I don't actually ride, I'm just pointing out that bikes are always gonna be less visible than cars no matter what you do to them, and if you're gonna miss that much audio and visual cues then chances are a flashing yellow light isn't gonna make much difference either. "Think Bike" campaigns are, I suspect, more effective than any such scheme.
Drink driving is a totally different thing. It doesn't matter how sensibly you're driving - you have slower reflexes regardless - and impaired judgement is never a good thing behind the wheel. Before it's pointed out that boy racers could be regarded as having impaired judgement, drink driving is something that applies to every driver, is evidence-based, and quantifiable - therefore it is right that it be banned.
Speeding, on the other hand, is something that is overlegislated - because it is negatively impacting on drivers who would otherwise drive at appropriate speeds for the conditions, rather than arbitrary "safe" speeds which in reality are frequently nothing of the sort, and do nothing in those cases where the speed limit is inappropriate speed except make people think that that speed is appropriate - thus increasing the likelihood of causing an accident. And idiots who want to drive at dangerous speeds will disregard the limit anyway, and slow down just for the speed cameras because they know the area, meaning it has little effect but to criminalise safe drivers who happen to be driving faster than a plastic sign says they should be.
As for overtaking - yes, some people are patient. Others will actually have somewhere to get to in a hurry and will therefore wish to drive faster than the Sunday drivers, and banning overtaking will only serve to increase stress levels and thus likelihood of crashing.
I'm a pretty patient person so overtaking is not really something i'd consider doing even though the car i drive has more than enough grunt to get past almost anything pretty quickly (focus st).
There have been 2 occasions in the past year I can think of where I have had to overtake someone, 1 being on a trip to bournemouth, stuck behind some old dear driving at 30mph on a national speed limit road in day light on a clear dry day.
The other stuck behind a caravan on the A303 which had gathered a pretty huge following of cars due to it going so bloody slow.
Besides those few occasions overtaking isnt really necessary, I do think personally that police officers on the road are a far greater deterant than a speed camera.
If i see a traffic cop, i know im being watched, if i see a camera i slow down until im past it then put my foot down, within limit ofcourse
As above really, just because there's no need for many people to overtake doesn't mean overtaking should be banned, because there're plenty of legitimate reasons people might want/need to get to their destination quicker.. and not least simply not wanting to be stuck behind some smelly truck for an hour, unable to see properly.
+1 on the cop vs camera argument.
