Crime & Safety
Calls to reduce national speed limit on UK roads to 30mph
A petition launched on the Government’s petition page is calling for the reduction to be implemented on single carriageway roads.
The petition calls for the Government to “reduce the national speed limit on single carriageways usually found in rural areas from 60mph to 30mph”.
More than 4,000 people have already backed the campaign, with more than two months still left to run.
If the petition hits 10,000 signatures by July 5, then it will receive an official response from the Government.
You can view or sign the petition here.
What speed actually triggers a speed camera?
Contrary to common belief, there’s no universal “10% + 2mph” rule baked into law.
Experts from BigWantsYourCar.com explained: ““The idea that you’re safe doing 35mph in a 30 zone is one of the biggest myths we hear.
“Technically, you’re liable for a fine the moment you go even 1mph over the limit.”
While the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) does recommend a “10% plus 2” margin to allow for officer discretion, this is not a legal threshold and can vary depending on the enforcement area or the officer reviewing the case.
RAC advice adds: “The law states that you are liable for a speeding fine as soon as you exceed the limit, so if you’re doing 31mph in a 30 limit or 71mph on a motorway, you’re breaking the law and could receive a fine.
“It is well worth remembering this is totally dependent on the officer who catches the speeder, and it is up to that officer whether to fine the offender or not.
“The best advice is to not speed full stop.”
How do speed cameras work?
Speed cameras work using radar or road markings to monitor a vehicle’s speed and capture evidence of any offence.
While older cameras used film, most modern devices are fully digital and can even track your average speed over many miles.
These digital systems record:
- Vehicle speed
- Time and location of the offence
- Vehicle registration
- Road speed limit
In some cases, they even capture a clear image of the driver and passenger.
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Common speed camera myths
Here are some other common speed camera myths :
Is it true that speed vans have to be visible at all times?
No. There are no laws about visibility, so nothing is stopping an officer from operating in the dark. But they don’t often choose to do this and maintain that being visible acts as a deterrent in its own right.
Go Safe Casualty Reduction Officer, Gareth Thomas said: “Legally, we don’t have to be visible. I could camouflage myself if I wanted to – but it’s all about being fair, education and preventing an accident. Even if I parked my van and went for a walk somewhere, it would deter people from speeding right away.”
Is it illegal to flash your headlights to alert motorists of a GoSafe speed van?
If drivers choose to flash to warn others about a speed van, they could be in breach of the law. Under section 89 of the Police Act 1997 it is an offence to “wilfully obstruct a constable in the execution of his/her duty”.
However, Gareth says while it is an offence, it is very difficult to prove. He said: “It doesn’t bother me that people flash to warn them of the speed van – I just want to educate people and the van to act as a speed deterrent.”
What happens if I am caught speeding?
It all comes down to the circumstances within which you were caught speeding, and how much you were more than the limit. The minimum penalty for being caught speeding on the UK’s roads is a £100 fine.
But Gareth explained in some circumstances, police can offer the option of attending a speed awareness course – an alternative to a fine and penalty points. Gareth, said: “An accredited course is far more likely to improve driver behaviour and consequently make our roads safer.
“Courses are available to drivers who respond quickly to the ‘notices’ and who were driving at no more than 10 per cent, plus 9 mph above the posted speed limit.”
So for example, anyone travelling over 86mph on a motorway would not be offered the awareness course. Those who don’t have a clean licence at the time of the office, or if you have been on the course in the last three years, it is unlikely you will be offered the awareness course as an option.
The White Horse in Ock Street closed its doors to patrons on April 4 for a full refurbishment and management change.
It has now been announced the watering hole will reopen on Thursday, May 7, from noon.
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Kitty and Sean, the new managers, said they ‘can’t wait’ to welcome patrons to the White Horse.
The landlords said in a joint statement: “We’re really looking forward to becoming part of this amazing community, getting to know you all, and making the pub a warm, welcoming place for everyone to enjoy.
“Please do pop in after the refurb, say hello, and join us for a drink—we can’t wait to meet you.”
Sneak peaks of the renovation of the venue show a comprehensive remodelling, including a colour touch up ‘all over’ the pub, a newly decorated back bar, a ‘face-lift’ for the toilets, a new darts and bar area and a refresh for the beer garden.
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Greene King, which owns the venue, revealed in an advert late last year it was looking for new tenants as the pub would be come a Hive Franchise establishment.
It said the chance would give the new landlords ‘the chance to be your own boss’ with more ‘operational independence’.
The previous management team released a statement when they left, which said: “We’ll miss you. From Doreen and the team at The White Horse, we would like to say a big thank you for everything over the last three years.”
The 37‑year‑old is best known for his stand‑up, Channel 4 sitcom Fresh Meat and BBC Three’s Bad Education, as well as Netflix and Amazon travel series Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father.
He married model and actress Roxy Horner, with whom he shares baby daughter Elsie, at the lavish countryside estate Euridge Manor.
The spot features terraces, lakes and Italian‑style gardens and is frequently used as a high‑end wedding venue.
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According to the Daily Mail, which first reported details of the day, the couple’s star‑studded celebration cost around £250,000 and was attended by celebrity friends from the worlds of comedy and entertainment.
The paper says Mr Whitehall was “subjected to an X‑rated heckle” from mates as he took to the water during part of the festivities, with friends allegedly shouting a cheeky comment in his direction while he was on a boat.
Despite the interruption, the tone of the event was described as light‑hearted, with guests pictured laughing and enjoying the moment.
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The Daily Mail report describes how Euridge Manor was dressed for the occasion with flowers and fairy lights.
The newlyweds were seen kissing and posing for photos against the backdrop of the manor’s ornate stonework and lakeside setting.
Mr Whitehall’s 32-year-old bride is a British model who has fronted campaigns for major fashion brands and spoken publicly about living with type 1 diabetes
The couple, who began dating in 2020 and welcomed their daughter in 2023, are understood to have spent months planning the countryside wedding after previously talking about wanting a big family celebration.
We’ve all spent countless hours by the kitchen sink scrubbing our oven trays to scrape away pesky grease and grime that won’t budge.
But one home cleaning expert has shared an ingenious way of removing rust from tins in half the time, using a potato.
Home cleaning Instagram page ‘honestthomee’ claims the humble spud can clean used trays better than a sponge.
In a video shared online, the influencer soaks her grime-ridden tray in boiling water before grabbing a chopped potato, which she covers in salt.
She then rubs the salted potato all over the tray before adding another layer of salt onto the tray and washing it clean.
After being submerged in water, the tray appears to be restored to its sparkly state and ready to be reused.
Why does a potato work so well?
This simple trick works because potatoes are high in oxalic acid, which is sometimes sold in its pure form as a rust remover.
When this comes into contact with rust, it creates a substance called iron oxalate, which can easily be washed away with water and soap.
Honestthomee said: “The reveal is finally here! Who knew a simple potato could clean better than a sponge?
“I stopped scrubbing for hours and tried this trick instead. The result is honestly shocking!”
Potatoes make excellent natural scrubbers, particularly for cleaning stubborn stains on surfaces like cutting boards and pans.
Cut a potato in half, sprinkle some salt or baking soda on the cut side, and scrub away.
The potato’s texture, combined with the abrasiveness of the salt or baking soda, helps lift grime without damaging surfaces.
What’s your best cleaning hack? Let us know in the comments
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