Magor road speed restriction

[tgarcez]

Interestingly I have noticed the slow introduction of speed restriction on the Magor road. It seems the entire road will be 50 mph with the section around the Old Barn Inn 30 mph. It's not clear why the rest of the road has to be 50 mph - I would have thought derestricted would have been ok. Likewise the section at the Old Barn Inn could have been 40 mph (IMHO).

Does anyone have any insider knowledge/information or even just an alternative point of view?

[A.Mifsud]

It doesn't stop there! If you carry on past the Old Barn towards Magor there are new speed restrictions along this road too. As soon as you get to the Monmouthshire Council boundary everything makes sense again?? It would seem that Newport City Council have lots of red paint and road signs they need to use up!

[Alan7]

The scheme was proposed over a year ago following a fatal accident between Langstone & Llanmartin.

From the A48 through Langstone = 30MPH (as it is now)
Langstone to the Livery Stable = 50MPH
Livery Stable to the Old Vicarage (through Llanmartin) = 30MPH If you ever try to get out of the Old Barn or out of Wentwood Road or drag a few crumpled cars off my garden wall, not to mention the bend or the adverse chamber, or the bus stop, you'll understand why it is 30MPH
The Old Vicarage to Magor Roundabout = 50MPH

Once the road signs are up & the restrictions come into place BEWARE

[Alan7]

The road signs are up & the speed limits are now operational

[tgarcez]

I'm only disappointed I did not get an opportunity to object to this change in it's entirety.

This document (http://www.newport.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/report/cont390337.pdf) makes interesting reading.

[A.Mifsud]

Did anyone see these notices which gave the opportunity for objections? Any idea as to where they would have been posted? It seems to me that those who drive at dangerous speed will just ignore the new limits while the rest of us spend more time checking speedos and consequently looking away from the road and any hazards.

[Pete Howlett]

Yes where were they? The delimits are confusing and bear no relation to my driving experience onto the Underwood estate from the Coldra... I'm wracking my brains but cannot for the life of me remember any road surveying that would give the data quoted in the above named document.

[A.Mifsud]

Would there be a case to challenge this if it could be proved that due consultation had not taken place? These new limits seem very variable over such a short distance. Also, the speed limit on the Underwood estate remains at 30mph. This seems more suitable for 20mph given the amount of parked vehicles and children. The sign at the entrance for Bishton Lane remains at the national speed limit.Likewise the turnoff just before the brewery towards Llanwern. I would defy anyone to manage this without a collision.

[A.Mifsud]

http://blog.motorists.org/how-should-speed-limits-be-set/ (http://blog.motorists.org/how-should-speed-limits-be-set/)
http://www.abd.org.uk/speedobj.htm

It seems that these kind of changes can be challenged using the information above. Maybe not retrospectvely though?

[Pete Howlett]

I totally agree with the Underwood suggestion - delimiting to 20mph would be sensible as it should be in any built up area.

[Cargo-Girl]

Agree that there should be some sort of speed restriction going through Llanmartin, but 30 mph seems a bit like over-kill to be honest. 40 mph would significantly improve road safety regarding exit and entrance of side roads, but as there are no direct house entrances onto the road 30 mph isn't really justified.
The new 50 mph speed limit should have been left at the national speed limit. In my work as a hgv driver I travel a fair bit of roads every day and I can't for the life of me see what makes the Langstone - Magor road so much more dangerous than other single lane roads. A 50 mph limit will not improve road safety on that road. All that has happened is, that now you get overtaken by impatient drivers who doesn't obey the speed limit and thus creating more dangerous situations than before, where most of us would be rolling along at 50 - 60 mph.

Did the residents really have a say in this I wonder ?

[Alan7]

"....but as there are no direct house entrances onto the road 30 mph isn't really justified. " Sorry to disappoint you but what about Oakfield Cottage, Cotleigh Court & Cotlieigh House opposite the Old Barn pub, I live in one of those houses & regularly have to go to the assistance of crashed motorist who didn't get around the bend because they were going too fast.

[Cargo-Girl]

Sorry, what I meant was that there are no houses that have their front doors straight onto the pavement as you will find in town.
There's a good reduction in speed from 60mph to 40 mph. In the end of the day,- you could have as low a speed limit as you want, but that will still not take the bad drivers off the road. Those drivers don't respect speed limits anyway and very rarely have the use of common sense either.
We really should have had a trial period with a 40 mph speed limit.