North Lincolnshire drivers urged to protest against speed limit orders.

June 7, 2011 - PRLog -- North Lincolnshire Councillors are to consider a raft of speed reductions around the Scunthorpe area.

Plans of the drastic proposals, in ten areas, can be found on the Council's Web Site at: www.northlincs.gov.uk under 'Speed Limit Review'.

Drivers' Protest Union founder Keith Peat says: 'I survey many such proposals and most are set too low, are not at all to any formula or expertise and worse contain no accident history or any justification whatsoever. It seems to me that, because the public do not realise that they are supposed to respond to the published adverts and take part, the officials and politicians just nod them through and over-night turn previously safe and legal drivers into offenders.'

The Union believes that the setting of limits has become a contempt of the public consultation process. 'It's no good complaining about cameras and tickets if you just allow the limits to go through un-opposed' they point out.

The first thing councillors should ask is: 'Are any accidents happening?' the second, 'Are they solely speed accidents?' and if so 'how many?'. Says D.P.U. 'Simply throwing a speed limit blanket over all drivers, is an expensive and futile over-reaction.'

The Groups says: 'The plans shown are not accompanied by the required Statement of Reasons which can be obtained on application to the Council or on display locally. These Statements should have accident history and specifically show where accidents were caused by speed alone. It may well be that there is a layout problem or a signage problem which would require more appropriate and effective alternative action.'

They also point out that speed limit changes and installation are very expensive for the Council and objectors should ask if the money would better save lives if invested in the NHS, or emergency services.  

The Council must be told in no uncertain terms that speed limiting will not just be accepted on the nod.

At the present time the council are asking for feedback at: traffic@northlincs.gov.uk

D.P.U. urges all North Lincolnshire drivers to respond to this invitation and ask to be notified at every stage of the process.