Hello , and welcome to the first blog of “The MPHCollective” ,

For those who don’t know us we are a group of professionals who work in varying occupations but all of whom have an interest in reducing demand by suggesting practical, easy solutions to Transport and Policing issues that impact greatly on society.

We first came together during the first COVID lockdown purely for the purpose of passing the time by holding virtual tabletop trials of motoring offences to sharpen the skills of the legal practitioners in the group, this quickly expanded to discussions around solving the bigger problems behind the offences and led to the group expanding to encompass experience of psychology and marketing, as well as the existing policing and law.

We are very secretive around membership purely for the reason we have seen what impact being public facing on a chosen career can have, and until the point comes when it will not impact ,identities will remain hidden, with Mark, now retired volunteering to be the public face of the group until the rest of us join him in the freedom of not having professional associations and obligations.

The blogs will be written in the style used by Mark when he wrote the West Midlands Police Traffic blog, as it was these blogs and enquiries into them that initially brought the group together, so it will be informal, humorous and hopefully impactive, with the associated mentions of cake, beverages and music thrown in for good measure.

So without any more rambling on my part it’s time to go for the first after a meeting of the group called last Friday regards the idea of some roads in Wales being reverted back to 30mph limits. So grab a slice of cake, Lemon Drizzle always seems suited to spring but to go with the blog something Welsh like…well Welsh Cake !, a strong cup of coffee, and put on a bit of old school Acid Jazz like Corduroy and read on …..

Wales, 20mph and so much fuss about nothing

Funny things 20mph limits , they literally just pass most by , the blanket introduction though does seem to really motivate some to attain levels of complete hysteria not seen since KFC ran out of chicken, including members of out Think Tank !

We’ve talked talked a lot about 20mph limits in the thinktank discussions, with surprising outcomes, with us all , including the retired traffic cop not being in favour of blanket introduction, preferring instead the planned piecemeal introductions as seen in Birmingham in 2018. But here we are with the situation in Wales and people calling for some roads to be returned to 30mph…well we thought if that’s what they want , lets let them have it …..

It’s quite simple as we see it , if a road passes the criteria needed to return to a 30mph limit, give them a 30 mph limit ,but only on the condition it is an actual regulated, enforced 30 limit by way of engineering or camera enforcement with the enforcement starting at 31mph….if they want 30mph, that’s what they will get !

You can enforce at 31mph , the 10% + 1 is only guidance based on old engineering and even older thinking, engineering solutions to ensure 30mph and no more should be prioritised of course but on roads where this would not be deemed suitable average speed cameras should be used. This would give an average speed of anywhere between 29 -27mph due to manufacturer positive speedometer calibration giving a reduction in KSI’s of between 6-18% , just due to the reduced speed involved in collisions. This with the reduced noise and pollution would bring not far off the benefits inferred by an unregulated , unenforced 20mph limit.

Another condition of returning a road to 30mph is that the returned road should have a protected cycle lane incorporated, if not possible it stays 20mph to ensure the protection of Vulnerable Road Users, the difference between 20mph and 30mph to the vulnerable is huge, if you want 30mph , give them what they want, which is more protection from drivers who offend, that’s only fair in a give and take deal and will again see all the other benefits that would have been gained by 20mph retained in the new 30mph limit. Cost, cost you say….it’s nothing compared to the cost of the KSI’s otherwise, and what’s a little investment to ensure the return of a treasured 30mph limit.

So if they want to travel at 30mph on a road, if its suitable let them, but it will be 30 mph and no more, with protection for the vulnerable included, ensuring all the benefits that would have been gained from 20mph will be largely retained and they will have no cause to complain any further as they will get what they want, which is nice for everyone involved. Drivers will get their 30mph back on roads where suitable, everything will be in place to encourage Active Travel and model shift, the communities will still benefit from all the other benefits associated with slower traffic, and the areas deemed suitable to keep their new 20mph limits will retain them with the benefits they bring.

So everyone will be happy if it’s done that way…..won’t they ….what do mean they wanted to go faster than 30mph …..surely not !