Cars on a Country Road

When I was in the south of England recently there was a narrow, winding, country road (like the ones shown here) that I noticed people drive very fast along, and that no one uses anymore for walking or cycling. I don’t blame them, the speed the cars were going round the bends, just too dangerous. What with the trees and hedgerows the cars, going at that speed, would have very little time to see anyone on the road.

Here is a radical but good idea: narrow, old country roads like this should be ONLY for people walking, bicycles or horses. Cars should not be allowed on them at all. Except for in emergencies.

A wild idea out of left field? In this case an idea with fields on either side of it! But have a little think: wouldn’t that be a better world? Why should we accept a situation in which cars get to dominate so much? Up to the mid 1960s or even later many of these country roads would still be largely free of cars (car ownership levels in 1965 were only a quarter of what they are now). It’s only in the last 50 years that cars have ruled things so tyrannically. It’s up to us to decide what is the best way.

​There would be some inconvenience, yes. Wouldn’t it be a more peaceful, quiet life without cars in such places? Wouldn’t it be better for the environment, for animals, for our children? It seems to me that a good case could be made for saying the benefits outweigh the costs. Of course people used to cars will, thinking in automatic gear, dismiss the idea. But their excelerator jerk reaction may be a bad one. A more intelligent, reasonable consideration may well find cars running out of the fuel of justification.

“Most country roads in the UK have a 60mph (97km/h) limit. However, due to their use by vulnerable road users and the design and condition of many country roads, 60mph (or anywhere near it) is rarely a safe speed to travel. Many country roads are narrow, with blind bends, and no pavements or cycle paths.”

So why don’t we reduce the level to 20? — an actually safe level. With strict punishments given out to those who go over the speed limit. And such fines etc actually…

Related posts:

My Background - I feel before I start going into the details of the certifications, it will be worthwhile to give a brief intro of my background to help put things in perspective. I started my career…

I was made fun of a lot growing up for my voice. Any insult you can imagine for a boy with a feminine manner of speaking, I heard. I was in third grade before I realized there was a problem. As I…

The EQT Corporation (NYSE: EQT) is a leading natural gas production company with operations across the United States. The company has a strong track record of generating significant returns for its…