Safe Speed Forums

From a Pistonheads discussion: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topi ... 368168&h=0 (requires free registration)


I replied:


The discussion continues...

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

I have to say Paul, that in these days of the easy availability of "Track days" used increasingly by the general public for "car testing" .. "self training" and "familiarity of the vehicle". That Police drivers still find the need to do it on public roads whilst telling the public that it is: "Unsafe", (for them), to drive at these speeds on public roads.......but they do it anyway, 'cos (Stasi like) they can!....and the "bent" judiciary (no apologies) let them off.



Police "training and familiararity" with their vehicles should clearly take place on tracks........putting the general public at risk is unacceptable.

Now I'm NOT against a much higher speed limit, especially on motorways, and until recently I was against a 2 tier licence.....but!
There is a good arguement here, a very good one, that certain vehicles and drivers should be allowed a higher speed limit by virtue of the vehicle they are driving plus their experience..

i.e. An experienced driver driving a Micra would STILL be limited to 70 mph because the vehicle is clearly incapable of performance at high speed, although I would still not impose electronically limiting the vehicles speed because I believe that "dumb" limiting is dangerous in itself. I would not want to limit these drivers in a situation when a slightly higher speed may be the safer option.
Safety.......is a variable. Insurance Companies take into account these very same variables.......so why can't the law?

For instance, the same driver, driving a high performance car, may safely drive at......? 150 mph? .. (to be decided) if he has the experience etc and an insurance company would reflect this at a reduced premium over an unexperienced driver. But the same driver would recognise the "limitations of the vehicle" when driving the Micra..

A mixture of maybe age, car capability, and driver expertise in my opinion is the answer.
Certainly, the "speed camera" revenue gathering (stealth tax)approach is now totally discredited and will ultimately fail due to public pressure and sites like "safespeed".


Apologies for my slightly alcohol fueled rant there, Paul. But it it Friday!.......

I would be uncomfortable with such widely varying motorway speed limits. They would intentionally increase the speed differential of vehicles within the carriageway, which is not a desirable situation.