Sunday 22 August 2010

20 mph is good in Corby, or any other residential area for that matter.

Most residential areas in Corby have 20 mph speed limits. I often find drivers impatient, with some coming far too close in the hope that I will drive faster, and some overtaking recklessly, as I try to drive responsibly. People suggest that there is no need to drive at 20, because they have proved 30 (and even 30+) to be safe because they have driven for years without an accident.

The other night I was driving FTP home from Corby station, the sun was shining and the road was dry. I was driving around a Renault Scenic which was parked on the left side of the road, when a 4 year old girl ran from behind the parked car. Having no warning of her presence until she in front of FTP, I managed to stop without hitting her - but only just. I was traveling at 20 mph, if I had have been going at 30 mph I would have hit her.

Incidents are rare, but I am glad I was not reckless, especially with another persons suffering. I have long been sympathetic to the idea of 20 being the standard speed for residential areas; now I have tangible experience that believing 30 mph is safe on residential streets is just wishful thinking.

Saturday 7 August 2010

Ragwort Explosion.

Ragwort is a weed that is toxic to livestock, it is one of 5 weeds listed in the Weeds Act 1959, and as such landowners should take steps to prevent it spreading to other peoples land. An excellent description of the ragwort problen can be found on the Surrey County Council website.

For the last few years I can not recall seeing ragwort, but recently it is rapidly appearing in small numbers along most roads in Northamptonshire (its probably re-appearing and spreading inother areas too). FTP parked next to some near Chelveston the other day:

ragwort

In the past controlling has been a major issue to Highways Authorities, which is why it has not been common for some years. In the current economic climate will ragwort control be seen as an important issue again?