Safe Speed Forums

I live near the A14 between Huntingdon and Cambridge.
It has just been announced that next year a 60 mph limit will replace the current 70 along that stretch to 'reduce the unacceptable level of accidents'.
The basic problem is not the speed - it's normally difficult to get over 50 during peak times, when the acidents occur - it's the road engineering. The junction layouts and road markings are unusually poor, particularly where the A14 meets the M11 and at the St.Ives/Hemingford exits.
The solution, as perceived by the 'powers that be' is a 60 limit with SPECS cash-collection equipment to catch those over the 60 limit during low-volume periods (in the middle of the night).
How all that will help is anyone's guess.
However, one correspondent in the local paper felt that a 30 limit all along that stretch would be the answer
How can we ever get safer roads with this sort of muddled thinking?

Considering that the A14 is a natural progression of the M6, wouldn't it make it safer just to build that progression, after all, even the DfT admit that motorways are the safest roads.

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The public consultation on the widening of the A14 to dual 3 lanes starts in a couple of weeks time, and I urge anyone who lives nearby to go down and ask why the plans aren't to upgrade it to motorway standards -- especially as safety is the main reason for the upgrade.

Drove along this road from joining it at the M1 this past weekend. Passed two Truvelos at Market Harborough and and a forest of them on the Cambridge stretch.

Road was busy - but did not see any poor driving along it at any one time - apart from the pavlovian braking for the Truvelos along this road.

However, there are "cycle" lanes on one small stretch of this road (Northants stretch) 70 mph dual carriageway. Have no idea why they bothered to paint these on the carriageway at this point - they are even narrower than the legendary Ambleside cycle lanes - and a darned site more dangerous

As for the signs where it joins the A1307/A14/M11 ... I am not surprised there are mishaps here. Also agree with Cooperman that this road badly needs some re-engineering on the approach to Cambridge.

Would imagine that speed cams would raise very little money in peak traffic conditions - but that SPECS would be a sure earner in the wee small hours ...given that everyone here brakes for the camera whatever speed they are driving...

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