Should derestricted roads in the Isle of Man have a speed limit imposed on them?

We asked residents for their views following a number of serious and fatal collisions on and near Sloc Road between Glen Rushen Mines, Round Table and Ballakillowey during the TT fortnight.

’The roads should be made as safe as possible,’ said Graham Worsley from Port St Mary. ’To make them safe I think it’s best to restrict the speeds. I think the maximum should be 60mph.

’That’s still dangerous - you have to drive to the conditions of the road.

’There are a lot of blind bends on Sloc Road. You have to drive on it with care.’

Rhodri Orders, 35, from Douglas, believes every road should have a speed limit.

’I don’t think many people are particularly competent to drive their cars at high speed, especially on twisting roads. There are so many deaths on derestricted roads, I just don’t think humans can cope with driving that fast,’ he said.

’I’m surprised the Sloc is derestricted. My views about motoring is that they shouldn’t be able to have any alcohol and drive and should up the age of driving to 18. I started when I was 16, but I shouldn’t have because the brain is still developing at that age.’

Douglas resident Matthew Burrows, 23, disagrees that speed limits should be imposed to desrestricted areas such as the Mountain Road.

’Obviously they should have speed limits in the towns, but I don’t think the derestricted roads should change. If you’re in a place where there’s no speed limit you don’t have to drive incredibly quickly. It’s down to the driver.

’You can drive safe and fast. It’s only dangerous if you make it dangerous.’

Tholt y Will is another derestricted road. It heads from the mountain to Sulby. ’Now that’s a bit crackers,’ he said. ’That road is like a single lane. It’s that narrow.’

Roz Aspell, 66, from Onchan, said: ’The derestricted roads are what the bikers come here for. However, their machines are far more powerful than they’ve ever been so they can reach speeds that are ridiculous.

’There should be a reasonable speed limit, like 70mph. 50mph is too tame, but 70mph is a bit on the edge. The mountain is a dangerous road. I don’t think that message is conveyed enough to amateur bikers, but they’re old enough to know what they are doing.’

Her friend Glen Noble, 71, said: ’I live in Greeba which has speed limits, but they don’t take any notice of them. I think that would be the same on the mountain if a limit was placed.

’I don’t mind them bombing round the mountain, but not around the villages.’

Jen Jones, 38, from Governor’s Hill, said: ’Yes they should have speed limits. I go to work at night on the Mountain Road and sometimes the people zoom past. It’s scary when they overtake you.’

Her husband, Mark, 48, said: ’If you want to go at a safe limit there’s always someone wanting to overtake. It’s a racetrack for them.

’It’s their [driver’s] responsibility if they cause a death.’

Jen added: ’Accidents on the Mountain Road are almost becoming the norm. It shouldn’t be like that. At the end of the day you need to think about your family and life when going that fast.’