit on a road that used to have a 60mph limit.

"The council had brought the limit arbitrarily down from 60 to 30mph and he had been driving at 40mph," says ABD road safety and transport spokesman Mark McArthurChristie. "As a result his employer threw him out and he lost his livelihood."

At the same time drivers are being wrongly convicted of speeding because the signs showing what limits are in force are often inadequate. The ABD points out that If speed limit signs are not maintained in accordance with the regulations, the speed limits to which they relate are unenforceable. Because of this problem the association Is calling on police to check speed limit signs and on highway authorities to maintain them properly.

MeArthur-Clvistie says that many drivers are being prosecuted inappropriately but most sktiply pay up because they don't know the legal requirements about what signs should be there.

Contact: www.abd.org.uk