Some Police forces do listen, the issue is resources, if you see the different directions that traffic police get pulled in that takes them away from, yes, road policing.
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I see no ones learnt anything after Friday nights motorway carnage!!!
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Posted 6 months ago #
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TJ only a day or so ago you were railing at people who made ex cathedra assertions for which they were unwilling to supply evidence...
there is an easy solution to this. Ban seat belts and fit all cars with a nice sharp spike in the middle of the steering wheel. people would either drive carefully or die quickly.
Risk compensation is a part of why this is happening - people feel so safe they take more risks - so the answer is to make them feel less safe
sad to see this ancient Clarkson-like cliche trotted out. Just think about it for a minute or two...
Look at the design of American Cars of the mid 1950s and you will see that is pretty well exactly what they did have. And then look at the death rates then in those cars, and then look at the work of Ralph Nader et al. and then you can try and prove that seat belts and/or airbags have led to an increase or even a stable risk of death-per-road-user mile, rather than being part of a safety movement which has led to a huge fall in deaths... and breathe...
Risk compensation behavior changes can occur, but in this field the overall net safety effect is still massively positive.
To declare an interest, my life was saved 18 months ago by an airbag when hit head-on by someone who had fallen asleep.
Posted 6 months ago # -
The issue isn't speed per se, its inappropriate speed.
Trouble is there is no way of enforcing inappropriate speed with just speed camera's. More police on the roads is what's needed but we are unlikely to get them anytime soon
Posted 6 months ago # -
Staatsbrother do you really think I was making that as s serious suggestion? However it is proven that safer cars lead to more risk taking by car drivers. Drivers of cars with ABS go faster in the rain and leave less gaps for example. The car drivers kill more innocents as a result of this behaviour - they are safer but others around them are not.
The real answer of course is to test drivers far more thoroughly, retest regularly, make them pay the full costs of driving and enforce driving law much more harshly. Lets see jail terms for drink driving and for dangerous driving. Lets see more bans for speeding.
Posted 6 months ago # -
To declare an interest, my life was saved 18 months ago by an airbag when hit head-on by someone who had fallen asleep.
TJ will be along shortly to ask as to why you think that...
Posted 6 months ago # -
and the Edinburgh defense is wheeled out...
And how many cars do not have ABS now?
Posted 6 months ago # -
I will be hitting the M3 in around 40 minutes time and I guarantee that I will see people driving too fast, too close together with very poor lane discipline and plenty of people on the phone etc.
I may well get to see an accident which on average occurs at least once a week on my stretch between Bracknell and the M25. Until people have a bad crash they just won't listen.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Stoatsbrother get a grip man. If you really think that I was being serious then you really have lost the plot. Yo are accusing me of lying with that offensive canard "the edinburgh defense"
its a flippant way of making a serious point - risk compensation occurs and is one of the reasons that people follow too close.
Posted 6 months ago # -
I would like to see far more policing with the emphasis on unsafe driving rather than speeding
+1
As my standard wing mirror doesn't have a wide angle section like a more modern car or an hgv, I have stuck one of these on, I can now see more, which is obviously a bad thing?
possibly not but imho there does seem to be a correlation - just like passats and middle lane hoggers (had to get that dig in there for molgrips benefit:-))
maybe it is something to do with the driver not being comfortable enough to actually look into his blind spot to look for something - my mirror has one of these enhanced edges but I will still glance round to check.
A bit like a cyclist not being confident/competant enough to glance round.
Posted 6 months ago # -
TJ
ah ha...
so how exactly are we able to tell which things you are saying are seriously meant, and which ones are meant to be humorous ? Not even a
to tell us, let alone anything funny in your text...Trouble is - that tired old cliche you trotted out - I mean - even here is quite common - seems to have become a meme, something trotted out all over the interweb as substitute for thought.I've seen it raised repeatedly on other forums.
You do seem to be over-reacting to being challenged here. No one said you were lying - just implied you might be backtracking when your statement was challenged.
I'd get those anger issues dealt with... xxx
Posted 6 months ago # -
On an emotional note
16-year-old Jessica, daughter of one of the truck drivers killed, took to Twitter to pay an emotional tribute to her father.
She wrote: ‘Rest in peace, Daddy, I love you so much. You will never be forgotten, not a day will go by where I won’t hope you’ll walk through that door. Instead of mourning your death, I’ll celebrate your life. Wish you would hold me one last time.’
The bickering above becomes insignificant after reading that....
Posted 6 months ago # -
but right from the title - this thread was doomed to be an argument...
Posted 6 months ago # -
Today, dfriving through chester a fool in one of those mercedes convertibles got flashed by a speed camera, instant massive braking by him and the ones behind.
Then tonight, 18.15 straight road30mph speed limit, car overtakes me, (me on my bike) at some speed and then suddenly slams on brakes, i think road rage incident,car then pootles off slowly, a hundred yard up the road is a police car with Nice policeman with speed camera on tripod, sadly some idiots thought it wise to flash oncoming cars to slow down.
Finally our local councils have agreed to a 20 mph sped limit on most local roads in built up areas, i so want tjhe job of enforcement, especially if its got a commision fee as well
Posted 6 months ago # -
stoatsbrother, may I suggest you get a sense of perspective?
Posted 6 months ago # -
In a word "No"..
People will continue to drive like selfish tools, it's their god given right to do so.Posted 6 months ago # -
captaincarbon - Member
Brother in law works for Samworths.
They lost two drivers that night, and yet another is still in intensive care.
He said he was due to take one of the loads that night that was involved in the crash but they sent him north instead. A fully laden lorry would have had no chance of stopping at those speeds. To hear him sobbing in shock over the phone on saturday morning was a very sobering experience. He said that night that as the news came through as he was driving there were cars speeding past at 80 to 90 mph, he was travelling at under 60mph, but at those speeds and a heavy load if something were to happen he would not be able to aviod it.So - he admits to driving without due care and attention - at a speed whereby he could not avoid an incident in front of him? Why wasn't he driving slower?
Posted 6 months ago # -
That was my thought too druidh. One of the most basic rules of safe driving is that you must be able to stop within the distance you can see.
Posted 6 months ago # -
aa
Wtf? I just pointed out that TJ is posting cliched twaddle. And is wrong. Again.
This wasn't an RIP thread till the first post of this page. Read it mate. You might see that the reason I took issue with him was because I and my family were nearly killed in an RTA last year. And deal withpeople who have lost family members in RTAs. There's no simple trite answer to this issue.
Posted 6 months ago # -
calm down love its an internet thread not something important.
Posted 6 months ago # -
i do on average 40k a year on our roads, if possible i aviod road works on motorways as lorry drivers all refuse to obey the reduced speed limits so end up tailgating me
they seem to want to get as close to the lorry in front and they bleat all the time they are the never in the wrong
and now we are to get the new longer trailers
im now angel on the road but know when i am to close or going to fast for the conditions something that know one is owning up to last friday and we now we have 7 dead Posted 6 months ago # -
I'd just like to see a lot more chevrons painted in the road. Quick cheap solution to reminding people of stopping distances and they do seem to have an effect.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Ok - so I have been keeping away from the threads regarding Friday's accident on the M5 for fear of saying the wrong thing. But after reading some of the comments on here I thought I would share my thoughts & feelings?
So, on Friday night I was traveling along the exact stretch of road where the M5 accident happened, in fact I drove through there approx 15mins before the accident and remember seeing the fireworks from Taunton RFC starting.
I drive this stretch of road many many times a year - but something was not right about the weather that night? Heavy Rain, Clear skies & stars, then thick fog, all within short stretches of the road? It was difficult to gauge wheat was about the be thrown at you next, so caution was advised.
However, despite this I had some complete idiot so close to my rear bumper (right through the section of motorway where the accident happened), in fact close - even in the dark, foggy & wet road conditions I can tell you it was a Y-Reg silver Mondeo estate (with bike racks on the roof, so I hoping are reading this!).
He remained this close for the duration of my time in the outside lane, flashing his lights and gesturing to me.
Before I get accused of holding traffic up - there were two lorries side by side (as there often is at this junction), so the outside lane was the only choice and given the conditions I was traveling just over 55mph.
Anyway, this one person and his actions caused several layers of feelings - from surprise to frustration to anger to relief (that he was now gone and no longer threatening my life). These feelings at any point could have caused me to retaliate and indeed this is something I see happening so often on the roads (I do about 35000 miles per year) - often where it becomes dangerous.
Following the incident above I traveled for approx another 45mins until I got home, by that time I had almost forgotten about what had happened and was just glad to home after a bad 4+ hr drive. However, the same emotions filled me all over again within minutes of being home as my wife then said "Oh thank god you are home!, I have just seen a really bad accident on the telly and knew you were coming that way". I felt sorry for her and just hugged her.
I then felt quite strange about the whole thing for another couple of days after - in fact still find myself thinking "That could have been me" sometimes when I see the pictures.
I now just feel so sorry for those that have lost loved ones and hope they get some answers as to what happened that day.
So going back to the title thread "I see no ones learnt anything after Friday nights motorway carnage!!!" - NO. But they were doing it before the accident and I am sure it will be happening for a long time after - until someone who has the authority to change something does so, I have no idea what that might be - but I hope they work it out.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Not into the no seatbelt/spike idea. You get a lousy cold.. and most likely to get a bloody eye out when you sneeze. Daft idea.
:O)
As for the stickers etc in the rear window.. earlier i had a Volvo estate packed to the hilt with luggage and three of those suck-on signs in the rear window. On the left there was a "little princess on board" and two other similar "ive got kids in here" type signs. The area to view out of was approx 12 inches.. The bit that made me grin and shake my head in disbelief was driving out of the roundabout with this car in front.. getting up to near 40mph and watching the Volvo vanish into the distance. 50? 55? god knows. Some folk crack me up.
Posted 6 months ago # -
instead of huge fines for deterrants could a short ban not be used, say 24 hours or a week, not a major incovenience until insurance needs renewing, or you explin it to your boss if its a company driving job
Posted 6 months ago # -
instead of huge fines for deterrants could a short ban not be used, say 24 hours or a week, not a major incovenience until insurance needs renewing, or you explin it to your boss if its a company driving job
ooh now there's a thought, not heard anyone suggest that before. Bit tricky to police tho I'd have thought. "OK yes officer I promise I won't drive for a week. Honest. By the way will anyone be monitoring me that week?"Posted 6 months ago # -
Donk, so siomple to implement just take the vehicle off them, as they do for no insurance, and let them walk home.
Posted 6 months ago # -
It's interesting that you all slag off drivers who fly around but no-one has mentioned the pressure alot of then are put under by their employers to 'deliver'.
I've been moaned at recently for not getting enough jobs in per day, the only way to get more in is to get between jobs faster or work longer hours I'm aready doing 12 - 14hrs of which between 5 and 8 are driving but because I'm in a car no gives a f&*(, it Wednesday I'm shattered and still have 2 days left - praise be for rumble strips.ps if I don't like it I can go elsewhere - my bosses advice
Limit commercial/company drivers mileage/hours and companies have to plan work better to be competitive, not going to happen in a recession
Posted 6 months ago # -
myheadsashed
If all companies have to do it then there is no competitive disadvantage
Posted 6 months ago # -
Limit commercial/company drivers mileage/hours and companies have to plan work better to be competitive, not going to happen in a recession
Aren't you subject to the European Working Time Directive?
Posted 6 months ago # -
it Wednesday I'm shattered and still have 2 days left - praise be for rumble strips.
Wow. Just wow.
No surprise at all that 2-3000 deaths on the roads happen.
Posted 6 months ago # -
a driving job i had, our old boss wanted us to do more drops and pickups per day,i said as joke, we would just drive slower, she said she expected us to drive at the speed limit at all times, and that when we where stopped at traffic lights, we should think how eternally gtrateful we should be to her, for giving us a job, she wasnt joking as few weeks we all lost our jobs as we where tuped to another employer, and we all refused to move.
Posted 6 months ago # -
I have wondered about the implications of satellite tracking and just in time deliveries for Trucks, yes the drivers are on limited hours, but if they need to be somewhere at a specific time and some windows are pretty tight, i can see it not ending well.
As for reps, 30-40+ miles a year use of phones and blackberries why are there no legally enforced rules on driving hours?
Posted 6 months ago # -
There are fot lgv, and pcv drivers, but if theyre caught is another thing, as its usually the driver who gets fined .
Posted 6 months ago #
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