why are people still driving too fast?

Trebor16

Inactive wrote: »

No need to type more slowly, nothing that you have said will give an Instructor a full working knowledge of how standards are applied.

Examiners undergo a lengthy training programme before being accepted by the DSA, you following a few tests and listening to the " debrief " will not get you that experience.

Then you clearly know nothing about instructing if you think that an instructor cannot attain a full working knowledge of how standards are applied.

thescouselander

While I was out before I did a little experiment. I switched the trip computer to instantaneous mpg and took readings at various speeds.

Notwithstanding this wasn't exactly scientific I got the following readings on flatish ground:


50 mph = 54 mpg = 10.6 p/mile (based on petrol at 125.9 p/l)
60 mph = 52.5 mpg = 11.0 p/mile
70 mph = 50 mpg = 11.4 p/mile


On a 100 mile journey the cost would be £10.60, £11.01 and £11.45 respectively. Although in reality more would be used as the averaged mpg reading would be a lot less than a sample of a instantaneous reading. Either way I could expect a saving of less than £1 if I drove slower.

Thats all very well if I didn't put a value on my time. The problem is I do value my time and £1 is worth a couple of minutes work at most. By driving at 50 I could be arriving a lot later (30 mins or so) so its not worth it because of the cost of my time.

So in conclusion - if you don't value your time drive slower, you may save a few quid.

If you do value your time (even at a very low rate) its probably not worth it.

And that, I believe, probably answers the original question:
The reason most people have not slowed down is because they have jobs to do and time is money as they say.

Flyboy152

alastairq wrote: »

a presumption there, which isn't safe to make?

One of the aspects of getting old[er] is an acute awareness of fragility and vulnerability.

Someone sat behind [often at less than the proscribed [HC?} 2 second gap...]...flashing their headlights [for whatever reason., HC apart]...can be seen as intimidation [which is likely the underlying reason]....

It appears your elderly driver did exactly the right thing...by acknowledging your presence [and assumed desires] by slowing to allow you to pass even more easily?

But your actions beg the question...if the road was indeed so wide and clear of hazards [in your view]....why did you simply not plan and execute an overtake?

If the vehicle had not been a car driven by an elderly person...but had been a tractor instead...would your actions have been the same?

After all...whether it's a tractor doing 30, or a car, really isn't relevant in the scheme of things....

It is a vehicle, it is moving..it is an obstacle to one's ability to progress...so....look for an opportunity to overtake...and do so.

simple...

driving doesn't have to be so personal as some would like to make it.

Try reading the post again and you will understand better.

There was nothing in front of the driver that could have caused him to drive too slowly. I flashed my lights at him, whilst keeping a safe distance (what is HC?), as is the correct use of flashing main beams. He then slowed down, it could not have been to allow me to pass, because there was far too much traffic coming from the other direction, it was delibertae attempt to stop me from progressing. He continued to speed up and apply the brakes, when he thought I might be alarmed at him suddenly stopping. If a driver is unable to cope with their surroundings, they should not be driving at all.

mikey72

If you flash me I'd slow down. I'm not going to speed up, so if you are flashing, feel free to pass, and I'll even help you. If you're not passing, I'll speed up again. Your choice, but it won't affect me, or make me go faster.

If you couldn't pass, what was the point of flashing? Either he knew you were there or not? So what effect would you want, unless you mean you were trying to push him along faster?
As to the brakes, leave a gap that's suitable for the conditions.

Strider590

There's no point in flashing a slow driver ahead of you!!!!

UNLESS your trying to get him to slow down/brake so that you can pass (reverse psychology)

It's far better to keep your distance, this gives a better view of the road ahead, pretend like your not bothered about overtaking, wait for a suitable spot and start your accelerating just before you pull out **, but don't indicate your intent to overtake **.

** because they'll probably try to race you

Stealth overtaking, a necessary evil these days!

mikey72

Strider590 wrote: »

Stealth overtaking, a necessary evil these days!

Only for some.

Rainmaker_uk

Geordie_bear wrote: »

Fair enough but I'm a firm believer that the faster you go the more stressed you become as your senses become that more alert this in turn will lead inevitably in to road rage. Do what I do listen to classic FM chill & drive slower you get better fuel economy & you arrive at your destination less stressed & a damn site more happier :T

I listen to classic fm at 98mph and it sounds even better

optimus_primera

Geordie_Bear
The faster you go ,the more stressed you become?
Only if you don't like going fast surely? If it stresses you out, then don't do it?
I find it,relaxing is the wrong word,but its a close defination.
I love driving quickly,yes even given the rights and wrongs of doing so, i still get a buzz out of driving fast,(note i said driving, i hate being a passenger,i must be the one in control,as i am a bad passenger).

Flyboy152

mikey72 wrote: »

If you flash me I'd slow down. I'm not going to speed up, so if you are flashing, feel free to pass, and I'll even help you. If you're not passing, I'll speed up again. Your choice, but it won't affect me, or make me go faster.

If you couldn't pass, what was the point of flashing? Either he knew you were there or not? So what effect would you want, unless you mean you were trying to push him along faster?
As to the brakes, leave a gap that's suitable for the conditions.

So you would deliberately annoy another driver, just because you are causing an obstruction and they are reminding of that?

The point of flashing my headlights at him, in accordance with the highway code, I was letting him know I was there. My assumption was that he did not know he was holding up the traffic. So, after alerting him to my presence, I hoped that he would increase his speed to a more acceptable level, instead he decide to ignore the ever increasing line of traffic behind him and actually slow down. The sounds of their horns were becoming deafening. I was maintaining a safe distance, he was the one who was continuously braking (violently at times and for no reason) to reduce that distance, presumably in the vain hope that I would be intimidated by this.

alastairq

Try reading the post again and you will understand better.

There was nothing in front of the driver that could have caused him to drive too slowly. I flashed my lights at him, whilst keeping a safe distance (what is HC?), as is the correct use of flashing main beams. He then slowed down, it could not have been to allow me to pass, because there was far too much traffic coming from the other direction, it was delibertae attempt to stop me from progressing. He continued to speed up and apply the brakes, when he thought I might be alarmed at him suddenly stopping. If a driver is unable to cope with their surroundings, they should not be driving at all.

Fear not...I fully understand!

If there was so much oncoming traffic...the question may be, is it wise to increase one's own speed?

The very volume and nature of the oncoming traffic may have contributed to the leading driver's reluctance to drive faster?

Just because you have a perception of what constitutes the best, low risk speed, does not mean to say it is shared by others.

Trouble is, when someone get's in people's way, all of a sudden the world is full of experts.

Experts who can only see things from their own perspective.

What if your slow driver had in fact, stopped [to let you past?]?

Would that have not created an even worse situation, of having to await a suitable gap in the oncoming traffic, to move out into?

HC is an abbreviation, for the purposes of driving forums, for Highway Code...thought everyone knew that?

Your comments regarding drivers being 'unable to cope with their surroundings' seems to me a case of shooting oneself in the foot?

Patently, you yourself failed to cope wit the perceived shortcomings of another driver......