Who thought up this stupid idea?

Kilty_2

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

it's still an offence to drive a car with a faulty speedo

It works, simply overreads more than normal.

arielcohen

What I've seen around Hampstead is a speed gauge that links to those led lights that tell you to slow down, those are what should be put near a zebra crossing. Though in that area after a downhill stretch and a bend in the road they put a zebra crossing, with the amount of people i see coasting on that road and the inability to see the crossing ahead i fear the worst. I for sure wouldn't cross their late at night.

andygb

You should already be doing the correct speed anyway, because the 30/40MPH signs would be well before the crossing. An experienced driver should know what speed they are doing, simply by the gear they are in, the engine note, and by looking outside the car. When approaching a crossing, your eyes should be on it, and the immediate vicinity - the side of the road and pavement.

custardy

Kilty wrote: »

It works, simply overreads more than normal.

well if it over reads you have nothing to worry about
just stick on or be below the indicated max speed for the area/conditions

Flyboy152

jaqui59 wrote: »

All around where I live there are Pedestrian Crossings with Speed Cameras directly a few feet ahead of them ... So, what do I do as I am approaching the crossing? Yes, thats right I look down at my speedo to make sure I am not going over the speed limit ... And what am I possibly NOT doing? Yes, thats right I am possibly not looking at the Pedestrian Crossing for anyone who might be waiting to cross, or even worse, anyone who is already crossing.

Now, I consider myself a very capable and observant driver, and I am never going to be a threat to anyone on a crossing, but not everyone out there are capable and observant drivers, are they?

Surely the speed cameras should be placed a good number of yards before the Pedestrian Crossing, or maybe for there not to be a Speed Camera there at all because of the distraction ... That makes sense, doesn't it???

How long does it take for anyone to glance at their speedometer. If you are slowing down anyway, I can't see your issue.

Flyboy152

Kilty wrote: »

My speedo is f*cked because some idiot has put the wrong size tyres on the front wheels.

It is not your speedometer that is faulty, it is the size of your tyres; why haven't you changed them?

Lum

Nilrem wrote: »

Is it that some cars have the speedo hidden under the steering column and I've never noticed?

For me this is often almost true especially for Fiesta/Polo size and smaller cars which are often given out as hire cars and courtesy cars.

By the time I've adjusted the seat for my height and arm length the top half of the speedo is usually hidden behind the steering wheel, requiring me to duck my head to check my speed accurately if going over 25mph.


Even when this isn't a problem, many people take a speed camera as an indication to check their speed, even if they were driving perfectly safely it's worth checking just incase you have drifted a few mph. This check apparently takes over a second once you've taken into account things like having to refocus the eyes on the close up speedo and then back to the road ahead.

On the approach to a crossing a lot can happen in a second.

On the vast majority of cars, there's also the mental distraction of having to do an analogue to digital conversion in your head since you're complying with an artificial number rather than just making sure do to a speed that feels about right.

I fitted a little heads up display unit in my car with a clear easy to read digital display reflected off the windscreen, it makes a hell of a difference around speed cameras, in terms of reducing distraction.

Harry_Flashman

Meepster wrote: »

If you are approaching a pedestrian crossing, you should be slowing down anyway, so looking at your speedo is irrelevant...

Utter bunkum.

If it's a normal zebra, I would continue at the same speed unless there was someone about to step on the crossing, then I just hope they don't step on until I pass.

If it's a pelican, I'm likely to speed up somwhat in order to get past before the lights change.

Flyboy152

Harry_Flashman wrote: »

Utter bunkum.

If it's a normal zebra, I would continue at the same speed unless there was someone about to step on the crossing, then I just hope they don't step on until I pass.

If it's a pelican, I'm likely to speed up somwhat in order to get past before the lights change.

I guess you were sick the day they taught that lesson.

Harry_Flashman

And which lesson is that?