London Cab Driver Slams 'Ridiculous' 10mph Speed Limit Proposal

Rejection of 10mph Speed Limit Proposal

• 🎯 Grant Davis, chair of the London Cab Drivers Club, calls the proposed 10mph speed limit 'absolutely ridiculous'.
• 💡 The proposal, from the Road Safety Foundation, suggests slashing speed limits to 10mph on roads near schools, hospitals, and major events.
• ⚠️ Davis argues that such a low limit is impractical, especially in London, which was already ranked the slowest city in Europe at an average of 11.2mph.

Impact of 20mph Speed Limits

• штраф £100 fines and three penalty points are being issued for minor infringements, such as doing 24mph in a 20mph zone late at night.
• 🚗 Many drivers, including Davis, took their tests when the limit was 30mph, making the current 20mph limit a significant adjustment.
• ⚡ The quiet nature of electric cabs makes it easier to unintentionally exceed the speed limit by 1-2mph without realizing.

Concerns About E-bikes and Scooters

• 🚴‍♂️ Davis highlights that e-bikes and scooters, capable of speeds up to 40mph, are frequently seen speeding past slower traffic.
• 🚨 He points to these faster-moving vehicles as a significant cause of accidents involving pedestrians, particularly in busy urban areas.
• 🚦 There is a lack of training for riders of these vehicles, leading to dangerous riding on city streets.

Economic and Practical Considerations

• 🚫 The notion that slower speeds lead to more income for taxi drivers is dismissed as an 'old wives' tale'; drivers aim to complete fares efficiently to secure new ones.
• 🚧 London's traffic is heavily impacted by gridlock and extensive road works, making adherence to very low speed limits challenging and frustrating for passengers with time constraints.
• 📉 The proposal for a 20mph limit on all single carriage roads, even rural ones, is deemed 'absolutely ridiculous'.

Road Safety vs. Speed

• 🏥 The Road Safety Foundation's goal of 'vision zero' aims for the elimination of road deaths and serious injuries.
• ⚠️ However, Davis contends that many road deaths are caused by careless driving, which he considers a more significant issue than speed alone.
• 🗣️ Davis has provided evidence to the transport committee at city hall regarding the impact of recent changes on taxi drivers.