a580 speed limit

They've changed the former national speed limit between Haydock and Croxteth to 60. I've not noticed any cameras yet but there are warning signs and those patronising "SLOW DOWN" LED signs that that flash up right in your face at anything above 10mph and distract you from the road.

Does anyone know why they have changed the limit? I can think of no good safety reason - nobody is going to pay attention to it anyway - I can't think of a road with better visibility in the UK, those of you who know it will know you can see for about 2 miles down the road, with nothing but fields either side of you.

if its a single carridge way road without a central reservation, then the national speed limit it 60 anyway.

But if it is a dual carridgeway il shut up now

It's dual carriageway. Noticed the speed limit change a while back and it's probably due to some of the accidents and complaints.
Even at 70MPH on that road I've been passed by some very rapid traffic.
Watch out for mobile cameras, I've seen a couple.

I've not noticed any cameras yet but there are warning signs and those patronising "SLOW DOWN" LED signs that that flash up right in your face at anything above 10mph and distract you from the road.

At least them patronising LED signs dont make prizes

Points make Prizes

Totally Stupid I know.

The A580 is known as the East Lancashire Road and is motorway standard

[mac608]

Wot full of pot holes and car drivers who can't

There has been several fatal accidents along this route in the last couple of years and the Police have applied for the 60mph limit. Two of the accidents have been at the Rainford junction, the one that cuts out the A570/A580 junction at St Helens, the last one being just before Christmas. ( I was unfortunate enough to be caught in the aftermath, bits of car scattered everywhere, not too pretty )There is no reason for this route not to be 70mph, a lot of it has been resurfaced during the last 12 months. It is wide, has safety barriers and does not pass through housing estates. Perhaps if these "rat runs" and unsafe minor junctions were redesigned, a big problem being a dog leg junction across the East Lancs, then the road would be a lot safer for all road users! There are no speed cameras now, but there will be speed traps in operation to augment the new limits. That was my entire route to work and now they've spoilt all my fun!

...and watch out for a**holes pulling out in front of you in 4x4's down there, I very nearly got a close up of the driver even though I was keeping to the speed limit, still managed to stop in pleanty space but it certainly got the **** going!

With the many intersections along the East Lancs as I know it, the road is not to be taken lightly.
On the section you mention unfortunately some friends of mine were involved in a fatal accident ...a lovely couple that were soon to be wed. They had left a whole group of us just 5 minutes earlier and were taken out by a car cutting across them. It was the first time anyone close to me,(family or friend) had died and almost as sad was the fact that the great bunch of people who used to bike around together broke up after the funerals.It was like we all needed to grieve alone. Sorry for being so morbid but as you can tell it has had a lasting affect on me.

Easy one this.............It's cheaper to reduce the speed limit than solve the problems of accidents. Where else do you have 'T' junctions with no traffic control system and where they join a 70 mph road!!!!
Imagine joining the motorway from a give way sign and no run on....

Originally Posted by furkuk

Easy one this.............It's cheaper to reduce the speed limit than solve the problems of accidents. Where else do you have 'T' junctions with no traffic control system and where they join a 70 mph road!!!!
Imagine joining the motorway from a give way sign and no run on....

Have you been on the mancunian way in manchester, theres a junction just like that and it actually is a motorway, you have to come to a complete stop almost just to see if there is any oncoming traffic.

If i didnt have the acceleration of the SV on my side when joining this (and a couple of the junctions on the affor mentionioned East lancs) id surely be 10 times as scared of it as i am now.

Imagine joining on something like that in a 1L micra or similiar, frightning!