Safe Speed Forums

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My views do not represent Safespeed but those of a driver who has driven for 39 yrs, in all conditions, at all times of the day & night on every type of road and covered well over a million miles, so knows a bit about what makes for safety on the road,what is really dangerous and needs to be observed when driving and quite frankly, the speedo is way down on my list of things to observe to negotiate Britain's roads safely, but I don't expect some fool who sits behind a desk all day to appreciate that.

There's a valid point in there somewhere, but as usual BRAKE are guilty of over-egging the pudding by implying that if you don't stop at least every two hours you're automatically going to make yourself a danger.

It wouldn't surprise me if a third of licensed drivers never make a two-hour journey in an average year, and another third only do so on average once a month.

And what's the mandatory maximum period between rest breaks under drivers' hours regs for commercial vehicle drivers? IIRC it's 4½ or 5 hours.

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

Unfotunately, people like BRAKE can only see in black and white...under two hours fine, over two hours...BAD.
Over 20MPH BAD...under 20MPH...good.

They can't accept that every circumstance is different and because of this, the "rules" need to have a certain amount of flexibility.

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My views do not represent Safespeed but those of a driver who has driven for 39 yrs, in all conditions, at all times of the day & night on every type of road and covered well over a million miles, so knows a bit about what makes for safety on the road,what is really dangerous and needs to be observed when driving and quite frankly, the speedo is way down on my list of things to observe to negotiate Britain's roads safely, but I don't expect some fool who sits behind a desk all day to appreciate that.

my bladder's only good for 75mins max.

I can normally manage a bit more than that, but it does tend to be a limiting factor

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

I have been know to do a 10hr run with 2 stops... but then I love driving and don't find it the 'drag' that sadly some do. I'd normally expect to stop about every 3-4 hrs or so but it does depend (when I had the last cuppa!).

I agree Brake are over-reacting. Funny how the RAC say that 2% is the 'fact' so they estimate a figure that far exceeds this and so promote a non fact !
IMHO that is misleading.
Yes in an ideal world good sleep the night before and so on is very good but if they had asked in this survey how much sleep you have had before a long journey or for work I think they would be surprised. (:) My estimate!)
Trying to ensure people follow best behaviours is of course important for road safety.
But don't you think that it comes across as 'another attack' and another way to potentially monitor and then penalise drivers & riders ?

They cannot pick and choose 'driver/rider reaction' when they totally ignore it, whenever they discuss speed and speed limit setting (20mph 30mph etc) and the 'hit me at 30mph' non-sense!).

I do agree that we need stop opportunities every 15-20 miles as a minimum or every 10 where the roads are regularly dense traffic. But it needs to be a stopping and toilet facilities as a minimum. But it won't take long before the food vans etc arrive too!
Essex has a stop with an circular loo arrangements with a central washing hands area in the centre. It woks well and is unisex. Somewhat freezing in the winter though! But it does the basics and that's what's needed.

If you know that you are tired it doesn't prevent one from driving just that one needs to be very aware of the potential development of that but it doesn't mean that one will or always become more tired. I can be a little tired on occasion, but once started a long drive I can 'wake up'. I think I relax into it !
But when tired I stop and sleep. And that's all we need all drivers/riders to do just be aware enough of their state and act responsibly and appropriately (as always!)
Plus an Expresso soon wakes you up, and if it doesn't then it's simple, sleep.

The current Services that try to limit you to 2 hrs is potentially dangerous and silly.

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Safe Speed for Intelligent Road Safety through proper research, experience & guidance.

2hrs was about right 30 years ago. Today's driving takes no more concentration and much less physical effort.

If anything, stopping at the motorway services is more taxing than 5 hrs driving.

And even more paranoia if you happen to stay for more than the allotted measly 2 hrs ! They ought to just say longer than 12 hrs stay will will require an explanation and might call police to remove your vehicle or some such!
Although it seems one can ignore the solicitors letters it can be very worrying and why should travellers have this worry when they are legitimately resting and then carrying on with their journey!

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Safe Speed for Intelligent Road Safety through proper research, experience & guidance.

As usual brake are looking for the lowest common denominator vote. Someone with a limited driving career might have problems over an hour. Someone like me is only limited on a trip with mrs B by Mrs B's ability to go any distance without a cuppa. ot of interest I pulled up a trip I made in a hurry ,with about two stops and a fuel stop in Glasgow . It came to 413 miles, and Auto route says it would take 6hrs, 28 mins. I did it in a bit less . But with a dad in hospital after a stroke, it was an easy ,if long trip . What is missed is that north of say Glasgow, a trip of an hour is considered a short one. perhaps one day ,Brake might get into the real world of driving ,away from the Mums trips to the school . If perhaos all the distance experiance mums get is taking Poppy or Tyrone to school or dance class ,then perhaps Brake should advise mums to seriously think about the problems of any longer trips .

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lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on