SigmaMotion wrote:
eddy on the linked site wrote:
sorry but I was driving a 130 bhp car @ quite a young age. And it was ample when the car was unloaded, but with my wife and child when packed up to the hilt to go on holiday it was "enough" if you know what I mean.
The answer isn't punitive draconian measures such as speed limities but bringing about a change in attitude and improving consideration for others/sense of social responsibility.
For a start, make children walk to school. That way they get used to the roads and the perspective of one of the most vulnerable road users. Then encourage them to cycle, on the road, according to the national standard.
So far so good. I happen to agree. My own children go on the school bus .. unless loaded to the hilt and we then take to bus stop.
However, I fund the twins to drive and provided a car for them. They do not always use this to go to school.. but they do if a "heavy load bag!" day and they drive their younger siblings to school. Fosters are different. They have to attend a different school and either myself or Wildy (usually Wildy
) frog marches them to registration given the truancy records
(We insist we are notified should any of our kids skip any class. Our own brood know better and they enjoy school. Fostered brood are more of a challenge in this respect and we are very watchful on this one.
I cannot explain how hard it can be. Let me just say that I appreciate some of the problems endured by many so-called "chav parents" as the proverb does say you can take a horse to water but you cannot make him drink.
Do our best for these fosters.. and we have a decently successful record . but it is hard work.. but indescribably rewarding when you find you made that difference after all .. even though you felt you were sinking and sagging fast!:roll: :
)
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If this does not make them into sensible road users, then they should be denied personal motorised transport. If it is successful (and most the time it will be) then they will be much safer motorcyclists when sat astride a 150 bhp sports bike. They will understand how vulnerable they are to SMIDSY's and they will understand why it's important to ride sensibly and according to the conditions.
Ed .. I cannot say I disagree with you. For record .. our own kids have been brought up with good road skills. We educate our foster kids in the same way. They leave us with a Bikeabilty qualification and some road sense.
They also leave us with a love and understanding of the internal combustion engine and its powers.
I think we do our bit
I think our family play very fair you know. I know you do not indulge in that other rather petty nonsense anyway Dan.
Eddy on the linked site wrote:
At the end of the day, in most motorcycle accidents, it is only the rider that gets seriously hurt. I know that more vulnerable road users (pedestrians and cyclists) are put at greater risk by kidney doner motorcyclists but chances are they will eleminate themselves from the gene pool before they can harm anyone else.
I know rogue bikers are one of IG's main headaches and feature most prominently in his patch's stats per his take and the official returns backing him. I would love to patent a way to educate such riders to a safety led COAST type ride. We can only keep chipping away and hoping really
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I don't trust any of Paul Smith's statistics. After all, he made cyclists look as dangerous as white van man as far as pedestrians are concerned. The statistics didn't awknowledge the fact pedestrians are far more likely to step out into the road in front of a cyclist.
Now steady on Dan lad and pal and mate.
I apply COAST. I ring my bell. I shout .. "Look out Luv.. Lycra clad man about! "
and I
smile at these people It works wonders. I am on wheels. I am travelling a lot faster than some one on foot. As when driving my car.. I am in or on something a lot faster than someone on foot and whilst I will argue that I should be met somewhere in negotiation .. my responsibility must be the greater as I am travelling on or in something that bit more powerful than the other guy using and sharing the road with me.
On this I have to disagree with you. You are on wheels.. travelling faster than the pedestrian by default. That person on two legs is more vulnerable than you .. and I do give way to people .. even if they are incorrect in the way they used the road. It is COAST after all
and those on two legs have priority. Lot of the cycling militia cite European countries as "beacons of perfection". I have umpteen photos of signs taken from people who live over there .. and from our own hols over there.. showing that cyclists are authorised and pedestrians have precedence
I will upload some of these photos if you like. It will take some time to decide on the family top five or so though.. and I think I am honour bound to "ask the family" as they all have lots of interesting photos.
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As for speed, I don't understand the obsession with it. It is an important factor in road accidents - at lower speeds people can react quicker to avert an accident and if an accident does occur, there is less harmful energy to dissipate. But appropriate speed is only a factor in using the public highway safely.
It's back to COAST
You choose the right speed for the circumstances. Your COAST is systematic and alerts to hazards. I drive at high speeds on track.. on foreign motorways.. and especially some German and Austrian and Italian ones. It's legal. KSI are officially lower on those roads per the stats of those countries
Do have Google. There for all to read anyways
I do not drive at any high speed if in an area which dictates a speed below the official lolly at times. I hardly ever exceed 30/40 mph on such roads .. but may blip by odd just about tolerated margins on very fast roads in the UK. I am aware of another factor.. I posted it up the other day
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Haste is more of a problem - all those people who tailgate you trying to intimidate you into going faster when observing the speed limit. And the belief that speeding will decrease your journey time. Most times of the day, it doesn't. In fact, I think it increases journey times because it increases congestion. What's the point in travelling at 60 mph through town when it just means a longer queue at the next roundabout or set of lights?
I must live on another planet Dan. I seldom see anyone at 60 mph through out towns. I see brake-waves on the M6 here.. and some daft traffic light sequences and some refusal to zip-merge which exacerabate the problems
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I know because when cycling it's possible to play leap frog with cars all the way home. In the car, staying on the ball is more effective at reducing journey times rather than breaking the speed limit.
I do not live in Telford. I work in a main teaching hospital. I sometimes have to travel to the big burb to lecture undergraduates and graduands in medicine. I also liaise with the main teaching hospitals and place some of my patients on a transplant list if the lurgy has attacked organs and this is sadly the only remedy for their quality of life. As such I can make some pretty lengthy and horrid commutes within the urban sprawls. My progress does depend on my COAST awareness. The fact that my Jag purrs along and rarely hits my pocket adversely could be testament to my qualities as a safe and careful driver who stays "on the ball"
I live to the north of Keswick. It is a bit remote.. but what I love. I have no choice but to drive and my journeys to and from my work have never been overly long or tedious or even dangerous. But then .. I never ever allow anyone to upset me on the road. I just drive according to whatever life chucks at me and I get on with it .. but evaluate my drive and think how someome might have perceived that lane change .. even though they let me in and I gave a cheery thumb up gesture.
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Just look how many drivers take over 20 seconds to move quickly and swiftly away from a green light. Or stop at a roundabout because they have muddle the approach or miss judged? Or they loose time because they use the wrong gear? (Good example is a change from a 30 to a 60 near me - I'll observe the 30 in 3rd, accelerate away at the limit change but my clear road is blocked by the driver that has just overtaken me because he/she wanted to exceed the 30 limit).
Sorry, I have gone on a bit...
Ed// I use my gears.. use third a lot.. and perhaps the delay is in just not watching the lights. .. and being just ready for the off.
A part of it is being mindful to other road users.. and it'sa case of COAST and common sense really.
I am fair.. I pointed out where I take some issue with your post here.. but I do not disagree with everything you post here my friend.
I think Paul is a pal of the cyclist in reality mate. I think he should ride though... it's fun .. exhilarating.. and there are lots of pub rides and runs which make a real ale enthusiast and the amateur photographer's dreams come true too
Hope you reply here mate. The Swiss and self are not as C Minors with meaningless degrees in stuff no one else is interested in think
We hope to accord reason and true friendship and promote realistic road safety values. I trust to be met at least halfway.
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with the intention of only using for "special events". I class a result like yours as a justified reason to quaff a thoroughly decent wine and make a "virtual toast to you!"
