120mph on the M6, I’m presuming a ban? (Not for me!)

Just to be clear - I don't see a problem driving at 120mph in a modern car on an empty stretch of motorway. Drive to the conditions.

Of course if you're putting others in danger by the speed delta, that's different.
 
Just to be clear - I don't see a problem driving at 120mph in a modern car on an empty stretch of motorway. Drive to the conditions.

Of course if you're putting others in danger by the speed delta, that's different.

empty stretch? what if a deer darts out on you at that speed? don't think it would end well for anyone!
 
So if the new PM got in and made it legal, you wouldn't have an issue anymore?

Of course not if the infrastructure is there, as other people would be expecting it. I'm in the motors forum, I used to have interesting cars and I have of courtse taken advantage of ideal conditions on public roads... if it was legal I'd certainly take advantage. There's a difference between enthusiasts who look after their cars and heed the conditions vs your average arrogant idiot. This person was caught by a stationary camera which to me shows carelessness and that they were not totally focussed if 120 was the inidcated speed they were flashed at.

Today, right now, I'd say it was a foolish thing to do in most circumstances. Only takes one unobservant plank to just creep over into the third lane while you approach them at double their speed and yours & their day could be ruined. So with that in mind i'd say its fair to be well punished. If it was me I'd take it on the chin let's put it that way.
 
So if the new PM got in and made it legal, you wouldn't have an issue anymore?

You know the limit was introduced in the 60's right, with no seat belts, cross-ply tyres and cars that barely made it to 70mph. Suffice to say I'd feel MUCH safer at 120mph in a new 911, than 70mph in a Morris Minor with no seatbelts. Yet, that's legal.
Human reaction times haven't increased and UK motorways have less than half the deaths of the German Autobahn system lets keep it that way.

 
I have Owned a 350z in the past, and admit, I had my moments of stupidity. but now I have matured (only 35 now) and think now about these speeds in these circumstances as "what the hell was I thinking!"
 
I'd wager most people into cars have, on occasion exceded this - yet they'll still get on their soap box to berate the guy who got caught.
For me, there's an element of logic here because the arguments about how safe it may be to do such speeds in theory fall apart somewhat when someone then gets caught by a fixed camera, as it's more than likely indicating that their observation, concentration, visibility, ability to assess the suitability of the situation etc. may not actually stack up to the 'super safe at 120mph' credentials they might think they have.
 
A friend has got in touch, saying he got flashed by a gantry camera at an indicated 120mph last week, near Jct 16, wanted to know what I thought, other than he’s a muppet and deserves whatever he gets I wasn’t much help… :D

Clean license, works for the NHS - management - and needs car for his job, I’m thinking automatic ban and plenty of points but, thought I’d ask the collective knowledge base here.

He’s had nothing yet in the post but presumably it’s only a matter of when not if…
For that level of speed you need proper representation.


Tell him Housey sent you....I mean him.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NVP
What about in Germany? I can think of loads of places and situations in the UK where I don't think doing 120 is remotely dangerous (in the right car, with the right conditions).

I struggle to understand of a genuine justification for anywhere to need a 120mpg limit.
Some reasons:
- regardless of the speed limit, you’re going to have someone, whether that’s a HGV, inexperienced driver or old granny ambling along at say 50-60mph. Drive at 70, and you’ve got a max of 20mph speed difference to account for in the event of a muppet pulling out infront. Drive at 120 and you’re talking of a 60-70mph difference. Sorry, but I don’t care that the Germans allow it, I don’t consider that any safer than allowing drivers to ride around in cities and towns at 60mph
- by enabling cars to drive at that speed, you’re encouraging unnecessarily heavy and there inefficient vehicles. Bigger speed means bigger engines and brakes. Put the above together and you need stronger suspension, and bigger tyres etc. if we had a max speed for cars similar to the 180kph limit in Japan, just how much weight could you cut from the lard buckets currently on the road?
- big speeds = more drag which burns more fuel. Again, get drivers to be more economical and under supply and demand economics, fuel prices should drop
 
I’ve gone considerably faster back in the day too and probably more dangerously to boot, but I wouldn’t have started bleating about needing my license for work if I’d wound up before a Magistrate.
 
Human reaction times haven't increased and UK motorways have less than half the deaths of the German Autobahn system lets keep it that way.
You can't compare UK motorways to German Autobahn deaths without accounting for the traffic, length of the network etc. For example it may well be 3x the size of the UK motorway network and have 3x the traffic, which makes 2x more deaths technically safer. Right?
 
I struggle to understand of a genuine justification for anywhere to need a 120mpg limit.
Some reasons:
- regardless of the speed limit, you’re going to have someone, whether that’s a HGV, inexperienced driver or old granny ambling along at say 50-60mph. Drive at 70, and you’ve got a max of 20mph speed difference to account for in the event of a muppet pulling out infront. Drive at 120 and you’re talking of a 60-70mph difference. Sorry, but I don’t care that the Germans allow it, I don’t consider that any safer than allowing drivers to ride around in cities and towns at 60mph
- by enabling cars to drive at that speed, you’re encouraging unnecessarily heavy and there inefficient vehicles. Bigger speed means bigger engines and brakes. Put the above together and you need stronger suspension, and bigger tyres etc. if we had a max speed for cars similar to the 180kph limit in Japan, just how much weight could you cut from the lard buckets currently on the road?
- big speeds = more drag which burns more fuel. Again, get drivers to be more economical and under supply and demand economics, fuel prices should drop
You sound like fun at parties.
 
empty stretch? what if a deer darts out on you at that speed? don't think it would end well for anyone!


Well I know someone who hit a deer doing well over 100mph on a dark country lane, he was un-injured, the car took damage but was repaired, needless to say modern cars do deal with high speeds accidents generally far better than older ones, unless your picking a fight with a tree.

Biggest problem is these days is cameras just take the money, I've been pulled over for speeding in the past, for going way beyond the limit, generally told to calm down but no further action because the roads were quiet.
 
You can't compare UK motorways to German Autobahn deaths without accounting for the traffic, length of the network etc. For example it may well be 3x the size of the UK motorway network and have 3x the traffic, which makes 2x more deaths technically safer. Right?
Deaths are typically compared per million miles/km travelled when looking at these things. Also did you ignore the bit about the unrestricted parts of the autobahn being worse for deaths?
 
quite a few years ago i had a friend who got flashed on the m1 at 110 in a golf gti. i told him to take his wife with him to drive back:) from court. next day he came visiting and got 100 pound fine and 6 points again told them he needed his licence to keep his company going ,british jobs etc blah blah , could always talk his way out of anything , it did help that the magistrate was female so he charmed her ...:)
 
Gantry cameras are only active when the speed limit is posted. If it wasn't being managed at the time then nothing will happen.
 
You sound like fun at parties.

I respond with a logical argument, and get insulted, however you might want to dress that up as a joke. Seriously, this is the internet and that’s just not appropriate.

As for parties, whilst I’d happily argue for speed limiters in cars, I could then regale the person with the fun I’ve had on track days and karting, which IMO are the appropriate place to be showing off driving skills (or lack of).
 
Oh got this thread is full of self righteous Facebook warriors.

Only failure here was doing it in front of a speed camera, fixed one at that!

Oh god, this thread is filling up with “entitled”, who seem to think that it’s ok to drive however they see fit, regardless of the role model that they may be displaying to others.
 
Back
Top Bottom