Danger traffic slowing . Forums

bandaid

Shelton, your experience has clearly formed your views on speed and speeding, I was a paramedic for 25+ years, and frankly, have, prolly like the others in or retired from the Blue Light Brigade on here, have seen more than my fair share of the trauma, ( emotional and physical ) that crashes such as you described can cause.

However, please, bear in mind, that we are all equally qualified to drive motorvehicles from the date we pass our test, unless we actually undergo specialised and significant training, its not actually reasonable to condemn DTP without knowing if he's done any such training. So, as understandable as your comments were, I'm not sure they were entirely fair.

Itsn't per se ,speed which is the danger, its excessive speed for the circumstances, and, therefore, I would, goven opportunity, reduce the speed limits through towns and villages to 20mph, and double the fines for speeding in these places, and then relax the same for other roads. Even Altering speeds for differing times of day 9 a bit like the M25, only less aggressively against the motorists.)

Shelton

I apologize if my comments are perceived as a personal attack on Dave P, thats not my intention. It is the general attitude to speeding I find irritating.

My original reply was in relation to the apparent statement that its OK to exceed the speed limit when one thinks its "safe to do so".

Well I'm sorry but I think this is unacceptable, particularly in relation to the rural/urban environment referred to. Even if we remove my admittedly opinionated view that one's assessment that it is safe, is probably incorrect (even though its backed up by much research!) braking the speed limit is still illegal - FACT!

If more people stuck to the speed limits perhaps our roads would be a safer place?

bikemad99

Speed does not cause accidents. Bad driving does.
There are no dangerous roads only dangerous drivers.

rowley

Quote from Bandaid-- reduce the speed limits through towns and villages to 20mph

I try to keep to the speed limits at all times, but I would not like to stay at 20mph through towns and villages.

bandaid

Shelton, thanks for clarifying that, and BTW you dont need to apologise for your opinion, its yours, and thats about that.

The same succh research, for instance has determined that of all the serious injury and fatal crashes involving motorcycles, for instance, were not credited to excessive speed, in fact, the most popular reason is turning right.

the so called Safety Cameras, also have been subject to much research, mostly from the very Government which is in ultimate control. this research states quite plainly that the areas who, in the period, increased the number of safety cameras had a disproportionate increase in speed related crashes, and the very most ineffective way of controlling driving speeds through raod works was to put a camera in place. ( best option, Police Car,).

Research is so very dependant on who conducts it and who pays them.

I also wonder how many of us can, hand on heart, state that we are completely legal.

Covenants against parking the M/H outside the house,
creeping over the stop sign,
bit pushed on the amber light at the junction,
2-4 days late in the RFL renewal.

Its a personal opinion at the end, you have yours, I've got got mine, and, joyfully, we disagree.

Its joyful dissagreement cos it'd be boring otherwise.

Shelton

Bikemad99 - agreed but excessive and inappropriate speed surely constitutes "bad driving".

Rowley. Me neither, but we may soon have to. A large number of roads in Plymouth are now (or will be) 20 mph in an experiment and many other cities are watching with interest, ready to follow. w

Bandaid. The difference is willful intent. We may, inadvertently slip through amber or miss a stop line but speeding is usually done intently with full knowledge and disregard for the law.

JQL

[rant on]
It is not speed that is the danger, it is inappropriate speed.

The speed limit of 70mph on motorways was introduced as a fuel saving measure in the 1970's not as a safety measure.

I was taught to ride motorcycles by a Police Motorcyclist and I have gone on to do in excess of 150,000 miles on various motorcycles including 3 years as a Despatch Rider in London. In all that time, thanks to my Police Instructor, I've only ever had two accidents - the first showing off (I learnt my lesson), the second Diesel on a very wet Park Lane.

Quite simply there are times when speeds in excess of 70mph would be safe (not legal, safe) and there are times when speeds in excess of 20mph would be unsafe, but legal!

We all know that exceeding the posted speed limit is illegal but, that is not the point of most posts. So please can we accept the information in the context it is given and not immediately attack the writer out of some preceived sense of indignation.

Oh, and before anyone flames me for not having any idea of the consequences, I had a Cousin who was killed while riding a bicycle. The car driver was doing less than 30mph and my Cousin went straight out in front of the car. The driver didn't have a chance to stop and was totally blameless. She, my Cousin, was 11 years old.
[rant off]

Shelton

JQL: But that is not the case.

The motorway speed limit was introduced as an experiment in 1965 on ROAD SAFETY grounds, this was made permanent in 1967 (the experiment being a success).

It was later reduced to 50 mph as a temporary measure in 1973 on fuel economy grounds due to the global oil crises and was restored to 70 mph in 1974 was oil supplies were stabilized.

bandaid

told you it was more fun to disagree.

as it happens one of the best things about this thread is that nobody has implied or said how stupid the others are, nor invited them to leave the room, so to speak,

besides, I dont see how you an unwilfully not sort your rfl, or non wilfully creep across the white lines, or anyway, I disagree with your illegality stance, 'cos I dont think any of us are entirely without guilt, and I certainly don't agree about the safety of exceeding posted limits at times or places which to the reasonable person, are less unsafe than others.

So, nice chat wasnt it?

mrtrilby