revtothelimit - motorbike forum

Wossname wrote: Sat Apr 25, 2026 11:03 am And what happened to the “10% + 2” mph idea?

What happened to the idea of the speed limit being the speed limit?

now you need to be “dead on”, as they say in NI.

No you don’t. You’re allowed to drive at any speed below the limit.

And what happened to the “10% + 2” mph

I always thought it was just +10% without the extra 2mph maybe that's why I've never been nobbled for speeding - but more likely I'm just a slow rider

Have to get in & around London for work at times, the old biffa is fine as is my diesel V40 but had the misfortune to drive Mrs dB Mazda last weekend - really didn't enjoy 20 at all.

Slight derail, but apparently the 20 limit is being considered a massive success in road safety circles, so don't think it's going to go away anytime soon.

The numbers they're getting for incidents and injuries show a huge reduction in 20mph areas. Its being called the greatest improvement in road safety since the seatbelt.

Also with noting that its roughly the same speed as the 30kph speed limit in most of Europe (at least i think most of Europe has 30k limits in town?)

Rockburner wrote: Sun Apr 26, 2026 9:35 am Slight derail, but apparently the 20 limit is being considered a massive success in road safety circles, so don't think it's going to go away anytime soon.

The numbers they're getting for incidents and injuries show a huge reduction in 20mph areas.

That'll be the Welsh data, with England as the experimental 'control' set.

However, given the reluctance to introduce Graduated Driving Licenses, despite substantial evidence, a nationwide 20 limit may still not happen.


Edit: Google says:

The implementation of a default 20 mph speed limit on restricted roads in Wales (introduced on 17 September 2023) has resulted in a significant reduction in road casualties, with data for the first full year showing roughly 100 fewer people killed or seriously injured.

Key Data Reduction Findings (First Year: Oct 2023 - Sept 2024)

Total Casualties: Road casualties on 20mph and 30mph roads combined fell by 28% compared to the same period the previous year.
Collisions: Recorded collisions on 20mph/30mph roads dropped by 26%.

Fatalities/Serious Injuries: The number of people killed or seriously injured on these roads saw a reduction of around 100 in the first year.

Speed Reduction: Average speeds fell by approximately 4mph on main roads.
Insurance Claims: Insurance company esure reported a 20% decrease in vehicle damage claims within these areas.

Contextual Factors
Performance: The first full year data indicates the policy has resulted in the lowest number of casualties in the third quarter of 2024 since records began.

Regional Variation: North Wales saw a 46% reduction in casualties, with 94% of roads changing from 30mph to 20mph.

Compliance: Data from GoSafe indicates that 97% of vehicles monitored since January 2024 were traveling below the enforcement threshold of 26mph.

Long-Term Trend: While casualties have been on a downward trend for the past decade, this reduction was described as the most successful road safety intervention in modern times, yielding a reduction nearly three times larger than the previous highest year-on-year drop.

Reversals: Following public feedback, some local councils have begun reversing the 20mph limit back to 30mph on specific roads.

Economic and Social Impact
Implementation Cost: The cost to implement the 20mph limit was approximately £34m.

Prevention Savings: Public health researchers estimate the casualty reductions could provide around £92m in annual prevention savings.

Economic Disbenefit: A Welsh government assessment projected an upper-bound "disbenefit" of £9 billion to the economy over 30 years due to increased journey times, although this figure is debated.

Rockburner wrote: Sun Apr 26, 2026 9:35 am Slight derail, but apparently the 20 limit is being considered a massive success in road safety circles, so don't think it's going to go away anytime soon

Yesterday I had to pull over so a farmer on a quad with a collie dog perched on the back could pass me. Seriously FFS

The A9 was made safer by the speed cameras. The raising of the speed limit for lorries to 50mph, bought in at the same time, was never mentioned.

Where I am in Germany is 50kph in built up areas, dropping to 30kph outside schools in the daytime and hospitals all day. AFAIK.

Speeding is speeding, the limit is the limit, there is absolutely no excuse for exceeding the speed limit on public roads

cheb wrote: Sun Apr 26, 2026 1:41 pm The A9 was made safer by the speed cameras. The raising of the speed limit for lorries to 50mph, bought in at the same time, was never mentioned.

Where I am in Germany is 50kph in built up areas, dropping to 30kph outside schools in the daytime and hospitals all day. AFAIK.

Men fought and died so we don’t have to comply with German requirements!

asmethurst99 wrote: Wed Apr 22, 2026 9:49 am I've been done three times for 23 in a 20 - I'm the most mild mannered least speedy person on here

Were those by speed cameras in London? Fairly sure I've been through a few of them at that speed, even slightly higher, and been lucky enough to not get nabbed.

Taipan wrote: Wed Apr 22, 2026 11:01 am The met are often down the Embankment with their speed guns. Ita dual carriageway ffs. I could at least understand if they were targeting backroads near schools and shops etc but the Victoria Embankment!

I've even taken to sitting in traffic on that stretch after the underpass going towards the traffic lights at Temple instead of filtering along the double solids - you can't see them until it's too late.

Wossname wrote: Sat Apr 25, 2026 11:03 am And what happened to the “10% + 2” mph idea? Yes yes I know it’s discretionary, but still. That would give you 24 as ok, and I have a slight anxiety that people now spend more time checking the numbers on their digital speedo than watching what’s happening around them.
In olden times you just needed the needle to be roughly in the right area, now you need to be “dead on”, as they say in NI.

It's 'guidance' and thus doesn't have to be followed.

And yes, I do spend a considerable amount of time checking the speedo and much of the rest watching out for potholes.

Beancounter wrote: Mon Apr 27, 2026 2:59 pm

asmethurst99 wrote: Wed Apr 22, 2026 9:49 am I've been done three times for 23 in a 20 - I'm the most mild mannered least speedy person on here

Were those by speed cameras in London? Fairly sure I've been through a few of them at that speed, even slightly higher, and been lucky enough to not get nabbed.

Taipan wrote: Wed Apr 22, 2026 11:01 am The met are often down the Embankment with their speed guns. Ita dual carriageway ffs. I could at least understand if they were targeting backroads near schools and shops etc but the Victoria Embankment!

I've even taken to sitting in traffic on that stretch after the underpass going towards the traffic lights at Temple instead of filtering along the double solids - you can't see them until it's too late.

All tickets I got have been in London - HAckney and Elephant and Castle over the last 6 years.
2 on a bike and one in our electric work car.