Things That Gladden The Heart

My sister and her 4 kids coming to stay at ours this week.
Lots of fun things planned and my kids all joining in on various days.
Gonna need a holiday to get over it!
 
That in my five days recently in south Wales I got rather used to driving along urban/street-lit roads in Wales at 20mph. It was weird at first…but boy speeding up to 30mph when permitted it was easy to appreciate the difference the 10mph would make if a pedestrian was hit. I was also a little surprised to see that most drivers seemed to adhere to the 20mph limit.

And so back in England I have found it far easier to drive at 20mph when such a limit is imposed. I get that it can be a frustrating nuisance for the driver who likes a bit of speed in their driving, but hey…in built up areas they shouldn’t be looking to drive at what they consider a safe speed, they should be driving at a speed that is safe for all…especially pedestrians.
 
SwingsitlikeHogan said:
That in my five days recently in south Wales I got rather used to driving along urban/street-lit roads in Wales at 20mph. It was weird at first…but boy speeding up to 30mph when permitted it was easy to appreciate the difference the 10mph would make if a pedestrian was hit. I was also a little surprised to see that most drivers seemed to adhere to the 20mph limit.

And so back in England I have found it far easier to drive at 20mph when such a limit is imposed. I get that it can be a frustrating nuisance for the driver who likes a bit of speed in their driving, but hey…in built up areas they shouldn’t be looking to drive at what they consider a safe speed, they should be driving at a speed that is safe for all…especially pedestrians.
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When I was in Wales last month, I wondered how anyone would get hit by a car at 20mph. It seemed so slow that even an old lady would be able to get out of the way before they got hit 😃
 
Just got on a train. Was the only person getting on.

At my chosen set of doors a group of 6 or 7 youths got off...ages between 13 and 17.

I stood aside so they had room to get off.

At least four of them said "thank you".

Maybe sometimes we tar our young folk with negative stereotypes a little to often.

Cheers Lads.
 
SwingsitlikeHogan said:
That in my five days recently in south Wales I got rather used to driving along urban/street-lit roads in Wales at 20mph. It was weird at first…but boy speeding up to 30mph when permitted it was easy to appreciate the difference the 10mph would make if a pedestrian was hit. I was also a little surprised to see that most drivers seemed to adhere to the 20mph limit.

And so back in England I have found it far easier to drive at 20mph when such a limit is imposed. I get that it can be a frustrating nuisance for the driver who likes a bit of speed in their driving, but hey…in built up areas they shouldn’t be looking to drive at what they consider a safe speed, they should be driving at a speed that is safe for all…especially pedestrians.
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One of the problems I have with 20 mph speed limits is when they are put outside schools and apply at all times. One of the local villages has timed speed limit signs (electric warning signs) with 20 during certain times and they have not been turned off during the school holidays.
 
jim8flog said:
One of the problems I have with 20 mph speed limits is when they are put outside schools and apply at all times. One of the local villages has timed speed limit signs (electric warning signs) with 20 during certain times and they have not been turned off during the school holidays.
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Though I have to ask - what is the problem with driving at 20mph...other than it feels a bit weird at first - it adds very little to overall average journey times. My albeit limited experience is that I was getting used to it - and so when I got back home I found driving in our town centre 20mph zone much easier and less frustrating. The more I do something that feels a bit odd; the easier it becomes to do it (bit like they say golf should be).
 
SwingsitlikeHogan said:
Though I have to ask - what is the problem with driving at 20mph...other than it feels a bit weird at first - it adds very little to overall average journey times. My albeit limited experience is that I was getting used to it - and so when I got back home I found driving in our town centre 20mph zone much easier and less frustrating. The more I do something that feels a bit odd; the easier it becomes to do it (bit like they say golf should be).
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Not sure I would use the word easier - I was only in Wales for a week and only drove 2/3 of the days there but when I was driving I was spending more time looking at the speedo than the road. Maybe with more time would get more used to it but didn't in the short time I was there.
 
SwingsitlikeHogan said:
Though I have to ask - what is the problem with driving at 20mph...other than it feels a bit weird at first - it adds very little to overall average journey times. My albeit limited experience is that I was getting used to it - and so when I got back home I found driving in our town centre 20mph zone much easier and less frustrating. The more I do something that feels a bit odd; the easier it becomes to do it (bit like they say golf should be).
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It feels painful in areas where there is no risk and if people don't see the point, they wont follow it. I agree with them being outside schools but having them wider spread is unnecessary.

I also agree with @Neilds It is so slow that I have to keep checking the speedo, taking my eyes off the road more than I would normally.
 
SwingsitlikeHogan said:
Though I have to ask - what is the problem with driving at 20mph...other than it feels a bit weird at first - it adds very little to overall average journey times. My albeit limited experience is that I was getting used to it - and so when I got back home I found driving in our town centre 20mph zone much easier and less frustrating. The more I do something that feels a bit odd; the easier it becomes to do it (bit like they say golf should be).
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For me journey times have absolutely nothing to do with it. I have always been an approver of speed limits appropriate to the situation.

E.G Where I live there is an absolute dead straight road miles long in the middle of nowhere, the council changed the speed from the national limit (60) to 40.
Generally speaking I will drive around 20 in built up areas on non major roads.

The road in question is one of the main roads between the A303 and the main town, at one time it was 60, it was then reduced to 40 and then to 30 with 20mph outside of the school (not that the entrance to the school is in that road), the 20mph does not bother me as it is appropriate when it is around the school arrival and departure times (similarly the reduction to 30mph through the village) Why have 20mph speed limits when the school is closed?
 
Did a satisfying bit of housekeeping the other day
Cleaned out the drawer with all the old mobiles in it, all over 15yrs old. Blackberry’s, Motorola, iphone4 etc. soaked them all in cola for a couple of days then snapped the sim cards and smashed the handsets with a convenient breezeblock, nice
 
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