The 'We are the New Masters' kind of mentality seems to be a recurring theme among those with a little power to brandish
From 'On the Road':
"On one road there was a strong local agitation for a speed limit. Analysis showed that none of the accidents were connected with excessive speed, but there were some associated with cars stopping at the shop.
So the Council built a lay-by for the shop, and this seemed to stop the accidents.
At about the same time, the Parish Council took matters into its own hands (as they could at the time) by erecting some rudimentary street-lamps, thus forcing a lower limit to be posted. Everyone was against this, even the police.
In the three years before the limit, there had been 12 accidents. In the three years after, there were 19.
As was my usual practice, I reported this to the local Road Safety Committee. At the meeting the Parish Council Representative said:"My Council doesn't mind if the accidents have increased, we have got our speed limit!"
The mental obliquity of people who impose a speed limit to make a road safer, but who then do not mind when the accident rate increases is unbelievable. But it happened!"
The above is from a report by accident expert JJ Leeming in the 1960's.....
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