weepej wrote:
Big Tone wrote:
jomukuk wrote:
The speed is 40 on s/c roads because of the lengthy stopping distance of trucks.
140 feet at 40 mph, but over 300 feet at 60 mph.
Compare those to a car..60 and 130 feet.
Not only that, but if a truck hits a car it is a body-bag job, if there are passengers, multiple body-bags.
One drove into a jcb just up the road the other day....another body-bag job (hey, if the driver couldn't spot a bright yellow digger....)
I always love it when you post bud
So what's the deal with coaches Jom? About 45 precious human cargo in a 'HGV' doing 70+ mph verses an Argos HGV carrying folding beds and laptops limited to 50...
That's being addressed apparently.
http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.asp ... tegoryid=0You write as if you think the Argos truck should be allowed to do 70mph on the motorway because some older coaches can (many modern coaches are speed limits), do you really?
Did you actually read that link that you posted, Weepy?
"...The plan addresses an anomaly in current legislation whereby modern coaches fitted with speed limiters are limited to 62.5mph on the motorway while older coaches without speed limiters can legally travel at up to 70mph...."
This is purely a "fix" because older coaches don't have the type of electronic engine management systems that allow speed limiters to be restrospectively fitted. The article goes on to say:
"...Road safety minister Paul Clark explains: “We want to provide clarity for everybody - drivers, operators, other motorists and the police - as well as making sure that there is a level playing field for those operating in the bus, coach and road haulage industry. These proposals simplify motorway speed limits for buses, coaches and lorries so that everyone has to abide by the same rules regardless of the age of their vehicle....”
Basically (as it common knowledge in the bus and coach industry), the speed limiter requirements have created a perverse incentive to hang on to older coaches for longer (which is bad for safety and the environment). It's typical of legislation introduced "because suddenly the technology makes it possible" rather than "because there is a need for it". Do you actually have a breakdown of the causes of coach accidents? If so, I'd be interested to know how many were caused by a coach doing 70, that would have been prevented by it doing 62.5. I have my own ideas on the subject, and it'll not surprise you to hear it's a "round" number...
By far and away the biggest improvement you could make to coach safety is to get the muppets inside to wear their seat belts.