[Closed] Speeding motorists - why?

In pitch black someone walking infront is bad. Car beams are shit in their reach

I don't know why the kid was there and that's really not the point.

It's entirely the point. Can you give us some references to the incident you're referring to?

Tell that to the family of the young lad that died on a dual carriageway at that sort of time after being hit by a car on new years day morning.

You just don't know what might be on the road. Extra thinking and stopping time will always help.

*I have no idea what the actual circumstances were; I'm just illustrating a point.

Or he already had a near miss and wandered off line again? Who knows.

Speeding is only ever justified if you're the one doing it.

Cougar - Moderator
It's entirely the point. Can you give us some references to the incident you're referring to?

Sorry, I really should have put 'that's really not [i]my[/i] point' rather than 'the' point. I'm sure you have a different viewpoint, and that's your prerogative.

Drivers will use pretty much any defence to justify their wrong doings on the road - see The Flying Ox's quite ridiculous post.

Forget why the kid was there or what speed the car was doing - I was just illustrating that many people have the belief that they [i]know[/i] what will be on the roads, and that belief is simply incorrect.

Drivers will use pretty much any defence to justify their wrong doings on the road - see The Flying Ox's quite ridiculous post.

And people will use any old irrelevant example to illustrate why all speeding is bad.

Like some random half story about a kid wandering about an a dual carriageway for example.

It works both ways.

You can't criticise someone else for using "ridiculous" examples to illustrate a point, immediately after using a completely irrelevant story to illustrate your own.

Besides,

It's quite easy to trot out pithy little emotive tales to back up the oversimplified "speed kills" lie-to-children, but if you're a pedestrian playing Frogger on a dual carriageway then it's not going to make a fig of difference to your chances whether you're hit by a vehicle doing 70 or one doing 80.

Not that I'm saying this justifies speeding, just that in this theoretical example you could replace "driving 10mph over the speed limit" with "driving at the NSL" without changing the story one iota.

Speedings OK,
I know when it's dangerous or not; my car can easily do 60 mph on most 30 limit areas no problem.

It's a bit like drink driving sometime I drive so smashed I can hardly walk, it's not a problem I'm still a good driver.
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That's what you lot sound like to me.

Yes, but to be fair, that's because you appear to possess no sense of perspective.

Don't worry though. It does seem to be a very common problem on here? Has anybody mentioned hitler yet? I feel this thread is due a comparison with the holocaust. A glaring oversight so far

IanW - Member

Speedings OK,
I know when it's dangerous or not; my car can easily do 60 mph on most 30 limit areas no problem.

It's a bit like drink driving sometime I drive so smashed I can hardly walk, it's not a problem I'm still a good driver.
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That's what you lot sound like to me.

"I'm not listening to a word anyone says, because it's easier to just imagine an alternative conversation in which everyone but me is a moron" is what this sounds like to me.

Yes, but to be fair, that's because you appear to possess no sense of perspective.

And it has to be said, with no sense of perspective, it is probably better to rigidly stick to the speed limits.

Very hard to just for yourself in that situation.

Drivers will use pretty much any defence to justify their wrong doings on the road - see The Flying Ox's quite ridiculous post.

So... you're [i]for[/i] speeding, especially when silly but also technically correct arguments are posed to support it? I find that a highly irresponsible viewpoint to hold.

"I'm not listening to a word anyone says, because it's easier to just imagine an alternative conversation in which everyone but me is a moron" is what this sounds like to me.

Unless someone's come up with a reason not posted in the dozen previous threads on this subject the assumption your all morons is reasonable.

I'm not one to pick up on grammar / spelling mistakes as a rule as it's a bit of a cheap shot; but when you're making a blanket statement that everyone bar yourself is a moron you really should pay attention to making sure your own house is in order.

The Flying Ox

I'm confused as to where you stand on the whole speeding thing now.

I have two viewpoints on speeding. When I'm commuting to work on my bike I'm very much against it. When I'm behind the wheel myself I'll pick and choose which limits I adhere to.

I quite clearly say that the example I used is not sensible, and you say I'm being ridiculous.

It's the internet- surely you don't expect me to read the whole thing?!

The problem as I see it is the car has eaten our public thoroughfares and made islands out of housing blocks. Kids used to play in the street, now parents don't like them walking anywhere.

Speed on the motorway is one thing, but on country roads?

Maybe vehicles need a GPS speedo. Large flashing light on dash if you exceed speed limit, message to Police if you do so by more than 10mph followed by automatic fine and points.

Maybe if the NHS offered free penis extensions, there wouldn't be such a problem. 🙂

epicyclo - Member

The problem as I see it is the car has eaten our public thoroughfares and made islands out of housing blocks. Kids used to play in the street, now parents don't like them walking anywhere.

I'm not convinced. I grew up here, since then the speed limits have all dropped, there's not any more cars on the back roads than there used to be... But we used to play in the street, now I never see that. I could choose one of many tabloid reasons- if I'd had a modern games console I'd have played it a lot! And o'course lots of people are scared of zombie saville etc. I don't think you can blame the car for that.

Speed on the motorway is one thing, but on country roads?

Maybe vehicles need a GPS speedo. Large flashing light on dash if you exceed speed limit, message to Police if you do so by more than 10mph followed by automatic fine and points.

Maybe if the NHS offered free penis extensions, there wouldn't be such a problem

Please tell me you are a woman?

Have people failed to see that you can still 'speed' without going over the limit. e.g 60mph twisty country lane

I enjoy driving on country lanes, i do not thrash my car but will drive in a 'spirited' manner when the situation allows it, 99% of the time it is BELOW the speed limit though, i will NOT risk the safety of my OH who is usually with me....

I drive a fast car, it has brilliant brakes 4 wheel drive, great suspension and is in top mechainical order - Not the same as nearly rolling over as you thrash your people carrier round a corner with horrendous brakes and eco tyres...

Answer me this - if i am going at 55mph on a nsl road and i have an accident that is my fault, is it because i am an 'idiot speeding driver with a small penis' or would this only apply if i was going over 60mph?

I love cycling, but i also have a love for cars - as do many bike riders, just look at the cars pro DH riders have - Brendan fairclough has a RS4 one of the dj riders a mitsubishi evo, josh bryceland has a Nissan Skyline...

You can enjoy driving and not be a total d@ck - and that includes occasionally going over the speed limit.

The cul de sac where I grew up was empty all day and had maybe 3 cars parked at night. Now it's full all day. When any residents leave a space, a commuter fills it up. Statistics show that car ownership has increased significantly in the past 40 years and they're not all being left parked in garages or driveways.

I used to enjoy driving fast on the roads for fun, then I started doing track days and immediately lost all interest in driving fast on public highways, I just didn't see the point any more.

Is there any other part of the law that is so regularly and publicly flouted?

Is there any other part of the law that is so regularly and publicly flouted?

Drug taking, under-age drinking, under-age sex, benefit fraud, tax fraud.

They ALL have a fairly profound effect on the individual / society though, driving home at 65 in a 60 wont make sweet f-all difference to anyone 99.999999% of the time.

Cool! All we need now is for the government to start, on receipt of your first 3 points, sending us al on a track day instead of a speed awareness course

Personally I thought they'd done a similar kind of thing when they built the M6 Toll. You pay a nominal fee, then you get to bounce your car off the rev limiter in top 😀

Personally I thought they'd done a similar kind of thing when they built the M6 Toll. You pay a nominal fee, then you get to bounce your car off the rev limiter in top

haha - only been on there once and that was exactly the impression i got too, speed limits need not apply!

What if you have a puncture whilst driving your amazing car in your spirited manner?

Drug taking: nowhere near.
Under-age drinking: probably. Impact on others?
Under-age sex: nowhere near.
Benefit fraud: miniscule
Tax fraud: not much more than the above

And [i]publicly[/i] flouted?

What if you have a puncture whilst driving your amazing car in your spirited manner?

It is not an 'amazing' car - it is a performance car well maintained, unlike most of the general public who consider an mot and service every 2 years good enough (I know the owner of an mot / repair garage - the cars he sees on a daily basis would make you cringe)

I also said 'spirited' driving and NOT over the speed limit - so not speeding at all...

Do you have a driving licence hammy? I have had a puncture once on the m6 and once on a country lane, you can feel something with the car is wrong, so you pull over, you don't explode!!

scotroutes
Is there any other part of the law that is so regularly and publicly flouted?

Is there any other part of the law that makes the common man a "criminal" due to its obsolescence?

The speed limit is an entirely arbitary, and historical number, that has not been modified to keep pace with modern life and technology.

I would suggest it is the law that is out-of-date when you have a system where probably 85% of people break it on a daily basis without consequence!

(no, i don't think we should have no speed limits, but i think we need to put the responsibility back on the driver to decide what is an appropriate speed)

Drug taking: nowhere near.
Under-age drinking: probably. Impact on others?
Under-age sex: nowhere near.
Benefit fraud: miniscule
Tax fraud: not much more than the above

You didn't answer the question about the impact on others though - how has someone going slightly over the speed limit impacted on your life - the above law-breakers all impact on your life, including under age drinking - NHS / Police bills?

hammy7272
What if you have a puncture whilst driving your amazing car in your spirited manner?

What if you do? (and many modern cars now have a tyre pressure warning system as std and/or run with run-flat tyres anyway). Only in the movies do cars tumble and somersault down the road instantly when a tyre blows. In reality, assuming the driver does not make excessive control inputs, a modern car responds to a tyre failure in a very benign manner even at extremely high speed.

And publicly flouted?

Illegal downloads

What if you do? (and many modern cars now have a tyre pressure warning system as std and/or run with run-flat tyres anyway). Only in the movies do cars tumble and somersault down the road instantly when a tyre blows. In reality, assuming the driver does not make excessive control inputs, a modern car responds to a tyre failure in a very benign manner even at extremely high speed

Not only that - how many of you check you tyre pressure / tread depth weekly? When I walk past cars at the super-market so many of them are low / bald.

Illegal downloads

Put simply because the speed limits are there to generate revenue and have nothing to do with road safety. Near me a road that has been national speed limit for the last 30 years with no problems suddenly became a 40. There were no accidents, no changes to the road or on the land either side of it. What did happen was the so called 'safety partnership' tuned up and no doubt made a killing out of drivers for a few weeks and then pushed off never to be seen again.

When this happens repeatedly, which is has in my part of the world, then all respect for the point of speed limits goes out of the window.

There should be a law against making up statistics when posting on Internet forums.

What if you do? (and many modern cars now have a tyre pressure warning system as std and/or run with run-flat tyres anyway). Only in the movies do cars tumble and somersault down the road instantly when a tyre blows. In reality, assuming the driver does not make excessive control inputs, a modern car responds to a tyre failure in a very benign manner even at extremely high speed.

Point is, driving in a so called "spirited" manner whilst feeling protected in a "good" car will increase risk of an accident.

Point is, driving in a so called "spirited" manner whilst feeling protected in a "good" car will increase risk of an accident.

I don't think it will...it's safer. The yoofs thrashing their tarted up shopping trolleys are far more dangerous because they're not designed to be driven in spirited fashion. Add in poor tyres etc and that's a real recipe for disaster

I wonder how many of the saints in here regularly check tyres etc beyond the week before an MOT.

They were going to make it illegal to publish illegal statistics Bravisimo, but only in 38% of cases

So does driving a well maintained and well built quality car in a spirited manor in a NSL country lane reduce or increase the chance of there being either.-
A group of yoots doing a D of E adventure
B group of roadies out for a bimble
C A large cow
D A deep section of flood water

round the next corner that you enter at 10 -15mph too fast to stop in time ?

Modern well built cars with good NVH dynamics make it very easy to waft along at 60 in a warm quiet cabin. Drive down the same road in a 1981 Mini 1275gt and it will feel like you are going much faster.

Still too many above average drivers living the dream of the open road.
Do agree about trackdays though , learn to drive really at the limits and speeding on public roads seems tame by comparison.

So does driving a well maintained and well built quality car in a spirited manor in a NSL country lane reduce or increase the chance of there being either.-
A group of yoots doing a D of E adventure
B group of roadies out for a bimble
C A large cow
D A deep section of flood water

round the next corner that you enter at 10 -15mph too fast to stop in time ?

Again, you are making the assumption that car A will stop as well as car B etc - It takes much longer to stop in a poorly maintained car with bad tyres than a well maintained car with good ones. So yes, it will make a difference.

Yet again I will drive this idea home - what if you are NOT speeding, so you are under the 60mph limit?

I am not a dangerous driver, I do not drive in an aggressive way, I don't race other people, I just sometimes like to drive at a speed some may consider too fast.

There are many many people that drive much faster than me in places I would not dream of: My OH's parents village for instance, I followed her sister through the village and she left me for dead doing 45 in a 30 (oap's galore here crossing the road etc in a trance) - she has had 2 accidents yet will scream murder if my OH goes over 75 on the motorway or dares to overtake a lorry or slow driver on a nsl dual carriageway even when perfectly safe to do so.

Are you lot the people that do 45 on an A road with good visibility then stick the high beam on or put your foot down if someone decides to overtake - that's not dangerous at all, is it?

All of this boils down to the reality - Speed does not kill in itself, the situation is what kills. If you are a pleb doing 20mph daydreaming and you knock somebody down then 20mph was too much in that situation.

crankrider - Member
...Answer me this - if i am going at 55mph on a nsl road and i have an accident that is my fault, is it because i am an 'idiot speeding driver with a small penis' or would this only apply if i was going over 60mph?...

You can enjoy driving and not be a total d@ck - and that includes occasionally going over the speed limit.

I think you have answered it yourself perfectly adequately.

I think you have answered it yourself perfectly adequately.

How so? The police would assess the situation, come to the conclusion that I was driving within the speed limit of the road and that my car was in roadworthy condtion.. I am not speeding then.

Have you all seriously deluded yourselves into thinking you don't ever speed? - I cant remember the last car I went in where the driver didn't break the limit at least once (however small the margin)

Are you lot the people that do 45 on an A road with good visibility then stick the high beam on or put your foot down if someone decides to overtake - that's not dangerous at all, is it?

I guess if the A road is a 30mph past a school then its bad form. You arguement should be .- Are you lot the people who do 45 in a NSL road with good visability etc.

And again you have missed the point that too fast is too fast no matter what you are driving if you enter a corner at too high a speed to be able to stop if you unexpectedly come across a hazard. even if that is 45mph on a NSL road.

crankrider - Member
...Have you all seriously deluded yourselves into thinking you don't ever speed? - I cant remember the last car I went in where the driver didn't break the limit at least once (however small the margin)

Everyone makes mistakes.

Some people make the mistake of going too fast through monentary inattention.

Others make the deluded mistake of thinking they are entitled to go fast because of their superior car or superior skills or because they cannot see any hazard.

Its just a number on a pole. What happens when they change the number? The day before the limit was higher was it safe or were baby robins being killed in their hundreds? What if the number goes up?

Use your eyes and look at the road, look as far down it as you can. Now use your brain and work out what an appropriate speed is. It's not that hard but it does take a little practice and concentration. But if you can do this you will be safer than just following the number on the pole

It's not that hard but it does take a little practice and concentration.

So how do you work it out if you passed your test yesterday?

richmtb - Member
Its just a number on a pole...

It's not.

Other people use the road, and they will be making decisions based on the expected speed of vehicles.

Out of interest. Sometimes they decide to alter the speed limits on roads. So on Monday you drive safely at 60mph, appropriately for the conditions at the time. Are you then driving dangerously the next day when the limit reduces to 50 & you travel at 60?

Anyway, back to the Nazis.

c6 Million killed over 6 years by the Nazi's. WHO figures are for 1.275m per annum killed on the world's roads (and 4 times that number with lifelong disabilities).

UK Reported Road Casualties in Great Britain, 2012. Killed 1,754, Seriously Injured 23,039

I don't think those numbers are in any way acceptable. Over my lifetime the number of cars on the UK's roads has increased from c15m to c25m. They handle better, stop better and accelerate more quickly. Because of this they are driven faster which makes the environment around them massively more unpleasant for those that aren't in them. More traffic, travelling more quickly makes the public realm a nasty place to be whether country or city. That's why you see so few kids out on the street now.

Cars are now much safer for the people driving them but almost no different at all for pedestrians or cyclists who are hit by them.

I've met almost no-one who doesn't think they're a good driver yet statistically they can't all be. Speed limits might be a blunt instrument but they're the only one we really have.

Out of interest, for those people who think they can we can make our own decision about laws and arbitrarily chosen numbers are flexible. I assume this applies to everything - so if their daughters look more than old enough at 14 - they're fair game for the likes of Gary Glitter?

Only in the movies do cars tumble and somersault down the road instantly when a tyre blows.

Not entirely true, I had a rear blow out on an Audi Quattro which put me on my roof in the outside lane on an Austrian motorway.

That wasn't much fun.

imnotverygood - Member
Out of interest. Sometimes they decide to alter the speed limits on roads. So on Monday you drive safely at 60mph, appropriately for the conditions at the time. Are you then driving dangerously the next day when the limit reduces to 50 & you travel at 60?

There's other road users making decisions on their road use based on what they expect the traffic speed to be. The limit would not be reduced arbitrarily. The road is not a playground.

Anyhow, I have found the solution. There's no need to speed any more folks.

All you need is a set of [url= http://www.yournutz.com ]these for your car[/url] and everyone can see how awesome you are. 😆

What if you have a puncture whilst driving your amazing car in your spirited manner?

It's the same as having one at any speed. I had a virtual blow out at 85mph on the M3 many years ago, in a works Escort van. It went down in a few seconds rather than instantly. The vehicle went a bit wobbly, which got worse as I slowed and pulled over. It wasn't nice but nor was it particularly dangerous.

Driving to work this morning, i broke the speed limit several times.

Why? - I was in a procession of commuters who were all doing the same thing, that means everybody, a line of 100's of cars; men, women, old, young, vans, cars, lorries etc etc.... If i had dropped to bang on the speed limit i would have caused frustration and possible potential overtake attempts. It would not have been safer and other road users would continue at this pace once i had gone.

Are people here seriously saying they dont EVER speed?

I think you need to think about the difference between those tools on the road who drive aggressively at full pace everywhere they can and mature drivers who occasionally put their foot down - of which there are plenty.

crankrider - Member
Driving to work this morning, i broke the speed limit several times.

...Are people here seriously saying they dont EVER speed?

I think you need to think about the difference between those tools on the road who drive aggressively at full pace everywhere they can and mature drivers who occasionally put their foot down - of which there are plenty.

You don't have to be subject to peer group pressure. Why not leave those speeding people to their habits and you won't have to participate in their multicar pileup?

A mature driver is someone who realises that other people have rights to use the roads too.

The country roads in the UK rarely have large clear empty spaces to the sides, there's usually a wall, hedge, tree, or some other visual obstruction. Maybe even a cyclist avoiding a pothole around that obscured bend.

Unless you have x-ray vision, how do you know there's nothing there? Just because most times there is nothing there, doesn't make speeding right.

More importantly, why should someone else have to pay the consequences when you get it wrong?

[quote=crankrider ]Driving to work this morning, i broke the speed limit several times.
Why? - I was in a procession of commuters who were all doing the same thing, that means everybody, a line of 100's of cars; men, women, old, young, vans, cars, lorries etc etc.... If i had dropped to bang on the speed limit i would have caused frustration and possible potential overtake attempts. It would not have been safer and other road users would continue at this pace once i had gone.
Have you considered the possibility that you weren't the only one feeling pressurised to exceed the speed limit?

"...just keeping up with traffic officer..."

I imagine he or she will give you a big fat 😆

Are people here seriously saying they dont EVER speed?

never intentionally.

look at the speedo every now and then, look outside occasionally to see what the limit is.

it's not tricky.

(except sometimes it is, a bit. some of the 20 zones around here are long steep hills - it's quite easy to quickly exceed the limit just by not braking heavily all the way down)

You lot are hilarious! - you never intentionally go above the speed limit... ever? Not even 33 in a 30?

A multi-car pileup on a 40mph single carriageway road (that used to be nsl) with good visibility full of people going to work? I cant think i have ever seen an accident there...

'just keeping up with traffic officer' - as i was only around 10% above the limit not a police officer in the world would stop me, and would they have stopped every driver on their commute to work in that case?

Scotroutes - i was not feeling pressured at all, i think that speed is perfectly acceptable in those circumstances.

You do know speed cameras do not go off until 10% above the limit - the speedo is not accurate in your car.

I have to be honest though, i rarely come across people who drive like most of the dawdling biddies in this thread, most people are just 'normal' drivers.

crankrider - Member

You lot are hilarious! - you never intentionally go above the speed limit... ever? Not even 33 in a 30?

never intentionally. Is that really so weird?

It's almost always 20/30/40/50/60/70 for a reason.

more 20 zones, and more average-speed cameras please.

[quote=crankrider ]You lot are hilarious! - you never intentionally go above the speed limit... ever? Not even 33 in a 30?

You do know speed cameras do not go off until 10% above the limit - the speedo is not accurate in your car.
I'm not sure what you are saying here. That you drive at "speedo +10%" and are therefore likely to be within the speed limit or you drive at "speedo +20%"?

To take an example, driving a car at the NSL would be 60mph. On a clear road I could be doing an [i]indicated[/i] 60-65, giving some scope for variation in speed due to perception and road contours.

I have to be honest though, i rarely come across people who drive like most of the dawdling biddies in this thread, most people are just 'normal' drivers.

I am sure i am being trolled here by members of BRAKE or something? Surely?!

BTW - 20mph speed limits are a great idea in areas with schools / playgrounds / busy high streets. You would be an IDIOT to go quickly though these areas.

The funny thing is, i am often the one with people 2 inches from my bumper as i trundle past the local schools.

There is a time and a place that allows a little discretion regarding the speed limit, i think most normal people would agree.... unless you are the ant-car brigade on STW that is (probably also people with cars in a state of poor repair)

You don't have to be subject to peer group pressure. Why not leave those speeding people to their habits and you won't have to participate in their multicar pileup?

go with the flow

people who deviate from the general flow of the traffic, too fast or too slow, are the ones that generally trigger accidents, imo

The country roads in the UK rarely have large clear empty spaces to the sides, there's usually a wall, hedge, tree, or some other visual obstruction. Maybe even a cyclist avoiding a pothole around that obscured bend.

Unless you have x-ray vision, how do you know there's nothing there? Just because most times there is nothing there, doesn't make speeding right.

Use your eyes and look at the road, look as far down it as you can. Now use your brain and work out what an appropriate speed is. It's not that hard but it does take a little practice and concentration. But if you can do this you will be safer than just following the number on the pole.

Appropriate speed means taking into account blind corners and junctions and other factors like the width of the road.

This is why the number on the pole is almost always arbitrary. A single track road where you are potentially driving towards oncoming traffic has the same number on the pole as a wide straight A-road.

My average speed along a single track road is closer to 30 than 60 but I'll speed up for sections where I have a clear view

[quote=crankrider ]BTW - 20mph speed limits are a great idea in areas with schools / playgrounds / busy high streets. You would be an IDIOT to go quickly though these areas.
The funny thing is, i am often the one with people 2 inches from my bumper as i trundle past the local schools.
So it's only [i]your[/i] perception of what is a safe and valid speed that is correct? Anyone slower than you = dawdler, anyone faster than you = idiot? I think you might actually have hit the nail on the head. Can you see any problem with this?

Wow, 3 normal people with sensible answers that live in the real world.

So it's only your perception of what is a safe and valid speed that is correct? Anyone slower than you = dawdler, anyone faster than you = idiot? I think you might actually have hit the nail on the head. Can you see any problem with this

No you cretin, I made quite clear, as others above have that driving 'normally' is right, going with the flow of traffic and not staring at the speedometer so that you don't go 1mph above the limit like you seem obsessed with doing.

Hopefully nobody runs out infront of you while you are watching that needle creep up...

you cretin

This is an excellent method of getting people to see your point of view on forums.

This is an excellent method of getting people to see your point of view on forums.

Its not like it is real life and it matters though, is it?

crankrider - Member

No you cretin...

We humble cretins are honoured to be in the company of so many awesome drivers who don't have to obey speed limits.

How about this?

You feel entitled to deliberately speed on public roads, so why don't you buy a really powerful motorbike?

1. It's more fun.

2. It's easier to avoid and overtake the cretins sticking to the speed limit.

3. Best of all, usually it's only the rider who pays the price of their awesomeness.

Its not like it is real life and it matters though, is it?

It clearly matters to you so much that you're calling druidh a cretin* for disagreeing with you.

*even if you are right. 🙂

[url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/good-to-share/10559590/This-will-make-you-think-twice-about-speeding-again.html ]This is what we cretins have ben trying to get across[/url]

1. It's more fun.
2. It's easier to avoid and overtake the cretins sticking to the speed limit.
3. Best of all, usually it's only the rider who pays the price of their awesomeness.

Nail on the head there fella. Very true. I commute by motorbike every day, a 50 mile round trip. It takes half the time and it ten times the fun of a car. And I use less than half the fuel too. Bonus!
A good proportion is filtering along the M3, which is great fun at half the speed limit. It's not often I stray above 70-75 on the journey either, before you ask. It's pointless as I've got so much time available. My commuter bike only has 47bhp too, so it's slow by bike standards.

Link to Ozzie road safety ad

I've not been keeping up to speed with this thread*, but after a quick skim read, it seems to come to the conclusion that all people who drive slowly are cretins? Does that just about cover it?

* see what I did there?

It's not about speed, it's about inappropriate speed.

Driving at 100mph on the M40 at 2am in the morning with no other cards around is not unsafe.

Undertaking 12 cars in a 911 at 115mph when the other said cars are all doing 70mph and a car pulls out of the inside lane because he doesn't see you in your penis extension doing 115mph in the middle lane and its only down to his quick reactions meaning a catstrophic accident is avoided, is unsafe!*

*happened to me on the M40 at the weekend.

The latter happened to me on the M40 at the weekend.

Which 911 do you have ?

hehehe, not that i have to point it out, but i wasn't the one in the 911.

Joking aside, he nearly totalled a passat with a family in, then in avoiding them nearly sent another car into the central reservation.

My tuppence (as a distinctly average driver who speeds moderately):

The [i]"you fail your driving test for not reaching the limit"[/i] argument is bollocks. You don't.

You fail for not driving to the conditions. If the conditions are good, allowing you to drive at the limit and you don't [i]then[/i] it'd be a mark against you. Conversely if you did 30 through a built-up residential area with parked cars, driveways and kids playing then you'd be legal but you'd fail.

The [i]"it's just an arbitrary number on a post"[/i] argument is also bollocks.
Unsurprisingly there is a fair bit of guidance and regulation for speed limits and they are designed to take into account factors that may not be immediately obvious as a driver (e.g. road surface ahead, frequency of junctions, previous accident history, likelihood of wildlife, presence of agricultural vehicles, etc etc)

Likewise saying that the 70mph limits on motorways are a bit out of date is partly true BUT many motorways were designed for that speed. Significantly increasing the speed limit would mean increasing the length of every slip road, the radius/camber of every bend, the distance between signs and their respective targets.

Plus, unless you also increased the speeds that HGVs can go at, then you'd be making the speed differential much larger so lane 1 would effectively become the lorry lane.

Likewise saying that the 70mph limits on motorways are a bit out of date is partly true BUT many motorways were designed for that speed. Significantly increasing the speed limit would mean increasing the length of every slip road, the radius/camber of every bend, the distance between signs and their respective targets.

Balderdash.

The motorways were designed in the 60's and 70's. Try comparing a Morris Marina to a Ford Mondeo.