The Ranty Highwayman

Sustainable Safety - An Introduction A few months back, I wrote about how Vision Zero became mainstream in Sweden. This week, I want to introduce another road safety approach....

I don't care what you call it, but the UK really needs to embrace the safe systems approach to road design and street management if we are to stop death and injury on our streets, tackle health issues from inactivity and indeed, productiveuty,

We could have nice places too.

The minister needs to be in on that conversation if we are ever going to deal with the unhealthly relationship we have with driving in this country.

School gate risk We support those communities that want 20mph where people are

I think we need a conversation. 80% of child casualties are when NOT walking to or from school. See www.20splenty.org/school_gate_...

Vision Zero is *not* about a curative approach to treating existing issues, it is about systemic redesign so they don't happen in the first place.

The approach is entirely sound, it is the absolutely the politics that is the cop-out.

Advisory limit though?

That this happened at all shows what a problem we have.

That the perpetrator was unrepentant, the sentence minimal and the victim DEFENDED that it was "hard" to drive at 20mph shows that we've internalised motornormativity.

Unless the government commits to Vision Zero, then their strategy has already failed. Like so many before have.

The UK has *no* variable speed limits on non-motorway roads. It's an idea which has no value, but my my main beef is with the minister who *should* understand this stuff.

Safe speeds is one of the pillars of Vision Zero, but as the strategy is not VS, it can be derided.

Honestly. They are useless.

The problem is, kids don't live at school and they are out on the streets at times other than travelling to school.

Besides, other people need to be protected at all times too.

But it's a cop out answer and intensely annoying that England doesn't get devolved choices as Wales & Scotland does.

Get tae Falkirk.

lower cost, re-usable, allows for affordable maintenance and rehab work - plus the public realm doesn't look like sh*t

With apologies to the old naval joke that every ship can be a minesweeper once

Tesco in Bognor Regis plans to raise car park to beat flooding Previous floods have forced the Tesco store in Bognor Regis to close.

Now there is a climate emergency metaphor. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

It's like the geometry is some kind of unchanging naturally-occurring property rather than being the thing that they designed that's no longer fit for purpose.

“and could unintentionally reduce safety” …for which there is no evidence whatsoever.

I've not read the government's road safety strategy in detail, I don't need to because given it is not wrapped in Vision Zero, it's already a failure.

Absolutely nobody is suggesting an interurban dual carriageway is made 20mph, but if a local street has a function and geometry incompatible with 20mph, then something is seriously wrong and needs investment to change.

"However, the Government does not support mandating a national change, as many roads are unsuited to 20mph by the nature of their function or geometry and could unintentionally reduce safety."

This government is not very good at this stuff.

Every second of free time you have ever had in your life was subsidized by the existence of the combine harvester.

FACTS:

Net Zero barely nudges your bill.

Fossil‑fuel wars send it through the roof.

So when Farage and his ilk slags off renewables while fanning conflict, remember who actually hikes your costs.

This is not trumpet blowing. I'm genuinely researching to improve my knowledge!

I've been Googling something technical and was very irritated to see my own blog come up.

No, I need to know more than I have written already, Ian Google.

😂

Can you imagine any scenario in which this would be feasible today in the UK?! Even if there was good infrastructure the whole way, there's no way all the parents would agree to it due to "concerns" and half the kids wouldn't be physically fit enough.

homer simpson from the simpsons is standing in a grassy field and thinking about his own business . ALT: homer simpson from the simpsons is standing in a grassy field and thinking about his own business .

After some reminders on LinkedIn I’ve realised that it’s 10 years ago today since I last had a proper job. Self Employment all the way for the last decade. Thanks to all who helped in the early days. Never say never but no plans to change anything 🤞🏻.

Nearly two years for me. Ups and downs for sure, but I just don't fancy working for a boss ever again.

As long as she is at the front leading them.

Get your free stickers to remind drivers that 20’s plenty To mark the implementation of Oxfordshire’s 275th 20mph scheme, Oxfordshire residents can apply for free wheelie bin stickers to remind motorists to stick to the lower limit.After launching its 20mph ...

Oxfordshire has now launched 275 20mph schemes! All locally requested and approved by Cllrs of all political parties. Because people like 20mph where they live.

Also @oxfordshirecc.bsky.social is giving away FREE 20mph stickers. @20splenty.bsky.social

news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/get-your-fre...

Harrow to keep free parking scheme permanently Harrow Council offers at least one hour of free parking across its 13 car parks.

Repeat after me: there is no such thing as free parking www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...