Speeding n Stuff

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Housey

Housey

Housey

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I went for a drive yesterday into Wales (to look at some more properties....ocifer) and the roads were full of police with cameras out trying to catch motorists. The Evo triangle is now an average camera zone and lots of other nice roads too full of cameras left right and centre. No problem as I wasn’t pushing on.

Three weeks ago I got a 60 in a 50, just sent off the paperwork for that so expect a course, my first. I sit on 3 points from 3 years back and I’ve just come under a bridge on an empty A50 dual carriageway listening to an audiobook in the inside lane and now expect another inbound police letter, again not anything big speed wise.

I get the law. I get if I’m good I don’t get a fine or points. But I do struggle that this is a good use of time all this effort to get me carrying 10mph too much on an empty dry dual carriageway.

Sad Housey is sad.
 
I’ve been driving for 36 years and done 3 times for speeding, all 3 pointers. Considering the cars I’ve had and ‘moments’ that’s not too bad of a record. Just lately it feels I’m coming across them every day.
 
Speeding is over, very difficult to do it these days.
The ‘legal’ people like us with a licence and a job have everything to loose.
The un insured chavs racing around on dirt bikes etc have nothing, so they have nothing to loose either.
 
Since lockdowns started I've seen more police around than ever. It's like resources are suddenly no longer a problem...

SkodaMart said:
Speeding is over, very difficult to do it these days.
The ‘legal’ people like us with a licence and a job have everything to loose.
The un insured chavs racing around on dirt bikes etc have nothing, so they have nothing to loose either.
Click to expand...

Yea and as it's mostly automated cameras or powerless contractors in camera vans, they just take their front plates off when they want to go and hammer it (notice how many people have them in the windscreen now).
 
It's why I don't waste my money on fun cars anymore for the road. I'd be all for every road in the country being an average speed camera zone.
Want to have fun book a track day they're not expensive.
Having fun on the roads was over a good few years ago now.
Does make me laugh when people put warnings up on Facebook of police traps. Just don't speed its not difficult. Yes everyone goes over now and again but should only be by a few mph not 10mph.
 
Haze said:
I had a speed awareness course last Friday, it was not to bad really, and online which was a bonus
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I am hoping that is what I get for the one I sent off this very morning. 60mph in a 50mph should allow that I hope as I’ve never had a course. The one this morning felt 80ish in a 70 so let’s see. I did one 4 weeks ago on the a34 where it felt 50 in a 40 but nothing from that one.
 
We got caught coming out of a 60 zone, into a 30 zone going downhill (therefore serious braking required to actually get 30mph)
Police van was parked on a corner, had to do a speed awareness course, it’s basically road side mugging cameras.
This was in our 1.0 litre Civic I would deffo loose my licence in a CTR
 
I posted this last year which sums up my frustrations with speed limits in in this country..

I agree with this but I cannot help but feel that some of this is a result of the speed limit setting policy in this country over the last 20 years.

Originally, outside of Motorways and dual carriageways, we had two main speed limits in the UK. The 60mph NSL and the 30mph urban speed limit. This sent a clear message - these are maximum limits and that a reasonable and competent driver should always select a speed that he or she feels is appropriate for the circumstances, subject to the maximum.

Occasionally, there will exist a situation whereby a road is unsuitable for the national speed limit for reasons that a reasonable and competent driver may not necessarily realise (ie not a usual bend or low visibility area, as any reasonable driver will adjust their speed to suit) - for example a collection of hidden junctions - and that in these situations it was right to vary the speed limit from the NSL. The reverse was also true - in some urban areas it is recognised that a safe and appropriate speed is greater than 30mph, and therefore you find roads signed as 40mph.

At some point over the last 20 years we have dispensed with these principles that the driver selects the safe speed subject to a clear and reasonable maximum and instead speed limit setting has become more arbitrary and dare I say it political - often set by local councils following pressure from residents and suchlike. This results in the ridiculous scenarios we can all think of whereby a safe, wide, well sighted road has a 50mph limit whereas the narrow, winding lanes off it all have derestriction signs. The more we do this, the more it sends a message to drivers that the correct speed is the speed limit - because hey, if it wasn't safe to do 60 then there would be a lower speed limit, right? This is I feel dangerous and the wrong approach. It attempts to take the decision over which is the right speed away from the driver and into the hands of elected officials which in some peoples eyes erodes the responsibility of the driver. Furthermore, most people will obey laws they feel are fair and just - and more random and arbitrary speed limits become the less respectful people become of them generally
 
robj20 said:
It's why I don't waste my money on fun cars anymore for the road. I'd be all for every road in the country being an average speed camera zone.
Want to have fun book a track day they're not expensive.
Having fun on the roads was over a good few years ago now.
Does make me laugh when people put warnings up on Facebook of police traps. Just don't speed its not difficult. Yes everyone goes over now and again but should only be by a few mph not 10mph.
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I do a few track days each year and have raced in the past. As you say everyone speeds and the law doesn’t allow for “if you are only x over” really.
 
I’m for an 80mph limit on quieter sections of motorways. I did 3 months working in Holland and there 130KPH limit works well.
 
I think speeding got worse AFTER they put average speed cameras along the main road in my area. The locals can go as fast as they like and there is no risk of being caught as long as their turn off is before a second camera (which are like 300-400 meters apart). Police don't bother doing speed checks there anymore and just rely on the cameras.
 
[TW]Fox said:
I posted this last year which sums up my frustrations with speed limits in in this country..

I agree with this but I cannot help but feel that some of this is a result of the speed limit setting policy in this country over the last 20 years.

Originally, outside of Motorways and dual carriageways, we had two main speed limits in the UK. The 60mph NSL and the 30mph urban speed limit. This sent a clear message - these are maximum limits and that a reasonable and competent driver should always select a speed that he or she feels is appropriate for the circumstances, subject to the maximum.

Occasionally, there will exist a situation whereby a road is unsuitable for the national speed limit for reasons that a reasonable and competent driver may not necessarily realise (ie not a usual bend or low visibility area, as any reasonable driver will adjust their speed to suit) - for example a collection of hidden junctions - and that in these situations it was right to vary the speed limit from the NSL. The reverse was also true - in some urban areas it is recognised that a safe and appropriate speed is greater than 30mph, and therefore you find roads signed as 40mph.

At some point over the last 20 years we have dispensed with these principles that the driver selects the safe speed subject to a clear and reasonable maximum and instead speed limit setting has become more arbitrary and dare I say it political - often set by local councils following pressure from residents and suchlike. This results in the ridiculous scenarios we can all think of whereby a safe, wide, well sighted road has a 50mph limit whereas the narrow, winding lanes off it all have derestriction signs. The more we do this, the more it sends a message to drivers that the correct speed is the speed limit - because hey, if it wasn't safe to do 60 then there would be a lower speed limit, right? This is I feel dangerous and the wrong approach. It attempts to take the decision over which is the right speed away from the driver and into the hands of elected officials which in some peoples eyes erodes the responsibility of the driver. Furthermore, most people will obey laws they feel are fair and just - and more random and arbitrary speed limits become the less respectful people become of them generally
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Fair view I think.

Let’s take the Evo triangle....

There are parts of that where a quick car can be up around 150mph (I’m told) and frankly there is zero justification for such speeds as that is simply crazy.

I’ve said to many people who I’ve told to drive it that the fast bits are where you go slow as there is zero skill in big speed, the risk is too high and it’s not worth it.

I drove it yesterday in a car that laps the ring about as quick as a road car can and found myself thinking on the good bits 60mph is still fun. Yes in between the bends I could easily had stabbed up to 100mph but the best twisty bits are enjoyable at the speed limit.

I don’t support autobahns in the UK as the average British driver can’t drive a motorway effectively and has no concept of lane discipline so adding 120mph speed differences would be bedlam.
 
Housey said:
I don’t support autobahns in the UK as the average British driver can’t drive a motorway effectively and has no concept of lane discipline so adding 120mph speed differences would be bedlam.
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Easy solution.

Take licenses off people who get caught not moving left.
 
Or just change the rules to allow undertaking :D

The problem would fix itself as they wouldn't feel safe in the middle anymore with people flying by on both sides.
 
robj20 said:
It's why I don't waste my money on fun cars anymore for the road. I'd be all for every road in the country being an average speed camera zone.
Want to have fun book a track day they're not expensive.
Having fun on the roads was over a good few years ago now.
Does make me laugh when people put warnings up on Facebook of police traps. Just don't speed its not difficult. Yes everyone goes over now and again but should only be by a few mph not 10mph.
Click to expand...
Have you copy and pasted this? I feel like I have read this exact post before.
 
Yep. Noticed a much bigger plod/ camera van presence in Staffordshire in the last 6 weeks or so. Prior to this it'd been pretty quiet and certainly was a lot less than pre pandemic times. The A50 bridges are common and there's a few other regular hot spots. This morning they were out in the Audley area. What I've also noticed now is that they seem to be paired up. For example one van in typical favourite location then another one only a bit further up the road. Not that a condone speeding but North Wales is now just a waste for an enjoyable drive. You're constantly thinking about the next camera spot and just generally getting frustrated. It's too easy to be slighty over or just miss change in speed. Hopefully yours will be just a speed awareness course. Do you use Waze at all?
 
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