Speeding

maninthestreet

Mr_Lahey wrote: »

Excessive speed - Driving over the speed limit (could be 32 in a 30 in dry conditions at 3am without another car on the road)

Inappropriate Speed = Driving at say 40 in a 40 but with thick fog and 3 foot of snow.

There is a world of difference between the two, but they were nicely grouped together.

Another i remember when they were talking about the percent of road accidents per year and how the council was told they must reduce these by 40% They showed how they tricked road users to slow down by making roads thinner and introducing speed cameras etc... They reckon they did actually reduce road deaths by over 40% but that includes any one killed say by fatigue, anyone getting run over by their own fault, drunk drivers....... It was ridiculous the way the statistics were grouped. That said, i was shocked to hear that apparently 7 people per day die on Britain's roads.

Over 100,000 people die each year from smoking related diseases. Time to ban smoking completely?

jdturk

Mr_Lahey wrote: »

i was shocked to hear that apparently 7 people per day die on Britain's roads.

I don't think that number is excessively high considering the number of motorists/cyclists etc there are

Paul_Varjak

As promised, here is the upside down GIVE WAY sign...






The sign is situated at the exit from the car park of the Council library in Barton-upon-Humber. The exit is a narrow passageway which leads to the Car park of Barton Police Station! Not only is the sign upside down there are no give way road markings either!

Even if it were a correctly made Give Way sign, it would still be wrong because they should be using one of these instead...





I showed a Police Constable (who was washing his car at the Police Station) the picture of the Give Way sign and asked him to tell me what was wrong with it. He stared and stared at the picture before saying...

"There is something wrong with the triangle but I don't know what it is". I then told him it was upside-down and his response was "That is outrageous, I will be reporting that"

Of course, I know what the Council will argue...

"Well the sign is not situated on a public highway but on Council land, so we can use any sign we deem appropriate"

FatAndy

Interesting story from North Wales where one of the Boys in Blue got caught doing 98 mph in a 50 mph zone. He appealed on the basis that a speed limit sign wasn't illuminated! Given that the maximum speed limit anywhere in the UK is 70 and he was doing 98 it makes you wonder how he wasn't aware he was breaking the law even without being able to read the signs. Has he never passed his driving test or read the Highway Code?

Anyway the mags saw sense and he's now facing a three month ban, £1415 in fines and costs and disciplinary action from the plod.

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2010/03/30/north-wales-policeman-has-speeding-appeal-thrown-out-55578-26139007/

jdturk

bet he gets off!

rl290

I agree, most stats regarding this are ridiculous and open to interpretation. BUT what more can they do? If there are 1000 accidents a week involving drivers going over the speed limit should they quote this, or go through the list with a tooth comb, taking out any accidents when other factors were to blame? Should they use a blanket statistic that obviously has some weaknesses, or give a "more realistic" interpretation which gives less of an impact and is highly subjective.

My understanding is that for a long time many people never realised just how many people die due to speeding or alcohol. Giving a hard-hitting statistic, however open to interpretation, at least makes people think.

R

Velcro_Hotdog

I went to a speed awarness course a couple of months ago and was shocked at what I didn't know but also shocked that the guys running the course ignored peoples admissions of bad driving and did not suggest a solution or quote the highway code.

One person admitted that she some times speeds on the motorway when it looks like she is going to be undertaken. After the group asked a few more questions it was clear that the reason she gets undertaken and overtaken at the same time on the motorway is that she was hogging the middle lane. The guys running the course said they where there to advise on speeding not correct road us!! What good is that??

rl290

Velcro, what do you expect? At a guess, I would say that if these people were really at all good they would be running driving lessons etc, and not doing these courses.

maninthestreet

How do you get to be an 'instructor' on one of these courses? Remember, speeding is just an example of bad driving. A driver that speeds may also make other, more serious, mistakes when driving. Focussing merely on speed as the cause of accidents is just disingenious.