Can't Slow Me Down

Everyone complains about getting a speeding ticket, but how many of us try to change the speed limit to stop getting them?

Diane Greenwood, who lives in the town of Cleveleys in Lancashire, England is determined that her town not adopt a proposed 20 mph speed limit on residential streets. She claims that her BMW 320d will be damaged if she’s forced to drive at such a low speed.

Some cars just don't like going this slow.

Mrs. Greenwood claims that in order to observe the 20 mph limit, she’ll be forced to drive in third gear, which she claims will be bad for everyone.

“In fourth gear, my car tries to push to 22mph,” Greenwood says. “So I have to change down to third, which uses more fuel and puts more of a strain on the car.”

“I’m all in favor of 20 mph limits outside schools, but the roads around here are nice and wide, so not only is it pointless but it actually negates what they’re trying to achieve.”

She has said that if anything happens to her car she will sue the town council for the cost of repairs.

Proponents of the new speed limit are dismissive of her claims, however, pointing out that in Germany, where her BMW was built, many towns have speed limits of 30 kmh, which is the equivalent of 18 mph. So clearly if driving slow in residential areas were hazardous to BMWs, you’d think the Germans would have discovered this already.

As Paul Binks of the Lancashire County Council points out, the main purpose of the speed limit reduction is safety, so Mrs. Greenwood’s claim seems beside the point.

“People are much more likely to survive and have fewer injuries if involved in an accident at 20 mph than 30 mph,” Binks says. “Driving at 20 mph encourages a smoother driving style.”