April 1st 2005
Chester Chronicle
Hundreds of motorists have signed up to a campaign to become mobile speed enforcers.
And thousands more in Chester and across the county are expected to jump on board as the campaign to 'Set The Pace' gathers momentum.
Speed demons will have more to contend with than the odd camera as rural communities unite to force traffic to slow down.
The object is to force other drivers to slow down as they find themselves stuck behind pledged drivers.
'Mobile traffic calming is very much about individuals taking responsibility. Everyone wants to change the world but no-one thinks to change themselves,' said Justine Hart, Cheshire County Council senior road safety officer.
She said: 'If everyone travelled at safer speeds we wouldn't need other measures like cameras and humps.'
As an added incentive, drivers who display Set The Pace car stickers are entered into regular draws with prizes for the winners.
Paula Hamp, of Christleton, had first-hand experience of the dangers of speeding when she saw her friend's son thrown 40ft by a car going at 40mph last November.
'We thought he was dead,' she said. 'At 30mph you stand a chance, but at 40mph almost everyone is killed.'
Paula, her friend Helen Layder and their two sons were crossing the A41 Whitchurch Road when a car ran a red light ploughing into six-year-old Joe.
'We crossed the road and the next thing, Helen's life had collapsed. I dragged her away because I thought Joe was dead, he was crumpled up on the road.
Luckily, Joe survived and is now fully recovered but the experience has made Paula and friends determined to change the way people drive. They are campaigning to reduce the speed limit at the scene of the accident.
'I'm driving differently as a result,' said Paula, commenting on Set The Pace she said: 'If it slows down people who speed it's brilliant.'
Groups in Tarvin, Norley, Ashton Hayes, Cotebrook and Tattenhall have requested forms, which require drivers and passengers to sign a pledge to keep to the speed limit or road conditions.
From:
http://iccheshireonline.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/chesterchronicle/tm_objectid=15355693%26method=full%26siteid=50020-name_page.html
Again my emphasis.
So, what about Rule 7:.........
b) Stop.....
c) Look all around for traffic .......
d) If traffic is coming, let it pass. Look all around again and listen. Do not cross until there is a safe gap in the traffic and you are certain that there is plenty of time. Remember, even if traffic is a long way off, it may be approaching very quickly.
e) When it is safe, go straight across the road - do not run. Keep looking and listening for traffic while you cross, in case there is any traffic you did not see, or in case other traffic appears suddenly.
Or Rule 18:
At all crossings. When using any type of crossing you should
- always check that the traffic has stopped before you start to cross or push a pram onto a crossing
Then there's Rule 19:
Zebra crossings. Give traffic plenty of time to see you and to stop before you start to cross. .......... Wait until traffic has stopped from both directions or the road is clear before crossing. Keep looking both ways, and listening, in case a driver or rider has not seen you.
And what about Rule 21:
At traffic lights.......watch carefully and do not cross until the traffic lights are red and the traffic has stopped. Keep looking.......
And Rule 22:
Pelican crossings. .........check the traffic has stopped then cross with care.......
Or have I got hold of the wrong end of the stick:
If road "safety" officers and other "do-gooders" campaigned for children (and adult pedestrians) to be taught the Highway Code, or even just the Green Cross Code, it would practically eliminate pedestrian casualties overnight.
Instead, because of the anti-speed agenda of the anti car lobby, we continue to see kids killed.
How come they never call for "twenty's plenty" on the rail roads?