Little Thetford limited at Thetford Corner
© 2012 John McCullough
These signs, which order motorists to observe a maximum speed of 50 miles per hour, followed a long period of consultation; almost resulting in the whole of the A10 between Ely and Cambridge being so speed limited. In the end, the Cambridgeshire County Council plans [DOC*] were labelled as unnecessary and only two sections—Little Thetford and Milton—have had such restrictions applied.
These new signs have actually raised the speed limit for some classes of vehicles travelling on the Little Thetford section of the A10. Prior to the above restrictions, this single-carriage-way section of the A10 road had the national speed limit applied. The actual maximum speed that a vehicle can travel in the UK in national speed limit marked areas is of course dependent on the class of vehicle. For example, prior to the recent changes, a car or motor cycle travelling on this stretch of the A10 was limited to 60 miles per hour whilst a 7.5 tonne or greater vehicle was limited to 40 miles per hour. The changes now limit cars and motor cycles to 50 miles per hour whilst 7.5 tonne or greater vehicles can now legally travel at 50 miles per hour. (Updated: See comment from Ann Wardle below)
The Little Thetford section was surveyed in 2011 revealing that during the survey period traffic flow was measured as 18,400 recording a mean speed of 51.98 miles per hour and three injury accidents over three years (18.2 injury accidents per 100 million vehicle kilometres). Compare this with the 2.45 kilometre section Cambridge Research Park roundabout to the Plantation Cottages access, Waterbeach—traffic flow 18,800; mean speed of 47.16 miles per hour; 14 injury accidents over three years (27.8 injury accidents per 100 million vehicle kilometres).
* A [DOC] file can be opened directly if you have Microsoft Word or similar on your computer. If the file will not open, consider using a free Google Docs account to open the file
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