Andrew Gabriel wrote:
In article ,
"Robin" writes:
Apologies for mis-keying leading to premature epostulation

pedantry_watch

I think there's also an exemption from repeater signs if there are
full-size 20 mph signs at every entrance to the controlled roads.
That catches out some visitors here where - although AFAICS there's
no enforcement of the lmit at all.

/pedantry_watch

My reading of the road signs act at the time was that 20MPH limits
have to have either regular 20MPH repeater signs, or traffic calming
measures in order to be enforcible. We have neither. Specifically,
the 20 signs they painted on the road as repeaters don't count.

The requirement for repeaters applies in all cases where the speed
limit is different from what it would be if there are no signs. 20MPH
zones are slightly different in that traffic calming measures
designed to limit speed can be used instead of repeaters.

Sorry. I was told that repeaters or calming measures were now no longer
compulsory but I think I was misled or mistaken as I can't find
authority for it. I'm certainly not going to die in a ditch over a mix
of legislation and DfT directions which seem designed to maximise
opacity.

But I'd like to offer a point about signs painted in the road which
might explain what I was told and which might be relevant to you i.d.c.

I agree that traffic calming can be used instead of repeaters - and
indeed that traffic calming was intended to be at the heart of 20 mph
zones when they started . But DfT issued Special Directions on 17/10/11
which *seem* to make things more complicated. Eg according to
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/3218/area-wide-authorisations-special-directions.pdf
Direction 18(1) "allows traffic authorities to use these roundels [ie in
the road] - when varied to "20" - on the carriageway as an alternative
to upright repeater signs in 20 mph zones. For 20 limits, the marking
may also be placed as an alternative to upright repeater signs; however,
it should be noted that TSRGD requires a minimum of one upright repeater
to diagram 670 to be placed in 20 mph limits - unless the restriction is
shorter than 200 metres in length."

In short, I think signs painted in the road may count - in some circs at
least. And the person whol told me repeater signs weren't necessary may
have had in mind "signs on poles" (which is what we were discussing)
rather than "signs painted in the road".

The police here already said they wouldn't enforce it, but they would
support the council setting up the speedwatch group if they wanted to.

In London the Met have recently started enforcing the limits - eg IIRC
only from October in Islington. But it's clearly not a priority.

--
Robin
reply to address is (meant to be) valid