Safe Speed Forums

I dont have all the figures or stories linked, but it seems to have been a bad few days in Cumbria.
Motorcycles seem to figure in the fatalities - including a retired policeman and driving instructor, who died near Burton in Kendal on Sunday.
Lupton where we have recently imposed limits, and camera site had a fatal, and the A595 in west Cumbria.

This comes on top of the M6 crash, where a HGV ran into the back of another HGV which was under tow by a recovery vehicle.
It then careered across the carriageway, and killed a passenger in a 4x4 in an outside lane. Other family members are still seriously ill in several hospitals, including the brother of the dead man, who is unaware of the family's loss.
I suspect the toll would have been worse had it been a family saloon.

Still, after a spectacularly busy Easter weekend, with fine weather, I am sure the CSCP coffers will have been swelled by visitors ignorant of the camera sites.
On Saturday, traffic was slow but running into Windermere - just a short queue into Bannerigg, but from Ings, they were backed up beyond Staveley as drivers slowed for the 40 limit and the cameras at Ings.
30 - 35 seems to be the usual speed at the camera, 45 - 50 once they get past!

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

Nice to know 'Callaghan's Crappy Cameras' are doing their job. i.e. raising lots of cash.
of course, the increased fatals are just an unrelated side issue to the main need - to preserve the non-jobs of the Cumbria Scammers.

Since Callaghan was so adamant that if you slowed down and obeyed the law you would not have accidents, then presumably a good percentage of the people who have been killed or seriously injured did not slow down for cameras, or failed to get themselves caught.

You might like to view the Westmorland Gazette's forums, or the North West Evening Mail forums - there are some pithy comments and stories about road safety - they have just reduced the speed limit on the Ulverston to Barrow coast road after a petition - and they think it will stop accidents!
http://forums.nwemail.co.uk/index.php?showforum=2
or
http://forum.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/
both require login to post.

_________________
Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/6541969.stm

BBC story on the retired policeman killed near Burton in Kendal

_________________
Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

I'm not absolutely certain, but I think we have had 9 fatalities so far this year. Does that mean we have reached the target already?

_________________
Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/6549419.stm
Yet another biker fatality today.

_________________
Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

We have now had FIVE motorcycle fatalities in two weeks - another motorcyclist died near Penrith today!
We only had 5 fatalities over January and February of all types!

I have not noticed any increase in motorcycle numbers, but I suspect the weather has brought out more road users in cars onto our narrow lanes, AND the early spring has led to a change to the normal pattern of agricultural vehicles on the roads too.

_________________
Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

Jeez thats as bad as the worst TT fortnights, something's going terribly wrong up there in Cumbria. Lets hope there is a swift regression to the mean.

fatboytim

Apparently the ex-police motorcyclist was following a car, which braked hard. He braked too, and slid off - and under an oncoming car.

No excess speed, just bad luck.

We get too many tourists around here though who will brake because they either dont know the road, or are looking for directions, or simply stop to admire the view.
A little caution is advised when you encounter the first two ~ there are usually signs that they meet the type, but the last usually takes you completely by surprise.

_________________
Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/6597737.stm
Regarding the recent spate of motorcycle deaths in Cumbria, the above is news of an attempt to help stem the accidents.

It's a great idea, but I fear the most likely uptake will be experienced bikers, not young hotheads who need more training, and it also excludes car drivers who dont allow for bikes.
It does seem to be implying that better training will save lives however - I dont suppose it will simply be a lecture that slowing down will help save your life!

_________________
Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!