Safe Speed Forums

I don't travel around at 35 to 40 mph in 30 zones, or 45 to 50 in 40 zones, I might catch myself edging over the 30 or 40 sometimes by a tiny amount but if I do I'm slowing down.

I very rarely do more than 25 in high streets, often slower, and never more than 15 or so in residential back streets.

Big difference to the person who decides to drive at above the speed limit IMO.

That is the whole point, but there is no difference in the eyes of the GATSO. Every single responsible driver, like you, and I dare say everyone else on this site will creep over the limit from time to time.

Our point is that these are not the dangerous drivers, the most dangerous who choose to completely ignore the law of the road will also be immune to cameras, since it is unlikely that the vehicle is correctly registered etc. This is why I want to see cameras gone and trafpol in, make no mistake only a trafpol can detect the real dangerous driving.

According to the councils, the cameras are incapable of differentiating one individual from another. Or is that just because if they were, then they'd have to be signposted. ?

Does a fine alter my behaviour ?
NO.
The next job would just get more expensive to pay for it.
I drive to suit the conditions and other traffic, and I've got no points on my licence and no prosecutions since 1985. And I do a LOT more miles than you. All I've picked-up was a parking ticket.
Why should a monitored road slow things down ?
Ever driven in London in daylight ?
NOTHING slows down...camera or not...GO for it...
Drive at 30 in a 30 limit and you'll get pushed along by the buses and taxis....

Not the impression I get, many on here seem to want the speed limits to be advisory (or simply not be present), and obviously treat them as such.

Creep over the limit? When I drive at 40mph in a 40 zone I'm normally the only car in sight doing so, 90% are easily travelling at 5-10mph faster, and there is always somebody doing at least 60.

Tell you what, I'm going to drive down the A4 today, for you I'll break the law today and pace 10 cars to find out what speed they're actually doing. I bet they're not creeping over the limit, but intentionally driving over the limit by quite some margin.

And 35-40 in a 30 zone is not "creeping over the limit".



Both for me, it's not a binary choice, cameras AND more traf pol.

Hmm, and what happens if you start totting up points?



Of course it does.

Speeds on the M4 abosoutely are lower where there are sections that have signs for speed cameras.

Same for the variable speed sections of the M25, where even if its clear people do not generally go faster than the displayed limit (to balance this some do when its not clear).



I drive in London all the time (not exceeding the speed limit), and spend two hours a day in London traffic on my pushbike.

And yes, absolutely, many people travel far too quickly, with a chin on, but there are many courteous people driving at a sensible speed.

How many times do you these cars crash?

_________________
Oct 11 Birmingham Half Marathon. I am running for the British Heart Foundation.
http://www.justgiving.com/Rob-Taylor

They do.

I saw one just the other day, guy in a van literally CHARGING down a road with a line of stationary traffic "going" the other way, smacked into a car that stuck its nose out.

Would've have much more chance of not happening had he not been in such a rush, but to be honest he was going so fast I don't think he even had a chance to slow down.

Fine, but what percentage of the total traffic would 10 cars represent? Even if we are generous and say that there are only 1,000 cars on the A4 today, that's 0.001%, hardly a conclusive experiment.

Well maybe once, but not ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY SIX TIMES, no. That would be trolling.

I'll repeat this, I have NO points on my licence.
Not collecting points is quite easy, you just drive within the limits of reason. Speed cameras don't bother me and neither do camera vans. Camera vans operate where the cash is available....for operation and collection. They are about very little at night or in darkness. Specs operate by timing over a distance, you can avoid detection by changing lanes or shifting to behind a large vehicle (truck) for a camera point....that's if you drive too fast that is...
Your chances of detection for speeding are really quite low, your biggest risk is from hand-held radar guns.....but then, if you're driving within the speed limit.........funnily enough, most speeders caught by the radar guns are family cars with families in them....the pro driver makes up a small percentage of those collared. Which is quite good, since over half the traffic on the road in work time is pro, of one sort or another.
20 limits ?
As I said, I'll drive at 15...the easy route....and those overtaking me will be buses, taxis and THOSE WHO LIVE IN THAT AREA, who are the ones caught.
Most accidents are caused by inattention or driving too close. Not by driving above the posted speed limit.
Speed cameras cause more accidents than they prevent by forcing attention to be placed between looking for cameras and looking at the speedometer. I couldn't give a shit about cameras, let the other drivers look for them and I'll look AT the other traffic and respond to what THEY are doing.
Anyone seen the latest anti-camera thing ?
Mud.

ONLY A FOOL ...... ?

_________________
The world runs on oil, period. No other substance can compete when it comes to energy density, flexibility, ease of handling, ease of transportation. If oil didn’t exist we would have to invent it.”

56 years after it was decided it was needed, the Bedford Bypass is nearing completion. The last single carriageway length of it.We have the most photogenic mayor though, always being photographed doing nothing

I'd still like to know why you, hjeg2 and weepej and gatsos forever if he's still out there, won't admit with a simple yes or no that the second scenario is safer than the first and as such a different speed is appropriate?

I think you are absolutely doing yourselves no favours whatsoever by not clearly stating that which is as plain as the nose on your face. Your credibility, if you had any, rests on it IMHO.

I think the vast majority of people who come on and saw this are more likely to see you as talking 'politician speak' over a very simple question.

It's becoming like the interview between Jeremy Paxman and Michael Howard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BklT7Qy07Is

Is the second situation SAFER than the first gentlemen? Yes or No?

Thanks for helping us hjeg2 and weepej

Maybe this should be made sticky for all to see...

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

So the car sticking it's nose out wasn't to blame?
Was it over the white line?

If you are stationary 30 mph can appear to be charging.

Clearly the driver was going to fast for the conditions. However was he within the legal limit you don’t know.

How long was the other car sticking it’s nose out?

There are many questions to be asked if there is an accident, just saying “He was going to fast does not help.

_________________
Oct 11 Birmingham Half Marathon. I am running for the British Heart Foundation.
http://www.justgiving.com/Rob-Taylor

I can just hear the interview, now!

"And at what speed where you driving, sir?"
"25, perhaps? Certainly no more than 30."
"Then what happened?"
Well, as I was passing the line of traffic on the other side -I had right of way- this idiot suddenly pushed his nose out! I slammed my brakes on, but I hadn't got a chance."

"Can you tell me what happened, sir?"
"Well, I was just nosing out of the traffic, then this damn fool hit me! I never saw him! I didn't have a chance!"
"And at what speed do you think he was travelling, sir?"
"Oh, at least 60!"
"I thought you said you didn't see him, sir? So how can you know what speed he was doing?"
"Oh! I... erm... I guessed his speed."
"Why didn't you see him, sir?"
"I was looking the other way, trying to get my nose out to... I..."
"I am sorry sir, but based on what you have told me I will have to arrest you for driving without due care and attention. You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence..."

Perception is everything. To an onlooker it might seem as if the van was speeding and struck an innocent motorist, but things are not always what they appear to be at first sight.

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www.thatsnews.org.uk / www.thatsnews.blogspot.com / http://thatsmotoring.blogspot.com/

That depends upon whether or not you are looking for cause, or blame.
In any case, even an experienced driver cannot tell the speed with any accuracy. In a traffic environment, speed of one is often in comparison to others.

_________________
The world runs on oil, period. No other substance can compete when it comes to energy density, flexibility, ease of handling, ease of transportation. If oil didn’t exist we would have to invent it.”

56 years after it was decided it was needed, the Bedford Bypass is nearing completion. The last single carriageway length of it.We have the most photogenic mayor though, always being photographed doing nothing

Indeed. But suddenly finding a "Hurry up, Harry" deciding he wants his car in your right of way can really bugger up your day!

_________________
www.thatsnews.org.uk / www.thatsnews.blogspot.com / http://thatsmotoring.blogspot.com/

He probably was under the legal limit, although the in agitated way he was driving I imagine he spent a good deal of time over the limit during his trip, you see, the two go together in my experience.

Have to say, the guy that stuck his nose out did it very slowly, he had no option but to stick his nose out, he was turning right across a dirty great line of traffic.

Oh, dear! So instead of waiting for a gap, he tried to create one! Not advisable, really...

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www.thatsnews.org.uk / www.thatsnews.blogspot.com / http://thatsmotoring.blogspot.com/

Ther wasn't going to be any gap, not for a good half an hour anyway. Have you ever driven in London?

Agreed it was silly to nose out, but IMO it was more silly to come thundering down the road at quite a speed assuming nobody is going to stick a nose out from the gap that was there.

Frankly, I don't think the guy in the van even saw the gap opening up, he was a bloody idiot.

I think there were two bloody idiots there.
You may also like to consider the legal liability of a person who creates a gap for another to cross traffic, in the case of an accident.

http://www.ilexjournal.co.uk/legal_briefings/article.asp?theid=852&themode=2

As you will read, things are rarely straightforward.
Black is frequently not, and white is also not.

_________________
The world runs on oil, period. No other substance can compete when it comes to energy density, flexibility, ease of handling, ease of transportation. If oil didn’t exist we would have to invent it.”

56 years after it was decided it was needed, the Bedford Bypass is nearing completion. The last single carriageway length of it.We have the most photogenic mayor though, always being photographed doing nothing