Speeding offence

kwmlondon

I'm very sorry that your father has found himself in this situation, it's not pleasant and with people relying on him I'm sure it will be very difficult for everyone involved. However, despite his having been a safe driver for many years have you considered that maybe his ability to drive safely is deteriorating?

I think that if most people had received 9 points they would be immensely careful to adhere to the speed limit and follow every single rule slavishly. If your father was doing 53 in a 30 mph area he was either totally unaware of the speed limit (which is very worrying) or decided that despite having built up such a high number of points it was a risk worth taking to go way over the speed limit.

Either way he was making very poor decisions.

I'm not saying it wasn't safe to do that speed, from a driving point of view, but from a good sens perspective it was total and complete madness. The fact that he's been safe for decades doesn't mean that he is driving safely now, and he may be making really poor decisions that put him and his passengers at terrible risk.

How would you feel if his luck run out and he killed someone while driving?

From the information you've given here about his inability to drive within the rules, I am relieved that he's no longer driving.

The whole discussion about speed limits is not something I am getting in to, I'm specifically talking bout the ability to understand risk.

Bantex_2

Iceweasel wrote: »

The reason that the UK need speed/safety cameras is very simple.

The government need the cash they produce.

Nothing else is relevant.

Do you have any evidence or is this just an assumption?

Bantex_2

AdrianC wrote: »

Are you suggesting there's a strong correlation between speed in excess of the limit, and deaths/serious injuries? Because, if you are, you are wrong. That simple.

There were DoT/Police figures released a few years ago - less than 10% of KSI collisions involved speed in excess of the limit. The vast majority were simple inattention. Excess speed for the conditions (but within the limit) was a cause in more than speed above the limit.



You're actually doing a great job of showing exactly WHY the focus being on the wrong cause is dangerous.



Because, of course, it's somehow different if you smear a toddler's head over the pavement whilst below the speed limit.

Although if Joe (or whoever) is driving on the pavement in the first place, I'm not convinced their speed is the biggest problem. And if they aren't, why is the toddler in the road?

Any good reason why people should not drive within the speed limit?

AdrianC

Bantex wrote: »

Any good reason why people should not drive within the speed limit?

Apart from "Making no inherent difference to safety, but getting you to your destination more quickly", you mean?

Perhaps you would be so kind as to give me any good reasons why the speed limit is viewed as such a firm arbiter of safety?

Bantex_2

AdrianC wrote: »

Apart from "Making no inherent difference to safety, but getting you to your destination more quickly", you mean?

Perhaps you would be so kind as to give me any good reasons why the speed limit is viewed as such a firm arbiter of safety?

Hit anything at a higher speed and more damage will be done.
A 15 mile drive at an average of 35mph as opposed to 30mph, will save around 4 minutes. Is it worth it?

AdrianC

Bantex wrote: »

Hit anything at a higher speed and more damage will be done.

How about if you don't hit anything, though...?

Bantex_2

AdrianC wrote: »

How about if you don't hit anything, though...?

Is going over the limit going to make it less likely that you hit something?

kwmlondon

Bantex wrote: »

Hit anything at a higher speed and more damage will be done.
A 15 mile drive at an average of 35mph as opposed to 30mph, will save around 4 minutes. Is it worth it?

Seems like there are two discussions.

One is about speed, safety, driving roads etc.

The other is about adherence to the rules.

Seems to me that most of the rules and laws we live by are designed to "lowest common denominator." So I I may be personally drive a very fast and capable car, I may be an extremely well-trained and have very fast reactions and track-day experience, but I have to drive to the same laws that govern an elderly lady in her clapped out (but still legal) runabout. I'm a fairly average driver, by the way, possibly a little worse than average as I don't have a car so don't drive that often, but I digress.

I know it's frustrating seeing that a piece of road is totally safe to drive along at a higher speed than the limits allow, but then I often see red lights with no traffic crossing and I could easily and safely just go through the red light without anyone being in any danger. What stops me is the knowledge of the risks versus the benefits. I could safe 10 seconds on my journey, but I could potentially be caught and get points. I don't deem that risk worth taking. I could do 60mph on in a 30 zone on a straight, clear piece of tarmac with no connecting roads, clear view etc. but the risks are just not worth it for the minimal thrill I'd get and the couple of seconds I'd gain. Which I'd lose again as soon as I got to the next set of traffic lights anyway.

My entire life is littered with rules that are designed for the worst case scenario/lowest common denominator/stupidest person etc. but that's life. It's what's helped make this such a safe place to live, and it's a constant trade-off. Meh.

Bantex_2

I did think that all drivers were above average though.

kwmlondon

AdrianC wrote: »

How about if you don't hit anything, though...?

it's like drink driving. If you drive a car so ratted you are barely able to see and don't hit anyone else, is it okay? Is it acceptable that on THAT occasion you were very lucky?

People don't understand risk.

I can cut a blind corner every single day for a year and not hit another car. Then, one day I could plough head-on into someone else.

Just because I've been lucky 364 days doesn't mean that my actions are safe. It just means that I've been doing something very dangerous and gotten away with it.