Safe Speed Forums

Thanks for your comments. Perhaps I should point out that I live in County Durham where there are no fixed speed cameras, maybe that has some relevance.

The main problems seem to occur in the morning rush-hour when I am taking my daughter to the local station. Everyone seems to be in a tearing hurry. This morning for instance a driver in a Renault Megane waited behind (very close behind) until we were out of a 30 limit, didn't overtake immediately although he/ she could have done but instead overtook through a right-turn hatched area as a minibus started to turn right. As I was watching everything very closely I was able to brake almost to a stand so that said Megane driver didn't crash into either the minibus or my car or both.
I know the Highway Code very well - for instance that when following a cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle where double solid white lines are present one can only overtake where they are travelling at 10 mph or less. In the real world however one is extremely unlikely to be prosecuted for infringing (rather than flouting) this law.

Gatsobait - I mean by mostly law-abiding that in the car I don't intentionally speed, but on my motorbike I used to take the national 60 limit with a pinch of salt where I judged it safe to do so and where I judged I was unlikely to be prosecuted. My licence has remained clean throughout but some of this is of course good fortune.

So long as you do not end up as a born again biker in our danger area ....we are hitting the area hard and will be higher profile there.

What's up then..have the police finally twigged that a camera doesn't actually generate revenue where a bike is concerned so it's time to f*ck the biker over in person?

On the "open road" with a 60 limit I generally don't go faster then 50-55.

I usually don't pull out at junctions in front of other drivers if this would cause them to to slow down or deviate from their intended course,

This morning when I pulled out at a busy, fast roundabout in front of a "press-on" driver he or she started hooting and I had to stop part-way round roundabout to give precedence, holding everyone else up in the process.

I haven't had an accident in the car in 35 years apart from someone running into the rear whilst stationary at a junction and I don't have "near-misses" all the time. For everyone else's sake should I pack in driving or go back to a driving school for some lessons

Why travel upto 10 mph below the limit, if it is safe to travel at the limit

Do you feel like an unsafe driver, due to your age

Which should be OK shouldn't it as I thought the idea was to travel at the speed at which you feel comfortable?

No, it is not OK

If you drive at 10 mph below the limit during a driving test, you would fail for not making progress!

Only last year, one of my drivers failed their LGV test for doing just that

Some people like to drive under the limit. Which should be OK shouldn't it as I thought the idea was to travel at the speed at which you feel comfortable?

So if its safe to do so (presumably by some majority consensus), then everyone should drive at the limit?

And if you can't, or don't want to....get off the road is that right? Tsk, and here's me thinking that the sign on the lollipop wasn't supposed to represent the only speed at which its safe to drive.

And are you sure your LGV driver failed only for failing to make progress

Only if the roads are quiet and the limit is properly set.
Otherwise you're at least inconveniencing everybody who has the misfortune to be behind you.
And if the limits are set too low, which is more than likely these days, then if you don't feel comfortable driving at the limit then you really ought to sort yourself out - one way or the other.

Cheers
Peter

You must drive at the limit, so why when you have your license do drivers drive below the limit in safe conditions:?:

I know the Highway Code very well - for instance that when following a cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle where double solid white lines are present one can only overtake where they are travelling at 10 mph or less.

And you wouldn't fail a driving test for doing 45 mph on a rural NSL road that a highly skilled driver could take at 60.

Aahhh, I see. So, there are a few caveats to this, driving at the speed at which you feel comfortable then. If others decide that the limit is too low, or are happy to drive faster than the limit, slower drivers should...er, sort themselves out then? Sorry, but I thought the roads were for everyones use.

BTW, I think I did put a caveat at the my post suggesting that slower drivers should get out of the way if they are obviously holding others up.

In the current climate you would.

Or are you referring to a twisting terrain where appreciation of 'limit points' and greater observational skills need to be employed, where there is some scope for caution to be employed?

I presume the latter.

On a clear road, with no obvious hazards, candidates are expected to attain the NSL.

What's up then..have the police finally twigged that a camera doesn't actually generate revenue where a bike is concerned so it's time to f*ck the biker over in person?

Weekend bikers are about 20 to 50 times more likely to kill themselves than the average motorist. They are responsible for around 15% of our total fatalities.

It is the standard required to pass your driving test!, and yes it clearly stated on the fail sheet "driving below the limit, failing to make progress"

Plus, using indicators too much

Careful Ian, most of the risk comes from less than 20% of the weekend bikers, and the better 80% won't thank you for hassle.

You have to use your experience to try to indentify the trouble group within the larger set of weekend bikers.

But like IG, we'll be looking primarily for the prats .