Thats the problem.
This has got nothing to do with safety its just another more efficient method of extracting a few quid from motorists.
Watch your speed pips!
- Thread starter Fuzz
- Start date
Thats the problem.
This has got nothing to do with safety its just another more efficient method of extracting a few quid from motorists.
Woah, dangerous sweeping generalisation inbound anyone?
Ignorant views do not good discussion make
No matter the car, or the driver, every vehicle I have EVER driven in or being passenger in has exceeded the limit at some point in the journey (where I can check the speedo).
Sometimes people do it deliberately, such as overtaking or bedding brakes, or testing the car out. Other times being just haplessly drift over the limit by 1-10MPH, unaware since the flow of traffic is travelling at the same speed.
Speeding isn't the issue, it isn't the killer, it is the byproduct.
Drunk driving, Drug driving, elderly drivers, inexperienced drivers, angry drivers, road raged drivers, men/women having an argument in the car, women with pestering kids in the back, mobile phone using drivers, stolen cars, joyriding cars, teens showing off, smugglers, drug dealers, criminals, poor weather (snow/ice/rain) driving awareness all cause traffic incidents.
Speed is as much an issue as being behind the wheel - why not ban all cars?
Motorbikes are some of the biggest casualties of RTAs - either through causing the accident or being involved as a fatality. Why aren't they banned?
Focussing on speeding does not reduce accidents or injuries or deaths. It will still occur in the same frequency, or even more.
When driving my Elise SC spirited-style, I have been trained to read the road, and know my limits (stopping, grip, speed etc). I can be travelling at greater limits than the speed limit dictates yet still drive safely. As soon as there is a speed limit to consider, half my attention is taken off the road, and glued to the speedo. I have had many near-accidents due to this, especially with people behaving erratically around speed limited areas and cameras.
In a cruise controlled BMW 3-series that I have, I STILL check the speedo as I am paranoid of it creeping up. 'Sorry Officer my cruise control must be broken' is no excuse. So my attention is still taken off the road.
Education not persecution.
As you said, as far as i'm concerned, it's just the evolution of a system designed to prosecute people with the minimum amount of effort/money required.
Although i will say this - I don't mind camera's in 30's or 40's. If i get caught by one of these i must have been doing about 34mph (indicated in many cars as nearly 40mph) and will take it on the chin and say "oh well, that's life, i was going too quickly". I don't think just fining people is the best way of reducing accidents at all, but so be it.
However, what i do protest at is camera's on the motorways. One can safely do 100mph on the motorway however, this could be enough to earn one a driving ban - even though it is may have been totally totally safe. However, the cameras can't detect the drivers i see sat 2 metres behind the car in front of them in the pouring rain at 70mph - even though, in reality, this is hugely more dangerous. Where is the logic in that?
Even round town its not fair, take the embankment between Vauxhall bridge and Chelsea, at 3am yea i go a touch over the limit there and slow down for the camera, nothing dramatic, but thats not the same as ripping past a school at throwing out time at 50, the whole thing stinks.
From your list above, unfortunately the easy ability to monitor speed is the only technology avaliable to the Police/Councils, so this this element of dangerous driving gets absolutely hammered, whilst most of the other issues noted above get forgotten about.
Yea i agree.
But over all you know why i didnt reply to that driving for fun thread, its because there is no fun in it any more unless you live in the back of beyond.
Speeding isn't dangerous per se.
An inappropriate speed isn't down to an arbitrary number posted at the side of the road, it might be well below as well as well above the posted limit.
There are many factors to take into account to decide what speed is appropriate. The limit is posted for those who can't make the distinction to keep them out of trouble. I know we are all meant to keep to the posted limit but by exceeding that limit we aren't necessarily being dangerous and are taking a calculated risk of being caught. This isn't the same as taking a risk of having an accident, one is likely to be more aware of their surroundings when speeding.
I would be much happier with tax payers' money being spent tackling the real probems on the road by effective policing.
See me im a cynic and in my little mind i know what speed cameras are, ATM machines, its got **** all to do with safety, and i'd rather see plod spend time catching muggers and other assorted **** bags than people speeding.
We got what we got in this country speed enforcement wise and its only getting worse.
I'd rather the police enforced many of the other rules of the road over speeding.
Too much emphasis is on speed, simply because it's easy to spot (measure) and prosecute. I agree that it's about money, but our government aren't going to admit that after all this time and effort promoting the speed kills propaganda.
Nor are they going to start telling plod to start looking for special driving scenarios, im just jaded with the whole thing i'l be honest.
Soldato
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It'll cost too much outside London, where I suppose they could install it in the congestion tax some.
As has been said, idiots, the un-insured, badly maintained cars, dawdling grannies, people on phones etc are all much worse but think about it, who is the best person to go after for the police/councils...?
1) Granny and her 20mph antics, dodgy turns and general oblivious nature but who is old and vulnerable and has pressure groups who look after her interests and will scream blue murder if the elderly are in any way targeted.
2). Scroaty ratbag who has 7 kids by 3 mothers, is on benefits and drives what is left of an L rev Mondeo with no insurance or tax, who *may* pay a fine back at 50p a week if you're lucky.
3). Me. Driving my Leon Cupra at 80 on the motorway. My taxed, tested and well-maintained car, which I pay for from my full-time salary. Nobody gives a rats arse about my demographic (white male, 25-34, working, home owner).
Obviously the terrorist number 3, because I'll pay straight away, probably over the phone or internet. I won't ignore it and cause kick-off with the police. I won't have to go to court. Nobody is going to write letters on my behalf to the papers saying how I am part of a persecuted minority. I (and most here) are in the category of 'easy'. Why waste time going after the real problems when the cash can roll in from a source that requires little or no work? And until that mind-set is changed, the persecution of speeding over more serious issues will continue.
As has been said, idiots, the un-insured, badly maintained cars, dawdling grannies, people on phones etc are all much worse but think about it, who is the best person to go after for the police/councils...?
1) Granny and her 20mph antics, dodgy turns and general oblivious nature but who is old and vulnerable and has pressure groups who look after her interests and will scream blue murder if the elderly are in any way targeted.
2). Scroaty ratbag who has 7 kids by 3 mothers, is on benefits and drives what is left of an L rev Mondeo with no insurance or tax, who *may* pay a fine back at 50p a week if you're lucky.
3). Me. Driving my Leon Cupra at 80 on the motorway. My taxed, tested and well-maintained car, which I pay for from my full-time salary. Nobody gives a rats arse about my demographic (white male, 25-34, working, home owner).
Obviously the terrorist number 3, because I'll pay straight away, probably over the phone or internet. I won't ignore it and cause kick-off with the police. I won't have to go to court. Nobody is going to write letters on my behalf to the papers saying how I am part of a persecuted minority. I (and most here) are in the category of 'easy'. Why waste time going after the real problems when the cash can roll in from a source that requires little or no work? And until that mind-set is changed, the persecution of speeding over more serious issues will continue.
Dont keep hating old grannies id rather have 50 more of those than 1 **** in a saxo with his 3 mates on board, busting some tuuuuunes at 50 in a 30 zone.
I don't think it will work legally.
They get you at point A, then point B and work out if you broke limits inbetween by the time and roads it took to get there.
I'll just say I went off road between points, and when asked what route, I'll say I can't remember except it was a great short cut
They get you at point A, then point B and work out if you broke limits inbetween by the time and roads it took to get there.
I'll just say I went off road between points, and when asked what route, I'll say I can't remember except it was a great short cut
Gold...just gold.
I have power on tap, yes, but it is completely independent of my adherence to the rules of the road.
A 70bhp Nissan Micra is just as capable of breaking the 30/40/50/70 mph speed limits as I am.
You post is rudimentary in the sense it contains so little substance. My point was there a far greater and ignored dangers on the road, but because they are hard to capture/convict/cash in on they are ignored or at best not demonised to the same extent as speed.
But anyway, you weren't interested in that, because it is equally as hard for you to construct meaningful dialogue and easier for you to say "you drive a fast car...child killer!!"
I may have paraphrased a little there...
edit: For my own understanding, what is the bhp threshold for someone becoming a speeding maniac who never adheres to the rules of the road? 150bhp? 200bhp? I'm just thinking if I ever want to become a law abiding citizen again what should I be aiming for?
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That wont work, you will be guilty until you provide the so called off road route.
Soldato
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They fall into category 2. Probably uninsured or fronting at very least. Fortunately Chuck Darwin's model fits the saxo/corsa chav well, normally when interfacing with a tree at excessive speed wiv da bangin' choonz pumpin'
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I'd say a Micra is more dangerous actually, if you take an M car and a Micra travelling at 70mph and tell them to stop at exactly the same time, who will stop first? The proper car, with its proper sized brakes
No you are right, i just want to state again that i think its important that these ***** hit a tree with the correct tuuuuuuune busting out from the stereo.
I'd say a Micra is more dangerous actually, if you take an M car and a Micra travelling at 70mph and tell them to stop at exactly the same time, who will stop first? The proper car, with its proper sized brakes
And using the road network just as much, if not more than I do...yet my road tax is....
I won't go there!