Speed
Excessive speed is a contributory factor in over 1000 deaths and over 38,000 injuries each year.
Studies show that nearly 60% of us exceed the 30mph speed limit in built up areas. Just a few miles over the limit might not sound like very much, but think about if anything unexpected happens, such as someone stepping out into the road ahead. A driver travelling at 35mph will take at least 6 metres longer to stop their vehicle than if they were keeping within the limit. That can make the difference between a collision happening and not happening. Even if there is a collision the chances of a pedestrian being killed at 30mph are only half those if hit at 35mph.
It's not just exceeding the speed limit that's the problem. Often it's driving too fast for the conditions. This might well be within the speed limit but still too fast for certain bends, junctions, weather conditions or levels of traffic. For example, 30mph may well be a legal speed, but it's completely inappropriate for driving past a busy school at 8.50am on a rainy morning.
It is not just pedestrians who get hurt. Collisions between vehicles, or cars hitting roadside objects after swerving, cause tens of thousands of accidents each year, with the impact speed determining how serious the injuries will be. It doesn't matter how good the driver is - it won't stop someone else making a mistake. Whilst ABS, seatbelts and airbags will offer some protection, they won't prevent the accident in the first place. It doesn't matter how much of a hurry you may be in, there are no real excuses for driving too quickly.
20mph ring road speed limit
Wolverhampton City Centre has a 20mph speed limit within the ring road. With so many pedestrians and vehicles moving about it is particularly important for all road users to take great care. There are also 18 20mph zones in residential areas which are all treated with traffic calming measures to ensure that residents and visitors to the area can travel safely.
30mph speed limit
Every other road in Wolverhampton has a 30mph speed limit apart from the ring road, and a few other clearly marked sections of main road, all of which are dual carriageways.
Speed activated signs
An increasingly familiar sight on the roads is the speed-activated sign. These are signs which record the speed of every vehicle that passes them, and flashes the speed limit to those who are exceeding it, as a warning and reminder. These signs are moved around the City on a weekly basis to new sites where there is a history of accidents, and where concerns have been expressed about the speed of traffic. The information gathered by these signs provides us with useful information on which to base future works programmes, and gives us the opportunity to ask the Police to carry out enforcement where we think it is necessary.
Further information