Safe Speed Forums

Ahh, the good old 'rules are for' quote, originally uttered by Oscar Wilde I believe, Bader wasn't smart enough to think it up for himself. I met him once by the way (Bader thayt is, not Wilde), I saw in his private aircraft when he landed at the base I was stationed at. An arrogant and most unlikeable individual as its ever been my displeasure to meet, tried to treat me like a piece of shit on his shoe.

So, Bader was an individual with great leadership and flying skills, but was of questionable temperament. If the film 'Reach for the Sky' is to be believed, and there was probably some artistic licence involved, Bader repeated Wilde's quip prior to performing an unauthorised low level maneouvre in which he nearly killed himself. Whether the crash occured before or after, his words turned out to be quite prohetic for himself, a fact conveniently ignored by many who choose to cite his words as evidence of the nonsensical nature of rule obeyence. Furthermore, Bader was operating in a rarified environment and the rules that would have prompted him to make the quote would have been applied to a comparatively small and relatively disciplined cadre of individuals, not 30 million odd of wildly varying temperament and ability.
To round off, I consider myself more wise man than fool, and could probably garner a few testaments to that effect. And yet I am more inclined to obey road rules becuase it is the right thing to do and because no harm comes from it. In other words, in the context of road safety, Wilde/Bader's words are....well bollocks actually.

I gratefully acknowledge Rigpig's tacit compliments to my profession

I was actually just about to pitch in and mention that Bader was well known as a hugely arrogant individual who, by several actions, proved that he thought himself well above rules. Some of his gambles paid off, so he is hailed as a hero, and history's rose tinted specs gloss over the fact he was a grade-A tit! That is not to say I disagree with Paul's points, but Bader is a poor choice of role-model for the cause!

Incidentally I don't recall Wilde being renowned for his modesty either.

I have seldom thought otherwise. Having taken a 'backie' in a Harrier T-Bird I have nothing but admiration for the skill required to pilot several tons of fast moving machinery up a narrow valley in Derbyshire, over a heaving ship, or with a couple of hundred grunts on board into a windy, rainy strip in the back of beyond.

Skipping over the fact that I brought Douglas Bader into this via an overly-rapid use of Google...



Then why aren't you a wise man being guided?

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

My bold...

And isn't this exactly what some drivers do when they ignore some road rules? They believe it to be 'right' or 'sensible'?

It's OK and it's safe?

_________________
Pecunia Prius Equitas et Salus

Ultimately there is only one rule of the road.

Drive in such a manner such that you do not harm yourself or others.

That's the rule I try to follow.

I keep saying. Less is more!

I'm currently reengineering the management system for a major UK business. I can assure you that there will be fewer 'Rules'

Even shorter rule

Do no harm.



Actually more of a goal or way than a rule and all that is needed, everything else is allowed.

_________________
Driving fast is for a particular time and place, I can do it I just only do it occasionally because I am a gentleman.
- James May

I actually also try for an additional one.

My Dad taught me this one:

No manoevre I do should make another road-user have to alter their course or speed.

_________________
Pecunia Prius Equitas et Salus

Eh? That sounds impossible. Just being on the road does that.

_________________
It's tricky doing nothing - you never know when you're finished

That's because you are a biker and by definition cars are just objects that get in your way.

_________________
Driving fast is for a particular time and place, I can do it I just only do it occasionally because I am a gentleman.
- James May

Absolutely correct! They are the enemy! And should be treated as such...

_________________
Pecunia Prius Equitas et Salus

I like this one, however I feel that it's necessary to distinguish between 'presence' and 'action'. Clearly my presence will cause other road users to alter course or speed from time to time. They might have to slow to follow me or wait at a give-way while I pass for example.

Even 'action' is a little bit dodgy. Sometimes I'll act to preserve another's course or speed (for example pulling over to let them past).

My best version presently is:

No action I perform should cause another to alter course or speed.

But I dare say there's considerable room for improvement.

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

I still can't see it.....

I think I'm doing well if I can achieve:

No action I perform should be anything other than totally predictable to others

_________________
It's tricky doing nothing - you never know when you're finished

That's not right. Imagine this:

You're riding along the road on your motorbike and you see an old fart waiting at a T junction. You can predict that he is going to pull out in front of you and drive along at 40mph, forcing you to slow down, because that's what they always do Because you predicted it, you don't hit him. Is he still OK to do it because you could predict it? He would only have had to wait a few seconds for you to pass.

Then describe an action that would cause another to alter course or speed, and let's pull it apart.

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

What if the gap in front of me was the biggest he could see in the line of traffic? How long is he supposed to wait?

The fact is we all co-exist with millions of other road users and that alone means we all have to adjust our speed and course to avoid ploughing into each other.

_________________
It's tricky doing nothing - you never know when you're finished

The belief that no one should make someone else alter speed/course sounds like one of the major causes of road rage to me.

_________________
It's tricky doing nothing - you never know when you're finished

He could pull out and accelerate up to the speed limit as quickly as possible and you wouldn't catch him ('cause you'd never break a speed limit ).

Nobody should ever perform a manouvre that relies on someone else taking avoiding action. Suppose that instead of an alert Grumpy Old Biker that he pulls out on it's some idiot who is not concentrating and carries on at 60mph. There would be a collision.

So long as he didn't make me change my course or speed, it's absolutely fine for him to pull out...

If I have to take evasive action because of him, then that's not OK

_________________
Pecunia Prius Equitas et Salus

I don’t know where to start with this one – but what about..

We are driving down a slip road to join a motorway. We look over our shoulder and see a car in lane 1 approaching. Our respective courses will bring us close together when we merge with the motorway.
The simple, safe and courteous thing for the approaching car to do is to change course into lane 2. We all expect that to happen if the option is there.

In effect, we have forced that car to change course simply because much of our road network depends on it.

_________________
It's tricky doing nothing - you never know when you're finished