A PETITION calling for the government to ‘stop lowering speed limits’ has been signed by more than 600 people in a week.
It was launched after a consultation began on reducing speed limits on up to 50 roads in Trinity, St John, St Mary, St Peter and St Lawrence.
If the petition reaches 1,000 signatures, it will get a written response from ministers. Petitions that reach 5,000 will be considered for debate in the States Assembly.
Bradley Bechelet, who started the petition, said that while he was not opposed to making roads safer in certain spots, he felt that speed limits were being used as a ‘quick fix’ by government.
He added: ‘People who speed will speed, regardless of the speed limit, because they just don’t care about the law.
‘If they can give me reasons as to why it’s beneficial, I could agree with [lowering speed limits]. There is none of that.’
He said that he had shared his petition on car enthusiast Facebook groups, where he had managed to build momentum with signatures.
Mr Bechelet said that when he found out about the consultation, the first thing he did was add his responses, but that he doubted this would be effective.
He said: ‘It just comes across as something that isn’t going to get looked at at all.’
Under the proposals, Mont Mado Lane and North View in St John, as well as Rue Bechervaise, Rue à Georges, Rue ès Viberts and Rue du Douet in St Mary would be among those to be reduced from a 40mph limit to become 15mph green lanes.
Other roads would see their speed limits halved from 40mph to 20mph, including Rue du Sellier and Grand Clos in Trinity; Les Charrières de Bonne Nuit, Rue des Servais, Rue de l’Etocquet, Rue de la Ville Guyon and Melbourne Park in St John; and Rue des Ste Germains in St Lawrence.
The petition can be found at petitions.gov.je/petitions/200885.
