More on Newburgh speeding

Aberdeenshire Council have done a speed survey at the north and south of Newburgh. The results are shocking.

Maximum Speed
The Quay : 77mph
Inch Rd : 66mph

In a 30mph zone, this is totally irresponsible.

Almost worse, it the fact that this is not just a few rogue motorists - almost everyone is exceeding the speed limit. Road engineers talk about the 85 percentile speed - the speed that 85 % drive below - or that 15% exceed. It's a pretty good measure of what is regarded as "normal"

The Quay : 42mph
Inch Road : 36mph

It is not acceptable to drive at 6mph - or worse 12mph above the speed limit in any of our villages.

The Council is now looking at how to fund measures to reduce speeds in Newburgh and the police have been asked to step up their use of mobile speed camera.

But the responsibility lies with drivers. Drive at 30mph and it's a 50:50 chance of killing a pedestrian if you hit them Drive at 40mph and there is just a 1 in 10 survival rate. Is a life worth the extra minute or two on your journey that obeying the speed limit would mean?

50 mph

On a holiday in Norway some years ago, I found driving at the national speed limit of 50mph very relaxing. Everyone simply obeyed the limit and apart from the slight jostle to be the first in the line off a ferry, it was very relaxing. Almost no overtaking - all the traffic simply drove at 50mph.

And then there is fuel consumption. Of course this varies with cars, driving style, etc but generally 45-50mph will be the most efficient. Typically driving at 60mph will use 21% more fuel than driving at 60mph.

So, I welcome the government's consultation on reducing the national speed limit to 50mph for single carriageway roads.

Let's say yes to reduce rural road deaths and CO2 emissions.