Morality of Speeding on Public Roads

i wish i could afford to go to the pub on a sunday lunch.

 

I think you are probably correct when it comes to physical bobbies, but speed cameras, like the mobile ones in Cumbria, are set to less. My licence bears the scar marks of 80 mph on the M6 in just those conditions. I think any speed of 79 and over is possible camera bait.

 

I think speeding is fine where conditions, car and driver ability permit. Camera's etc cant take this into consideration, so I'm generally not a fan.

What really really gets me about drivers at the mo (aside from middle lane dwellers) is when you're on a clear motorway, doing, say 75-80, passing people driving at 70 (usually in the middle lane). You come to roadworks, slow down to 60/50/40 (whatever is advised), obey the law STRICTLY as there are guys working/drinking tea etc who could be exposed to the danger of speeding vehicles, and the same car you just passed comes flying past at 70, still in the middle lane, oblivious to the change in the surroundings.

I dont think speeding is wrong per se, but I do think that being unaware of your surrounding and driving irresponsibly should be heavily punished.

Whats worse, driving at 100mph on an almost clear M40, or doing 60mph 5 ft from the car in front, in the middle lane with kids jumping around in the back seat (no belts on)?

 

sorry dave, but i own fast bikes and cars to do exacly that -GO QUICK- but i NEVER speed in a built up area/30/40 limits or roadworks. but on the open road, then thats my playground. obviously taking into account conditions (all weather/road and traffic) if i just wanted to pose i would go out in the bentley, but going quick is left to the vehicles that can do it safely, have the handling and brakes to match.

bearing in mind that we only have a 70 limit due to the fuel crisis in the 1970's - this was a temporary limit that they 'forgot' to remove when the fuel supplies returned to normal.

besides, when your going quick, you HAVE to concentrate and DRIVE, whilst when dawdling, the mind wanders and accidents happen. all only IMO of course.

 

Sorry but I disagree. I think the speed limits are mainly set for revenue purposes. Cars have evolved in ability and safety and the speed limits have not budged. I also think that variable speed limits are probaly the most logical way to go. The technology is definitely there but why would the government do this if in the end it will reduce their take from the motorists. Bottom line, if you stay stationary , your chances of not being in an accident are high. From the moment you start moving (i.e even walking) you are increasing the odds of getting hurt. I for one do not think that if the limit was put to 50mph in urban areas late at night on weekdays would see much difference in road accidednts. Also, increasing the motorway speed to 100mph at times of little trafic would also not have much of an impact as the majority of people already do travel between 70-100mph already. The cars of today are subastatially more capable than when the 70mph limits were set.

 

Please correct me if I am wrong, but are you saying you are now past it and want to justify driving more slowly?

It's OK to slow down; it's fine to do what ever you want. But as others have said here I believe more cameras more speed humps whatever, in town at schools and places like that.

But on the Motorways we need to educate drivers to be more aware and I find the current speed limit of 70 mph antiquated but unfortunately necessary for some of the brainless fools ambling along in the outside/middle lane of the motorway oblivious to the cars around them. We all know speed ‘scameras’ prime purpose is to generate revenue. Please tell me, besides from being against the law, what is wrong with doing 120 mph on an empty motorway?

Also I feel it would be a good idea to ban all Lorries from all but the inside lane, they are all supposed to be restricted to 55 and cause more accidents and traffic jams on motorways then cars.

There was a time when you drove like a demon everywhere on every road.
Be honest are you only against speeding on motorways for fear of gaining more speeding points? If you knew there was no police and no others on the road what speed would you do?? And please don’t forget in a post on the thread about your Lotus you say you drove my Porsche GT2 150mph in heavy rain on a motorway, and you said something like "Closeshave would not manage that". Why the change of heart?

Also please do not answer with anything about sprogs or sprouts this is disrespectful towards someone who is you senior in the driving stakes now you have retired…..........

 

dave, i now understand why he drives in the middle lane of motorways, parks in illegal spaces and is getting his lotus fixed up. Get him that walking stick and smoking jacket mate, you know he wants one

 

Is this a case of poacher turning gamekeeper ??

RAY360M

 

The maximum speed is set by the government, not by the drivers.

It would be interesting to compare the accident rates of Isle of Man vs. rest of the UK, or UK motorways vs. Autobahn. Has anyone got these? Unless the figures are significantly worse in IoM or Autobahn, the speed limit of this country is not preventing much.

As some of you may know, I for one drive over the speed limit often within my comfort zone (but not in built up areas or on motorways).

Breaking law is punishable but I bet 99.9% of people drive over the limit anyway.

 

The only way that i could stop speeding would be to buy a PORSCHE

 

relevant to this thread I suppose.

Was lasered yesterday on an empty national speed limit stretch of road.
No other car in sight,no danger to myself or anyone else.

Doing 116 apparently.

Its game over and lights out for me.

If anyone is after a reasonably priced 360,let me know.

gutted.

nick.

 

I think as a society, we have been conditioned to think this is stupid, foolish and dangerous and speed cameras on most major routes and some A/B roads will sort it out.

Nonsense. IF you were on an empty road, in the right machinery, alert, and the conditions (weather, condition of car etc) permit that speed, then so be it – you should be able to do it.

Surely, the educated and non-blinkered intelligent public know this - cant we do something about it, collectively?

 

This will always be an emotive subject. I, for one, have frequently been noted for high speed jinks, which normally are done at late night/early hours of the morning. The self imposed rules are:
1. Drive along the chosen section of road to survey for hidden dangers (mobile cameras, lasers or plod having a nifty one in the back of the car)
2. Turn around having established that the coast is clear
3. hit warp factor 9!!!!!!!!!!!!
If at any time a set of head lights appear on our chosen stretch of road, the run is IMMEDIATELY aborted. No questions asked and everyone abides by this, as the car coming the other way will have no conception of the speed that the exocet flyin at them is doing.Anyone that doesn't "play the game" quite simply doesn't get asked along again.
Yes I drive fast, I admit it. I also drive at all legal limits around towns, villages etc and more often than not at less than 20mph where I'm near a school, even it says 30 on the disc.
I'm not perfect (well almost ) but I do believe that I would rather see someone do 150 on an empty motorway at 02.00 than 70 at rush hour (although the chances of doing 7mph at rush hour is more realistic).
IMHO there is absolutely nothing that you, me or anyone else here is going to say or do to alter the parasitic, blood sucking, revenue chasing bast*rds that currently run this country on the back of the unfortunate motorist, and will continue to actively source even more ways of doing so until we are all stationary. Once this happens and they lose all the fuel tax revenue they might just realise that they've dropped a rather large dogs dangly bit.
For what its worth

 

(Jackal)
Speeding is dangerous and we will learn that

(Hyde)
It's OK for YOU to speed sometimes??


Contradicting yourself is not a good thing oh wise one.

 

Do I detect an outbreak of impending family dissension?
Closeshave M8 you'll be OK cos daddy can't catch up with you to spank your arse (as long as you stay on the road)

 

...........old age that is

 

DayDs IMHO RAY360M

 

It would take a real sad bugger to compete with their own son........!!

 

the singlemost problem here is relevant to rich kids in powerful cars.... here, one can drive at 16 years old.
saga louts are a close second.
cheers, d

 

Dave, do you know if the accident rate is higher than the mainland's? I suppose it goes way up near/during the TT week but ignoring that period, do you have more accidents there?

Be interested to know.