Safe Speed Forums

Thought this might be an intersting thread to start.

On the way in to work today I was reflecting on how my driving has changed in the last couple of years. I think that taking part in this forum has made me safer, more aware and more thoughtful on the road. Still plenty of improvements to make, but;

I'm more judicious about my use of speed, particularly during cornering.

I'm more patient and less judgemental about other road users and their errors.

My hazard perception is bit more acute and 'switched on' as I plan my way up the road.

I feel more confident to drive at the right speed for the conditions, i.e. I don't feel any pressure to be 'pushed' by surrounding traffic when its unsafe to speed up.

Overall, I think I've matured a bit more as a driver.

I think its important to note that taking a thoughtful part in discussions around key safe speed issues can improve your driving, in terms of learning new things and your own self awareness. Leaving aside the camera campaign for a minute, I think this is an important achievement which deserves merit in its own right. I'm grateful for the ideas, advice and contributions of others in this process. Any one else got any thoughts?

I definately agree that reading some of the articles on SS has improved my driving (and actually made me thing about trying to join the IAM).

Good driving requires good awareness, and reading the site has definately increased my awareness of certain issues regarding road safety.

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Science won over religion when they started installing lightning rods on churches.

I think that taking on board a lot of the points discussed in this forum has certainly made me a more attentive driver which I would say has improved my overall driving.

Its certainly made me a lot more tolerant with other road users, as I've had a chance to see both sides of an argument .

Same here. I think I was an okay driver before, but all this virtual hanging around with IAM and RoSPA types has changed the way I drive a bit. I suppose it's the opposite effect of lying down with dogs and getting fleas - talk to good drivers and you get better . Or maybe having to think about points rasied in discussions here has made me think about my driving more, or at least differently.

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Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler - Einstein

Good question, well presented.

I suppose its made me think a lot more about driving, both my own and other peoples and change the way I view the whole process. Ultimately, its made me get off my arse and pursue the IAM test (pre-test next Monday)
Whilst on my observed runs I had two experiences which amused my observer and which, previously, I might have reacted differently to or even done myself

We were approaching a roundabout near Shrewsbury and were overtaken by a fast moving German Saloon (ahem ) which proceeded to brake heavily as it adopted the right hand lane at the roundabout. This unplanned lunge compromised the cars momentum and it was forced to pull up and wait for another car on the roundabout; one which it would have emerged ahead of had the driver approached more thoughtfully.
As it was, we sailed imperiously by in the left hand lane, slotting in behind the car on the roundabout and emerged at our exit with the german car behind us - he'd been in completely the wrong lane and position.

Similarly, whilst out today I slotted onto a roundabout safely ahead of a small red hatchback already on the island, a fact confirmed by my observer. Nonetheless, the hatchback driver gave me an irritated toot; it perhaps looked to him as though I'd just emerged without considering him. Fact is, he'd have needed to have been driving a Mclaren F1 car to both corner and accelerate at a rate necessary for my emerge to have compromised him. A typical anal small car driver was the comment from my observer

I would agree that SafeSpeed has made me think a lot more about my driving, I tend to plan ahead a lot more, more important in a truck that.
I try to plan for the tricks that others might pull, like the one I didn't see the other day untill she had pulled in front of me in almost stationary traffic, she had been hiding in my blind spot, all I got in thanks was a two finger salute.
I will go for IAM one day, but at the moment I can't afford the money of the time, wish I could though, it could only improve my driving.

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Semper in excreta, nur quantitat variat.

Reading posts on Safespeed has made me more aware on a consious level of many things I did subconsiously - and therefore has given me the chance to refine and improve on them.
It's also given us an insight into other people's problems on the roads in different areas - eg Zamzara's Isle of Wight, or the M25 - something we miss here in Cumbria apart froma a fleeting visit!

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

Safe Speed has made me realise that there are lots of ordinary, skilled people out there who are mighty pissed off by the way the enforcement of our speed laws is being applied.

I know I am not the only one who thinks that the whole thing is wrong... But it's whether or not there could be enough momentum to get someone to stand for Parliament at a by-election on a "SafeSpeed" ticket.

At the end of the day, we can sit and moan all we like - but until we threaten those with their noses in the trough and their stealth taxing thieving hands with loss of comfort, I fear nothing will be done about it.

Someone likeable and electable has to stand for Parliament. Much as I'd like to, I think I am "damaged goods" - I tend to speak my mind as I see it and offend too many people because I can be abrupt and to the point. I'd love to see Paul stand on an SS ticket - and I think loads of us contributors on here would spend oiur days handing out election literature too.

I still think you have to do it, Paul - and the fact you're not in love with the idea, probably means you'd do it well. If you stood at a by-election, win or lose, you could bring the issues to the electorate at large.

I'm open to proper future developments and opportunities, but I don't rate this one as likely. Chucking some money around - professional PR, advertising, conferences, staff and exhibitions (for example) would make a very big difference.

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety