Hmmm! For the debate! Some musings!
Also trying to incorporate some of the musings from around rest of the clan as well. So to my boss if you are reading this - NOT ME - GUV!
Gonna get some stick from the the gang but .................. have to say it!
UK952 - not heard of saying "Only A Fool Breaks The Two-Second Rule" It applies at lower speed just as much as at higher speed
Ignoring it causes the bunching you describe! That is why accidents can happen at lower speeds as well as at high speeds. It is part of the looking ahead. I f you are bunched, too close to cars in fron - your overall vision is impaired! And so is your reaction time to the hazard.
"Gaps will be too small in line of traffic at 45mph?" Again two-second rule. If you leave the space - you have the better line of vision to negotiate the "TED" for any overtakes. And ideally if you all allowed the Space - you would have the space to get in lane - to allow for oncoming traffic
. Called COAST (Concentration, Observation, Anticipation, Space and Time) . Should be applied whatever speed you blinking well drive at!
Also this braking to unnecessary low speed smacks of poor observation skills and autopilot syndrome. Braking to 45mph to be sure of speed limit suggests that you have not noticed a speed limit lollipop. They are plainly visible - you know big round things - usually in pairs!
Same applies to the muppets who drive 45mph through the village and continue doing so into NSL zone.
That is one part of the equation - and cannot be ignored. The question really is:
Is it that they just do not notice because they are driving at too low (or too high in some cases) a speed to concentrate - or because they are on autopilot? Personally - go with "autopilot" as too many of you lot are complete numpties!
Now the WildCat on PH has ranted off somewhere about the Pavlov dog effect - she suggested to a BiB on PH that perhaps drivers are training themselves to brake immediately on sight of speed camera - "and as rule of thumb - make sure it is 30mph - cos it usually is!"
That a valid point? Perhaps - because of the general tendency towards numpty behaviour!
But she could be on right track here - when we began to think more seriously about that off the cuff post of hers on "the other channel." The constant conditioning and mantra of "Speed Kills" and fear of the penalty points from a missed Gatso could just be making some drivers focus on the hazard of the yellow box and not the fuller picture. In other words instead of looking farther ahead for
all hazards - they could just be concentrating on looking for just the one closer to home! (Back to the old Speedo gawp argument- Paulie!
)
(By the way - seen the "Soap Box" column in "Autocar" - On about driver distractions - and mobile phones - still number one spot followed by "totty" in second!) Funnily enough the speed camera and traffic signs were classed as distractions by many of those polled!
Oooh a great read!