Safe Speed Forums

You're a lucky man, PaulF!

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I would say - yes - provided that this is an appropriate and safest course of action. I tend to fluctuate myself between 27 mph and 33 mph in a normal drive up a 30 mph road with on other obvious hazards.



Oh dear ...my family is an auburn and strawberry blond haired mix. Bit of the natural red tints ...

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Take with a chuckle or a grain of salt
Drive without COAST and it's all your own fault!

A SMILE is a curve that sets everything straight (P Diller).

A Smiley Per post
FINES USfor our COAST!

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon - but driving with a smile and a COAST calm mind.

I expect various physical attributes co-relate with inconsiderate driving. Age is a factor, and men seem to be more prone than women. Could there be any co-relation with hair colour? I had a ginger-haired friend back in Montreal, who had lots of patience, but finally, once his ‘bottle went’, God help you!

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For what its worth, I only learnt to drive about 18 months ago (although im close to 30 years old) and i remember during the hazard and perception part of my theory a video clip showing an oncoming car doing an overtake in the distance. They posed (in my mind) no danger at all so I didnt react to it. I nearly failed my theory for this it was only that I scored so highly in the other clips did I 'get away with it'. Maybe this has some reflection on how the government view driving.
Anyway, once I got my licence I drove an old diesel (no turbo) with about 45hp. The road I drive every day to and from work is NSL but there are few places to make a good overtake. This was excellent training, having little acceleratioin to call on, limited 'windows of opportunity' and busy roads. In 6 months I probably manged 3 overtakes but I feel quite happy now (with a much faster turbodiesel) to have a go if there is good visibility and space. I tend to back right off when im looking for an overtake and start the acceleration before the obstruction is cleared so I am up to speed and round the vehicle in front without spending any more time than necessary on the wrong side of the road. This is all about spacial awareness and timing though and if you havent got thosae skills then you will probably struggle.

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The police ARE the law, not ABOVE it!!!

I share similar experiences with Pug205GRD.

My first 2 years of driving were in a low powered diesel car. This meant that any overtaking maeuvres had to be planned well in advance and speed built up before pulling out. My approach was to hang back from the car in front to allow a bigger gap to develop, then start accelerating. When the gap had decreased to approx 1 second I pulled out to overtake. The maneuvre could be aborted if the opportunity wasn't suitable simply by braking and allowing the gap between me and the car in front to return to 2 seconds. Like Pug205GRD says, this requires some spatial awareness to time it right so that as you close in on the car you are following and prepare to pull out, the oncoming traffic will be just have passed you.

I now drive a much more powerful TD car, but still use a similar philosophy, especially as to planning well in advance. The speed differential should not be too high though (ie. don't race past Mr 30mph doing 80mph and give him the fright of his life, causing him to drive off the road.)

Having the skill isn't the only requirement. Having a car capable of getting out, past and back in again sharpish as well as the confidence to use it is also important. Mrs Gatsobait and I rarely overtake in each other's cars, and a lot of that I think is due to the familiarity with the cars and the effect that has on our confidence when driving each other's. In our own cars Mrs Gatsobait will still overtake much less often as the car just hasn't got the oomph to get round someone safely on many single carriageway roads. I find it much easier in mine in spite of having a heavier car since Honda thoughtfully tuned my 2.2 VTEC with that sort of thing in mind.
VTEC, mmm ... er, ahem.
Yeah, so anyhow, right tool for the job too otherwise it's like trrying to screw a picture to the wall with a tape measure.

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

Sure, Basingwerk. So the law will run its course, eh?

And then enough people like me will get fucked off enough by thieving bastards that (hopefully) we'll exercise our rights at the ballot box and boot out the vermin politicians who are allowing this to happen - to install politicians more to our liking... Those who advocate cutting the fingers and hands off of petty thieves perhaps, for example?!?!?!

Just because the law has "run its course" as you put it, it doesn't mean I have to love how it has been abused to mark me or others.

Are you sure you're not a Baverian Corporal, Basingwerk?

But Basingwerk, the law is dis-propotianatly tough on drivers who exceed a speed limit when in virtually all occasions of exceeding a speed limit there has been no ill-effects on anyone. The punishment in IMO is excessive, especially for people who are dependent on theit driving licences for example, and who may face diffulities finding employment with knock-on effects for their familes.

Contrast this with the softly-softly approach that is extended to burglars and muggers where every instance of their crime brings misery to their victims and you can see why drivers are a little miffed. The courts never hand out meaningful convictions and they never seem to have an effect on their life.

That's one way to avoid a speeding ticket. A practical way in the short term is to just try to obey the limit. When we took our tests, we were quizzed about the limits, so we know the rules. More people should try it – it takes out a lot of stress.



There is no shame in a few points - it is just a tally to discourage recidivists.



What a kinky idea! But I'm already I'm already spoken for as well!

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I stole this .sig

Perhaps 3 points for a first offence is a bit much when you’re only a bit over. But we don’t allow people to use their jobs as an excuse to take increased risks on the road (unless they are coppers!) The speed limits are there for a reason, we all learn them when we take our test, and everybody should make an effort to try to fit in with that. If we can’t fit in at all, I guess we need to find another line of work.



The best thing to do to burglars and muggers when you catch them is very simple – put them in a very HARSH prison. It’s far too comfy in gaol now. Put them in dark, underground cells with no light nor heat, dress them in rags, put them in chains and let them live on bread and water with spiders and rats. And force them to watch endless repeats of Big Brother and/or Top Gear. That should either kill or cure them!

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I agree. Finding yourself a few mph over the limit because you're looking at the bigger picture is one thing; taking the piss is another. I have no sympathy for anyone nailed for doing 110mph on a motorway for no other reason than because they can.

If the motorway is clear and the vehicle and driver are suitable why not, exactly? (Serious question...)

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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

If the motorway is clear then i see no problem, not a speed i would do but would have sympathy for someone banned if posing no danger.

But, i would have no sympathy for someone doing 33 in a 30 when only safe to go 25.

I aim to stick to limits in red circle ( as for the most part they are there for a reason ), and for i manage without too much of a problem, occasionally hit a couple of mph over. This is one area where i am in broad agreement with Basingwerk, it is not that difficult to stick to limits if you want to.

In NSL i may drive more than a few mph over, but it is a deliberate act - i know that i am doing it and if i get caught then i only have myself to blame.

However, when Basingwerk says:



What about those that took their test when NSL signs meant No Speed Limit?

These roads were deemed safe enough not to have limits for years, did they suddenly become dangerous, and how convenient that the maximum safe speed for all these roads was either 60 or 70mph! At least 30/40/50 limits had some thought applied - less so these days unfortunately.

Question for you, Basingwerk:

Do you think that people who only steal pens should be treated any differently from people who steal more valuable items?

Do you speak of comfort in jail at the moment from experience but feel that people who, for example, steal umbrellas, should be punished more severely?

I must confess, I find your crassly stupid comments quite entertaining. Why not make yourself some more smart money by sewing mailbags; better still computer bags - they're smarter

I know it was a serious question. Can I get back to you on this one, I do have a reason behind my view, I just need time to articulate it fully.

Of course. Whenever you are ready.

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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

Could I try and answer SafeSpeeds question. Even if the road is clear etc., I should still act within the law. Shouldn't I?

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I stole this .sig

I find your idiotic outbursts quite entertaining too, so we do have something in common, after all!

PS have a nice weekend!

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Clearly chosing to obey the law is a matter for individual conscience.

And equally clearly there's a problem with these particular laws since such a large percentage of responsible people choose to ignore them.

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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

OK, after some thought a few notes.....
The distracter in this argument is the fact that a motorist can commit a speeding offence with no repercussions whatsoever; he arrives at his destination unscathed and having presented no danger at all to anyone else. Thus, as is repeatedly stated here, it can be done quite safely.
It is a victimless crime and, as such, has no parallel (of which I can think) against which to conduct a comparison. Downloading music from the internet, stealing £10 from a millionaire, committing insurance fraud – all may appear trivial to some, but there is still an identifiable victim at the end.
This often repeated 'it can be done safely' observation conveniently (IMHO) overlooks the fact that in this country we have laws, laws which are there to provide a framework around which we identify ourselves as a society, and which we as citizens have a responsibility to obey to the best of our abilities. I insert the latter caveat as I realise it is quite possible to find oneself inadvertently breaking the speeding law – too bad if there’s a camera watching at the time.
The suggestion that we are being nannied, or are somehow ‘lesser thinking people’ if we obey all of the laws is, again IMHO, fatuous and distracting, society really gains nothing from this ‘I can think for myself’ answer to the speeding accusation. In fact its no answer at all, it just sounds like it stems from nice modern outlook when really its just an excuse for disobedience - the 'I'll do what the hell I like' mien that is already undermining our society.
However, once we begin to ignore the laws the social glue, as BW I think it was put it, begins to break down, and we are all ultimately losers. Not instantly of course, I’m not suggesting that a purposeful speeder today becomes tomorrow’s mugger, but the process is inexorably corrosive. Slowly but surely we begin to lose respect, respect for other laws and for each other.
Britain would be a far nicer place in which to live if everyone obeyed the laws and was respectful towards one another. That of course is just wishful thinking, but I don’t believe that we, the generally law abiding, should lower our standards just because this seems to be vogue thing to do.
Ina nutshell, its not the deliberate speeding thats the problem, its the underlying attitude that accompanies it.