Speeding motorists – why?

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 these for your car 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?

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.

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 indicated 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.

So, doing 60 in a 60 zone is dawdling?

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?

Consider the following:
By being the one car travelling at exactly 60mph, halfway down the line of 50 others all doing (or attempting to do) 65mph, you are encouraging the cars behind to perform overtaking maneouvres, which brings about (possibly on numerous occasions) a situation inherently more dangerous than if they are not overtaking.

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

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?

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. 🙂

This is what we cretins have ben trying to get across

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

Oh ffs. You could be going at or under the speed limit, and if some twit doesn’t see you and pulls out like that, you’re still going to hit them and cause a lot of damage and/or heartache. As I said in a post above, a bit of simple mathematics will prove beyond ANY doubt that had the speeding driver been travelling another 10mph faster, he would have passed the junction before the unattentive driver even arrived there and therefore not hit him. Alternatively, he could have been a bit more attentive when approaching the junction (I’m assuming it was signposted) and adjusted his driving style to suit. Blind adherence to arbitrary speed limits is not, and should not be the issue. Speed appropriate to the situation and general awareness is.

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 “you fail your driving test for not reaching the limit” 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 then 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 “it’s just an arbitrary number on a post” 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.