Safe Speed Forums

I commute between Reading and Bath on a weekly basis, and have to say that I find the strict enforcement of the speed limit quite worrying. The first time I drove since this scheme started, I arrived home and was seriously worried by the fact that, in my opinion, I had spent a considerable amount of time looking at my speedo, instead of the road ahead. Most regular motorway drivers drive at what they consider to be 'reasonable' speed, taking into account the weather conditions, weight of traffic etc. You don't need to know in mph what this is - you judge what you consider to be safe. By feeling the need to limit it so precisely, you are so conscious of where the needle sits on that little dial.

I also agree with the earlier comment about all of the cars on the motorway doing a similar speed - this is really quite worrying when you have to overtake a middle lane hogger doing 67, at 70 mph yourself. They obviously don't know you're there, else they'd have moved into L1, so I'd feel much happier at being able to speed up and get past them, rather than have to trundle along in their blind spot, which, lets face it, they don't check their mirrors, so why should they check their blind spot?

In my opinion, it is not speed alone that causes accidents, more inappropriate driving. The speed just impedes other drivers ability to react. There is a distinct lack of motorway, and general driving, ability. As somebody who only passed their test 4 years ago, I feel that there should be compulsory motorway training, and also a much more stringent driving test. I am not ashamed to admit that I did not pass first time, as I have many friends who DID, and some of their driving is atrocious, a complete lack of awareness leading to them dangerously cutting up other drivers and tailgating to name a few of the sins. Fortunately, my Father is considered by myself and others that know him a 'good' driver and taught me the ways of the world.

Nobody is a perfect driver, but by simply targeting those who break the speed limit, more serious crimes such as drink driving, go unnoticed.

Sorry, that was a bit of a rant! I needed to vent my frustration somewhere!

P.S. On Sunday evening going west between the two swindon junctions, there was a silver 106 storming down L3 followed by a fairly capable looking black car (I can't remember what). A mile on, black car had pulled 106 over with it's concealed blues and twos. Just a warning!

I trust that's an exaggeration. If it takes 440yds (1320ft) to stop from 56mph then, assuming an average speed during braking of 28mph (= 41ft/sec) that means it takes 1320/41 = 32 seconds to stop!!!!!

im sure you will get an answer from someone here
http://www.onlinetruckers.co.uk/index.p ... file=index

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Richie

SSAFA supporter
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=126025031585

It isn't necessarily an exaggeration.

The thing to remember is that when the prat cuts in front of the truck, (my mind goes back to the incident on the M1 with the APC's, when seven were killed), only the driver of the truck knows what he is carrying.

With some loads, e.g liquids or bright steel, the driver of the truck will be looking for a controlled stop whenever he needs to. The gap he leaves is left for a very good reason, that is it enables him to read the road and act according to what is happening a quarter or even half a mile in front of him. Now I'm not saying that all truckers are perfect, I know they aren't and that too many give me a bad name as we all tend to be tarred with the same brush, but when you see a big gap in front of a truck, it is not intended as an invitation to fill it.

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English first, British second,
European? What's that?

Everybody is in to much haste,,the world goes round at the same pace day in day out,,does that not say some thing

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www.onlinetruckers.co.uk

"Ticking away the moments that make up the dull day

You fritter and waste the hours in an off hand way

Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town

Waiting for someone or something to show you the way

Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain

You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today

And then one day you find that ten years have got behind you

No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun

And you run and run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking

And racing around to come up behind you again

The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're older

Shorter of breath and one day closer to death

Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time

Plans that either come to naught or a half page of scribbled lines

Hanging on in a quiet desperation is the English way

The time is gone the song is over, thought i'd something more to say"

- Sorry just seemed appropriate

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon.

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English first, British second,
European? What's that?

I use the M4 regularly from South Wales to London. Over the 3 years I've been doing this the speeds have increased without doubt, especially in South Wales where camera vans are often seen and police patrol cars are nearly as rare as hens teeth. Thus in South Wales you can tailgate, drive as dangerously as you wish as long as you stay below 70mph. This will obviously be the case on the rest of the M4 soon.

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Richard Harvey