Speeding offence

Herzlos

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 the cameras actually generate any revenue once all the running costs are dealt with?

kwmlondon

Herzlos wrote: »

Do the cameras actually generate any revenue once all the running costs are dealt with?

I thought that this government had cut funding for the cameras and that it cost local authorities a lot of money to keep them going, which they did because it kept deaths down. But then I don't tend to drive over the speed limit so I don't worry about it too much.

AdrianC

Bantex wrote: »

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

No, it isn't. I didn't say it was. But, equally, nor is staying under it going to make it less likely. The two are different. So - please - stop trying to conflate them. All it does is make it clear that you really don't understand the real issues around road safety, but have merely swallowed BRAKE's propaganda wholesale.

Here's a scenario for you.

A stretch of road. Yesterday, it was legal and - traffic/weather/etc permitting - safe to drive down it at 70mph. Today, it is illegal to drive down it at 31mph. Nothing but the speed limit has changed. Would 45mph be unsafe on it? Yes or no, please.

Same stretch of road next week. The limit reduction was temporary, and 70mph is now legal again. Again, nothing else has changed. Is 45mph unsafe?

AdrianC

kwmlondon wrote: »

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.

Including you, by the sound of it.

Bantex_2

AdrianC wrote: »

No, it isn't. I didn't say it was. But, equally, nor is staying under it going to make it less likely. The two are different. So - please - stop trying to conflate them. All it does is make it clear that you really don't understand the real issues around road safety, but have merely swallowed BRAKE's propaganda wholesale.

Here's a scenario for you.

A stretch of road. Yesterday, it was legal and - traffic/weather/etc permitting - safe to drive down it at 70mph. Today, it is illegal to drive down it at 31mph. Nothing but the speed limit has changed. Would 45mph be unsafe on it? Yes or no, please.

Same stretch of road next week. The limit reduction was temporary, and 70mph is now legal again. Again, nothing else has changed. Is 45mph unsafe?

No speed is 100% safe. A lower speed will always be safer though. A set limit just quantifies it as opposed to every Tom, !!!!!! an Harry deciding themselves.

kwmlondon

AdrianC wrote: »

No, it isn't. I didn't say it was. But, equally, nor is staying under it going to make it less likely. The two are different. So - please - stop trying to conflate them. All it does is make it clear that you really don't understand the real issues around road safety, but have merely swallowed BRAKE's propaganda wholesale.

Here's a scenario for you.

A stretch of road. Yesterday, it was legal and - traffic/weather/etc permitting - safe to drive down it at 70mph. Today, it is illegal to drive down it at 31mph. Nothing but the speed limit has changed. Would 45mph be unsafe on it? Yes or no, please.

Same stretch of road next week. The limit reduction was temporary, and 70mph is now legal again. Again, nothing else has changed. Is 45mph unsafe?

I would say yes. If other drivers are anticipating the traffic to move at 30mph and someone is going at 45mph then there is a greater danger of an accident.

kwmlondon

AdrianC wrote: »

Including you, by the sound of it.

Maybe I don't, but I know what's at stake and so I accept the rules. When I've broken them I've not concluded that because I've gotten away with it once that it's safe and that I can continue to do so without risking points or losing my license.

What's rather amusing is that most people who get all het up about the speed limit tend to go absolutely purple with rage when cyclists go through red lights. But hey, we all have our own perspective and find it hard to appreciate the situation from the point of view of someone else eh?

AdrianC

Bantex wrote: »

No speed is 100% safe. A lower speed will always be safer though.

Great, so let's bring back that man with a red flag.

A set limit just quantifies it as opposed to every Tom, !!!!!! an Harry deciding themselves.

Is the speed limit ALWAYS an appropriate speed? In EVERY traffic and weather condition? Because unless you're trying to tell me that it is, then you have to accept that T, D & H are perfectly competent and trustworthy to decide what is and what isn't an appropriate speed. Why does that ability have an upper bound?

AdrianC

kwmlondon wrote: »

What's rather amusing is that most people who get all het up about the speed limit tend to go absolutely purple with rage when cyclists go through red lights.

If the cyclist - or any other road user - takes the time to decide if there's any appreciable increase in risk by doing so, then that's a very different situation from just tonking on regardless of whether there's cross traffic - or even pedestrians - in their way.

Personally, I don't much care what form of vehicle somebody's using, just so long as they take steps to minimise the risk they present to others. I just don't see an arbitrary number-on-a-stick that was defined 80 years ago (or even "just" 40-50) as the most important factor at play.

Bantex_2

AdrianC wrote: »

Great, so let's bring back that man with a red flag.



Is the speed limit ALWAYS an appropriate speed? In EVERY traffic and weather condition? Because unless you're trying to tell me that it is, then you have to accept that T, D & H are perfectly competent and trustworthy to decide what is and what isn't an appropriate speed. Why does that ability have an upper bound?

The limit is not about appropriate, it is a limit.

If you think 17 year old Kevin in his Halfords special Corsa with his mates in the back is capable of deciding what an appropriate speed is, then good luck.