Speed Limit Lies?

15th June 2006

This is Sutton Lane in Banstead heading north, where the speed limit drops from national speed limit to 30 mph (very close to the junction of Downs Road).
The silver car in the distance is about two car lengths past where you should be able to see both 30 mph signs.

The speed sign on the left is completely obscured by the trees and the bushes.  Cars were not slowing down at the signs because the drivers could not see them.  The bright sunlight reflecting through the trees had a dazzling effect, making the sign on the right very difficult to notice.  If a high sided lorry comes the other way - forget it.

Now, if that is not bad enough - it gets worse.  I contacted the authorities to report this, thinking they would send someone in a flash to sort this out by cutting back the bushes, but no, I was told that "this is not considered an emergency" and "its probably been like it for ages."

Today on the news we all heard that 'average speed' camera traps were to be fitted in the 20 mph back-streets of London. 

Hang-on, so is speeding dangerous or not?

How many traffic cops have driven past this spot, but could not be bothered to report the obscured sign?  I wonder why?

  This view is what the 30 mph speed sign can see of the road.

The picture on the left, which was added on the 21-07-2006 was taken at twilight. 

The 30 mph sign on the left of the road, which is hidden by bushes is illuminated, but of course you cannot see it.
The 30 mph sign on the right, which you have only a chance of seeing in the day - has no illumination, so both sign are useless.

It is now over one month since I reported to the council and the police that motorists could accidentally drive at twice the speed limit near a dangerous junction, due to a hidden road sign.

The council have been contacted twice and the police three times.

This is just one example of how the authorities seem far more interested in issuing fines to people who may innocently drive over the speed limit for a few seconds, rather than actually preventing motorists from speeding with adequate road signs.
If motorist didn't speed there would be no fines and no industry for the parasites.

Update 21-06-2006 Nearly one week after this was reported to Surrey County Council nothing has been done.  I phoned the police today to report my concerns.  Surrey police have assured me that the council will deal with this tomorrow by cutting back the bushes.
Next time you hear of someone getting a speeding ticket and three points for innocently driving very slightly over the speed limit remember that when you take the trouble to report a stretch of road where the speed limit signs are hidden and motorists can be tricked into driving at twice the speed limit that the authorities do nothing.

Update 27-06-2006 Now twelve days since I first reported this.  I returned to road on Sunday and it is still not possible to clearly see that the speed limit drops from 60 - 30 mph near a junction.  I emailed the Surrey police on Sunday, but they never came back to me, so I phoned them today.  Yet again they are going to contact Surrey County Council and tell them to sort this out (they say).  I asked them to send a traffic cop to do a report - let's see what happens.

Update 01-07-2006  I have been back to check again and the 30 mph sign is still hidden. It has now been over two weeks since I notified the council that motorists could accidentally drive at 60 mph on a 30 mph road due to a hidden speed sign, which is also very close to a junction.
Surrey police have not responded to an email I sent last week.

Update 04-07-2006  Still no corrective work carried out.  It's nearly three weeks now since I first contacted Surrey County Council.  I phoned Surrey Police again, but I got the impression that they now consider me to be a nuisance.  If the police, who issue speeding tickets and preach road safety cannot get this sorted out - where do we go next?

Updated 07-07-2006  The left hand sign is still obscured by bushes and trees.

Updated 10-07-2006  I have filled in an online report on Surrey County Council's website, detailing the problem.
Including the intervention of the Surrey police this will now be the fifth time in almost a month that the council have been asked to make this speed sign visible. 

Updated 14-07-2006  Still no change. 

Updated 19-07-2006  Still no change.

Updated 23-07-2006  Still no change.

Updated 30-07-2006  Still no change.

Updated 31-07-2006  Phoned Surrey County Council to try and find out why it is taking so long to cut back a few bushes?
I was put through to a rude, sharp and abrupt man who took my details so that he could look into it and call me back - I never received a call back.

Updated 01-08-2006  Phoned the council again and this time was put through to a very pleasant man who was as helpful as he could be. I was told that on the 12th July the road was inspected and a report was made that the bushes needed to be cut back to expose the road signs.  The chap I spoke with 'could not understand why the work had not been done'. I also reported that the sign illumination had failed.  He was going to email me with some information.  As of  06-08-2006 I have not received an email.

Updated 06-08-2006  Still no change.

It was observed on the 9th of August 2006 - that nearly TWO MONTHS after the COUNCIL and the POLICE were informed about obscured signage that could allow an innocent and unsuspecting motorist to drive at 60 mph on a 30 mph road near a busy junction, that FINALLY after 4 contacts with the COUNCIL and 3 contacts with the POLICE some bushes (not enough in my opinion) have been trimmed back to reveal the 30 mph sign .
Remember - if YOU drive SLIGHTLY over the speed limit for a few seconds (not months), because you are looking where you are going (not down at the speedo),  YOU will get FINED and YOU will get POINTS to damage your LICENCE and possibly your employment prospects (pay the rent/mortgage - feed/clothe the kids - pay the council tax/gas/electricity/water rates etc, etc).

Great Britain? What - a - JOKE

On a road just around the corner there is another sign (below) that is slightly obscured, this time by a private resident's tree.  The message seems to be somewhat ironic!

The sign says "please observe the speed limit take extra care".

Please check this news story added 23rd December 2006  Driver's speeding fine lifted over hidden sign

                                                                                                                        www.parking-ripoff.co.uk

                                                                                                                                                                 June 2006