Safe Speed Forums

Fast jet pilots are considerably better pilots than those who take to the skies in slow puddle-jumpers like Cessnas and Pipers, and also have far fewer accidents, despite traveling at many times the speed!

What percentage of drivers do you think never exceed the speed limit at any point?

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Paul Smith: a legend.

"The freedom provided by the motor vehicle is not universally applauded, however: there are those who resent the loss of state control over individual choice that the car represents. Such people rarely admit their prejudices openly; instead, they make false or exaggerated claims about the adverse effects of road transport in order to justify calls for higher taxation or restrictions on mobility." (Conservative Way Forward: Stop The War Against Drivers)

I was just using you logic - if, as you pointed out, people driving faster than me were better drivers, then, again using you 'logic', richard hammond and ayrton senna must have been extremely good drivers, considering the speeds they were driving at - so if you're accusing me of being stupid, what does that make you?

Please, please, please

What percentage of drivers do you think never exceed the speed limit at any point?

_________________
Paul Smith: a legend.

"The freedom provided by the motor vehicle is not universally applauded, however: there are those who resent the loss of state control over individual choice that the car represents. Such people rarely admit their prejudices openly; instead, they make false or exaggerated claims about the adverse effects of road transport in order to justify calls for higher taxation or restrictions on mobility." (Conservative Way Forward: Stop The War Against Drivers)

Not even this?

_________________
Paul Smith: a legend.

"The freedom provided by the motor vehicle is not universally applauded, however: there are those who resent the loss of state control over individual choice that the car represents. Such people rarely admit their prejudices openly; instead, they make false or exaggerated claims about the adverse effects of road transport in order to justify calls for higher taxation or restrictions on mobility." (Conservative Way Forward: Stop The War Against Drivers)

Depends on what you mean by 'speeding' motorists. If you're talking about those that drive at an excessive speed, then yes - they are dangerous. But (as a rule), on average, if I see someone driving at exactly the speed limit (or lower), I tend to give them more space and have more caution, as they're (usually) the ones that are paying more attention to their speedos and not the road.

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Pecunia Prius Equitas et Salus

Only because L comes before S in the alphabet and I happened to list them alphabetically

I don't belive you.
I think the law is a priority your mind, that is why you put it first. The fact is alphabetical is merely coincidence. The reason I believe this, is that you believe a device that just enforces the law is a safety device. An airbag, a seat belt etc etc… are safety devices. They do not enforce the law, they help to protect you.

How does a speed camera stop a driver driving at an excessive speed(within or above the legal limit)?
How does a speed camera stop a joyrider, as he/she drives past one?
They don’t, all they do is ensure compliance with the law for a short stretch of road .

I will ask you again…. If your Speedo broke would you crash? Could you drive you car safely with no Speedo.
Compliance with the law would be difficult, however driving safely would not.

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Oct 11 Birmingham Half Marathon. I am running for the British Heart Foundation.
http://www.justgiving.com/Rob-Taylor

I beg to differ, knowing your numerical speed is very important when your perception has been altered after driving at higher speeds.

I'm pretty sure myslef this is why a lot of people come off around corners, especially motorway exit ramps.

Ah. The iron logic of Gatsos forever (other speed camera types are available! ) is too much for mere mortals to cope with.

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www.thatsnews.org.uk / www.thatsnews.blogspot.com / http://thatsmotoring.blogspot.com/

In an awful lot of incidents where a car or bike ploughs off the road without any other vehicle being involved the driver could have made the curve but panicked and crashed. Modern cars and bikes have (within the limits of physics) a lot higher grip, cornering and braking limits that the vast majority of drivers will ever discover. Chances are if you punch a hole in the scenery it's poor driving skills.

And I certainly don't agree with the absolute need for a speedo - Neither would you if you'd owner a '70s Italian bike - the speedos were notoriously inaccurate.

Barkstar

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The difference between intelligence and stupidity is that intelligence has limits.

No
I agree that a Speedo is useful, to ensure you stay within the law after a long drive on the motorway. However coming of around corners is due to poor driving skills

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Oct 11 Birmingham Half Marathon. I am running for the British Heart Foundation.
http://www.justgiving.com/Rob-Taylor

Why don't you just come out with it and say that I lied?

will this satisfy you?
I have respect for Safety and the Law
(thought not, but then again, it's never easy to convince criminals (you want to remove safety equipment and increase danger to the public) to stick to the law and safety - put these two the other way round if it makes you happy).

..... due to driving too fast!

So how do you know what speed is safe? The limit is still 70mph on the slip road. Personally I find that my speedo tells me nothing about how fast is safe on a motorway sliproad. I look where I'm going and make appropriate adjustments. I must be doing something right because I have never crashed off a slip road in 26 years of driving.

I once (before cameras) drove around for a month with a broken speedo cable while the garage tried to get the right part for me. I still didn't crash and I probably drove around 2000 miles.

Answer my questions (Aboce and below).

. How can they be "safety devices” when they do not stop dangerous behaviour?

The whole point of a safety device is to minimise the danger presented to you by something, which is hazardous.

A Speed camera measures speed, it does and can not measure safety. All a speed camera does is detect if a car is exceeding a legal limit. It does not detect and prevent dangerous behaviour (below the limit).

Assume no broke the speed limits, how would these devices detect dangerous behaviour? How would they continue to make the roads safe?

Don’t say if we stayed within the limits there would be no accidents, because then I would call you a liar.

I am not a criminal nor do I condone criminal acts

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Oct 11 Birmingham Half Marathon. I am running for the British Heart Foundation.
http://www.justgiving.com/Rob-Taylor

What we have to do is..... Put speed limits on slip roads. I would recommend 30 mph. This limit, would, of course start at the beginning of the slip road . To ensure safety, speed (sorry safety ) cameras should be put at the limit change. This should stop people throwing themselves of the road of their own volition.

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Oct 11 Birmingham Half Marathon. I am running for the British Heart Foundation.
http://www.justgiving.com/Rob-Taylor

It would be important to put 30 mph limits on all joining slip roads as well. These would stretch up to the merge point of the motorway and Talivans should be used to check drivers aren't speeding just before the limit change. I think this would bring major safety improvements.

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

They do, their presence makes people slow down.

If they weren't there at all a good percentage of people would drive much too fast for the road.

Sure, some still do despite the cameras.