I have been driving up and down the A515 most weekdays for around 12 years. From 1995 when we lived in Doveridge, near Uttoxeter to work in Buxton, and from 2002 when we moved to Parwich. The past month, I have witnessed more dangerous driving incidents than most of those 12 years put together.
What has changed this past month? The speed limit has been reduced for most of the length between Ashbourne and Buxton from 60mph to 50mph.
On the face of it, one would think that reducing the speed limit would encourage safer driving, and I for one would certainly endorse a reduction in limit (to 40 or even 30) in inherently dangerous stretches such as the Alsop curves, Fenny Bentley and Brierlow Bar. However, a blanket 50mph along the whole stretch including Lean Low seems to be encouraging some really bad driving.
Many drivers have dutifully reduced their speed, however many don’t, and some appear to get frustrated with those who do observe the 50 limit which encourages dangerous overtaking manoeuvres at high speed. A great distance can be covered overtaking a vehicle traveling at 50mph, and drivers get themselves into trouble very quickly through a lack of judgement about how much road they have available.
Several times in the past month, I have come over the brow of a hill to find two cars abreast traveling toward me at relative closing speed of 100mph+. I honestly do not believe the road has been made safer in many stretches by the introduction of this blanket 50mph speed limit, and additionally there are very expensive looking solar and wind powered signs appearing along the length of the road, presumably to remind drivers to keep to the speed limit.
It doesn’t seem to make sense to me – I just don’t want to give in to the cynic in me which suspects an ulterior motive. What authority could possibly put revenue raising above safety considerations?
Comments?
PARWICH.ORG 
Is it me, or do the vast number of signs serve as a distraction? Certainly I feel this is the case with A52 between Ashbourne and Leek, where so much time is taken up looking at the signs and monitoring your speed that it is hard to fit in watching the road as well.
I couldn’t agree more about the dangers of the road. One of the most confusing sections is towards one of the turnings for Hartingdon – a sign states that there is an experiment being carried out, so there is no overtaking for a certain distance, however the central road markings are broken, which normally indicates that overtaking is permitted. Confusing?
How long has this experimental sign been up & what are the results of this experiment?
they have been up a few years now, and are often broken, as i suspect many people don’t realise what the no overtaking sign is.