Your Bucks
Get involved: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting bfp news to 80360 or email »
Ex-mayor calls for changes to M40
2:52pm Thursday 20th December 2007
Comments (23)THE former Mayor of High Wycombe has written to the Bucks Free Press to express his frustration at the accidents that have plagued the south Bucks stretch of the M40 in recent months.
In the letter, Councillor Darren Hayday, who represents the Booker and Cressex ward, said the number of accidents on the motorway was "madness".
The letter reads: "How many more deaths and serious injuries need to happen until this problem is seriously addressed? And sorted out!
"I have personally witnessed a pile up whilst driving in the opposite direction and I have seen cars fly through the air; I have also witnessed some terrible driving from drivers just swerving through lanes at speed without indicating and with no thought for any other road user.
"It just takes one of these incompetent fools to cause the chaos and unnecessary deaths - again and again and again!
"I ask for support in insisting that this stretch of motorway follows the example from Germany in that the speed limit is reduced to help bring down the number of accidents.
"I am not saying that all motorways need to have a reduction in speed limits - however, and especially for those of us that live near to the motorway having to put up with the noise - in accident black spots and in built up areas - let's have a monitored and controlled reduction in speed.
"I am a supporter of the Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance that come in to help these victims, the next crash could be any of our family, friends and loved ones - can someone please help and let us get this organised?"
Your Say YourBucks Free Press
Mutley, High Wycombe says...
3:57pm Thu 20 Dec 07
While I might agree with a variable speed limit like on the M25 when conditions dictate, a blanket speed reduction will just cause frustration when it is not necessary, such as during off-peak times. And it would need to be backed up with cameras which would give rise to more "revenue generator" comments.
Proper policing is the answer. We know where the blackspots are, so a few watching patrol cars wouldn't come amiss.
Running Man, HW says...
4:10pm Thu 20 Dec 07
Darren, because you are looking at traffic on the other carriageway (a practice known as rubbernecking), you are in fact guilty of dangerous driving yourself!
Ask any traffic officer the number of accidents that this type of behaviour causes.
In my view, Darren has made a reliable admission of an offence here, and the authorities should act accordingly.
ajb100, Wycombe says...
4:19pm Thu 20 Dec 07
why would reducing the speed limit stop people speeding? they will continue to travel at a speed which they feel is suitable, regardless if the limit is 70, 60 or even 50. all it will do is annoy everyone else.
For the other point of people carelesly changing lanes, again, what will lowering the speed limit do? people will cut in still, and as the limit is lower, the traffic will be bunched up more keeping the spaces the same, will simply reduce the breaking distance which wont matter in moving traffic and someone cuts you up.
you also make me laugh, assuming you moved into your current hourse, you move to a house and then complain about the noise and say something has to be done.
thats like me having a phobia of trees, moving into a cottage in the forest and then complaining theres too many trees?
Heartyr, High Wycombe says...
4:43pm Thu 20 Dec 07
A, High Wycombe says...
4:44pm Thu 20 Dec 07
chris toff, South Bucks says...
5:39pm Thu 20 Dec 07
spotty, Holmer Green says...
6:18pm Thu 20 Dec 07
Mutley, High Wycombe says...
6:24pm Thu 20 Dec 07
minijem, Maidenhead says...
6:26pm Thu 20 Dec 07
We have to have more police patrols on the roads and motorways. They are virtually non-existant. Cameras can't detect drunk, drugged and dangerous drivers. They don't detect drivers following too closely. Even if they could it would be difficult to analyse the causes and attribute blame, because a lot of drivers cut closely after overtaking.
Sarah, Wycombe says...
8:19pm Thu 20 Dec 07
You don't need to be perfect, you just need to care, and try to make things better...and you're doing it.
Drivers need to learn to use the road properly because they put innocent lives at risk when they don't indicate/go too fast/pull out without warning...etc.
Running Man, HW says...
8:59pm Thu 20 Dec 07
Sarah wrote:Thanks Mrs Hayday!
Well done Mr Hayday for taking the bother to speak up. You don't need to be perfect, you just need to care, and try to make things better...and you're doing it. Drivers need to learn to use the road properly because they put innocent lives at risk when they don't indicate/go too fast/pull out without warning...etc.
Sarah, Wycombe says...
11:24pm Thu 20 Dec 07
i just noticed that at least he was bothering to do something, rather than some councillors who...well...don't!
wayne, wycombe says...
1:02am Fri 21 Dec 07
Lowering the speed limit would only serve to exasperate the problem, vehicles would bunch up more than usual, more crashes will occur as a result.
Running Man, HW says...
7:29am Fri 21 Dec 07
cocobay, High Wycombe says...
8:53am Fri 21 Dec 07
motco wrote:Yes they are some of the autobahns are deristricted, hence many drivers find themselve over there for speed and the nurburgring,
"I ask for support in insisting that this stretch of motorway follows the example from Germany in that the speed limit is reduced to help bring down the number of accidents.Aren't some, at least, of the German autobahns unlimited?
bladeblah, Bucks says...
9:24am Fri 21 Dec 07
ld on a daily basis it is the middle lane hoggers that cause half the accidents, forcing people to overtake and even undertake.
wayne, wycombe says...
12:44pm Fri 21 Dec 07
bladeblah wrote:I would agree with you here, especially just prior to the flyover at loudwater. I suppose this is also a symptom of lorries and light goods vehicles being forced to operate at no more than 56mph though; people are just fedup of having to keep changing lanes and so stick to the middle. Its muddled thinking and a consequence of being in the European Union unfortunately.
From what i've seen driving southboung towards loudwater/beaconsfie ld on a daily basis it is the middle lane hoggers that cause half the accidents, forcing people to overtake and even undertake.
hayday, Wycombe says...
2:30pm Fri 21 Dec 07
Doing "nothing" is not going to stop the accidents from happening. I hope that some-one supports me?
Malc London, Gerrards Cross says...
3:22pm Fri 21 Dec 07
Mutley, High Wycombe says...
3:27pm Fri 21 Dec 07
erm, ermsville says...
9:23pm Fri 21 Dec 07
Shouldn't you be writing to someone with more influence than the BFP?
wayne, wycombe says...
4:44pm Sun 23 Dec 07
hayday wrote:By the "correct speed limit" I trust Mr Hayday means, the speed as dictated by the conditions as opposed to the correct legal limit, there is a big difference between the two?
I was not "rubber necking", the accident actually took place as I was driving past (at the correct speed limit) and I caught it in my line of vision. I did not turn around; I carried on driving and contacted the police. Doing "nothing" is not going to stop the accidents from happening. I hope that some-one supports me?
The problem with Mr Hayday's opinion is that as an ex-mayor, his opinions are likely to carry some weight. It would be very dangerous to have drivers believing that merely being within the limit, will somehow make them safe; this is muddled and dangerous thinking that invariably will cause more loss of life and more accidents. The last thing we need on a motorway are those with their eyes glued to a speedo, we need good roadcraft and more checks on the roadworthiness of foreign vehicles and drivers. Unfortunately under this Government, roads traffic Officers are now few and far between.
I commend Mr Hayday for attempting to do something but it must be with in accordance with the advice and recommomendations of roads traffic Police.
In this section
- Second athletics club backs Handy Cross track move
- Police: cliff falls "quite unprecedented”
- "Diversity" DVD for schools
- Eden "more empty than High Street"
- Parking supremo: Marlow bays "entirely legitimate"
- Re-routed traffic warning over town centre plans
- Uni team to take on Three Peaks
- Two in court charged with murder of Jourdan Griffiths
- Hole ripped in fuel lorry on M40
- Students vote Bucks New Uni among best in country
Sponsored Links
Local Links
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
motco, Beaconsfield says...
3:31pm Thu 20 Dec 07
Aren't some, at least, of the German autobahns unlimited?