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Dear Sirs,
I should like to write in support of the proposed changes in Island speed limits. I fell that the reduction to 30mph for built up zones is right, and will take in the already reduced limits in St.Clement and part of St.Helier.
The greens lane are a problem, and here I feel a reduction of the proposed 20 to 15 mph is a good thing. This together with a general 30mph or roads without a white line, will only simplify the speed limits is those areas with 20mph in the Island such as in St.Peter and St.Mary are increased to 30mph. I feel that there should only be 3 levels of speed limits, and these should be 15, 30 and 40 or 20 30 and 40 so either the green lanes go up or the 20's go up or down.
Where I live on La Grande Route de St.Jean, we have had many speed related accidents around the junction with Rueette Pinel. Directly outside our house we have had 3 deaths in the last 20 years, two in cars and one on a bicycle. Since these deaths we have pushed for the limit to be dropped to 30mph between the 30 limit and Sion and the 30 limit in St.Helier. This is one of the accident black spots and even though St.Helier approve a drop in the limit the read remains a 40mph. There must be no other piece of road in the island so neglected by the States in the introduction of a safer speed limit. Can any on the scrutiny panel name another stretch that has had 3 deaths in the last 20 years, and an accident every 3 to 4 weeks that is still a 40 mph area? This problem has been made worse by this short 40mph section of road being in St.John, then Trinity then St.Helier.
As a driver, and member of 3 old car clubs, I feel that any changes should result in a more simple way of looking at the speed limits, and thus support a tree value system, and would favour 15, 30 and 40mph speed limits. Also, I would remove all speeding fines to a central fixed penalty system to keep track of repeat offenders, with 505 of proceeds split among the parishes, and alow for on the spot fines or postal payments. I would still leave the removal of licences to the courts, via the parishes, and not introduce penalty points, but have for example a maximum number of low speed fixed payments that can be applied (eg 4 times fined for up to 30% over the limit) before attending court, or on the first offence if over 30% over the limit. The public and visitors need speed limit system that is fair, easy to operate and understand.
Thanks,
Philip Johnson