March of the 20mph camera enforced speed limits on busiest roads across Britain

Motorists face £100 fines as 20mph limits are imposed on some of Britain’s busiest roads.

Until now, the lower 20mph speed limit has been restricted to smaller roads in residential areas or near schools. However this is about to change with 20mph limits to be introduced on major arterial roads (policed by the latest digital speed cameras).

London Mayor Boris Johnson has revealed that eight pilot schemes will be run on ‘Red Routes’ – the main arterial roads that carry a third of the capital’s traffic. 

Other towns and cities including Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh say they also intend to introduce the new limits.

The minimum fine fore motorists caught breaking the 20mph limit will be £100 fine and three points on their driving licence.

The AA says the new limits are being driven more by ‘dogma’ than road safety. A spokesman said: ‘These 20mph zones are popping up like spring daffodils.

‘There is a lot of fear among drivers that, with 20mph being a relatively unfamiliar speed, widespread speed camera use will make them look more at their speedometers than at what is happening on populated streets in front of them.’

If the trials in London ( due to last 18-months)  are judged a success, the 20mph limits will be made permanent and imposed on 30 miles of key ‘Red Routes’ considered by transport bosses to be ‘more local road than motorway’. Some 175 miles of residential streets.

Under the new London scheme, the first road to convert to 20mph next month will be Commercial Street in Shoreditch, linking into plans for Tower Hamlets and Hackney to become 20mph boroughs.

Rod King, founder of the ‘20’s Plenty for Us’ campaign group, said: ‘The current 30mph national limit is being rejected as “unfit for purpose” for communities so we’re setting out a series of government actions required for a planned transition to a UK default urban limit of 20mph by 2020.’

A Department for Transport spokesman said: ‘Research shows 20mph zones can save lives and this government has made it easier for councils to introduce them.

‘It is for local authorities to set speed limits and for the police to decide how best to enforce them.’

The spokesman added: ‘We are undertaking a three-year research project to better understand the effect of 20mph zones and their impact on local communities.’

Plans For Super Highway Means Ultimate Road Trip Could Be Possible From Britain To USA

A 12,400 mile super highway is being proposed that would take you from Britain to America in what would be the ultimate road trip.

The idea has been put forward as a way to improve Russia's tourism, with the hope that people would be more willing to travel through the country having a much more desired destination at the end, like the States.

The Siberian Times report that the route would be based on The Trans-Sibera Railway, going through cities like Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk and Vladivostok. Not exactly most sought after tourist locations it must be admitted.

Head of Russian Academy of Science says that the project is 'ambitious and very expensive' and that it not only gives the chance to improve roads in the country, but also the railway.

"It will solve many problems in the development of the vast region. It is connected with social programs, and new fields, new energy resources, and so on. The idea is that basing on the new technology of high-speed rail transport we can build a new railway near the Trans-Siberian Railway, with the opportunity to go to Chukotka and Bering Strait and then to the American continent." Vladimir Fortov, the Head of the Russian Academy of Science

The real selling point for the rest of the world, is that you could theoretically travel, by car, from Britain via the Channel Tunnel and then all the way to the USA.

With it being 12,400 miles, it could take more than 200 hours to get over there, and that is probably only as far as Alaska. However, you'd just have to make a road trip as epic as that.

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Woman still hasn't passed her test after spending £5,000 on more than 250 lessons over 14 years

Janine Mars, 31, has spent more than £5,000 on 250 lessons over a 14-year period, She has been through five different driving instructors, despite the intensive instruction, Ms Mars is still unable to pull away from a junction without stalling her car.

She said, now the situation is so bad, she cannot find an instructor near her home in Chatham, Kent, willing to take her because of her poor motoring skills.

It is estimated that during her driving lessons, Ms Mars has driven the equivalent of a road trip between London and Perth in Australia.

Ms Mars said: 'Every year since 2001, passing my driving test has been my New Year’s resolution.

'I took a break after my last test in October but I want to do an intensive week course.

'I reckon that’s the only way I can pass now.

'The last time I tried to get an instructor in Kent nobody would take me because they know how bad I am.

'It’s as if I’ve been blacklisted. I don’t blame them though!'

Despite her inability to pass her test, Ms Mars has never had an accident and believes her problem is a lack of confidence.

'Driving doesn’t come naturally to me. I can’t quite master using both legs and hands at different times. I’ve had the same problem for the last 14 years.

'I’ve never had a crash or accident. Everything will be going really well, calm driving, and then suddenly I fall to pieces. It might only be a minor thing, like I miss a junction or turn, and I’ll be thrown completely off course.

'Everyone tells me I’ll get over that - but 250 lessons later and I’m still waiting.'

'Maybe I’m just one of those people born to be driven. I’m fed up of planning my life around train and bus timetables too. It takes almost twice as long as driving. My mum has promised to go halves on a new car once I pass so that’s even more of an incentive.'

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