Why is speeding socially acceptable?

facade

Let's bring back the man (person I suppose so as no to offend somebody) with the red flag.


Think of all the jobs it would create.
I certainly wouldn't mind ambling along to the shops leading a line of traffic for minimum wage in dry weather.


Tough luck for car journeys in the rain though.....

CardinalWolsey

Some people who are arguing that higher speeds cause more injuries / deaths appear to be missing the point about cause and effect. Higher speeds are not necessarily responsible for the majority of accidents (in fact, see the list in an earlier post in this thread), but clearly injuries in an accident might be worse.

I definitely agree that its inappropriate speed that should be addressed, and that includes people driving substantially lower than the speed limit for no visible reason. The area I live in even the A/trunk roads have had their speed limits reduced - broadly down to 50, but also a lot of roads down to 40; for no perceivable reason. Why some people then insist on driving at 30 throughout I struggle with. and likely cause as many incidents as those driving at excessive speed, with people attempting to overtake at inappropriate places.

I'm tempted to suggest that many roads should be deregulated anyway, as Darwins law will kick in, and we've only got perhaps 10-15 years of "self-will" driving left in any case - we'd better enjoy it whilst we can (and before the autobots take over).

EssexExile

NBLondon wrote: »

Nerd point... if it's an Escort; it would be a 1968 at least; if it's 1966 then you mean a Ford Anglia (997cc) or Anglia Super (1200cc or so).

Double nerd point - Escorts were made in the 50s, but they'd only get to 70 if it was downhill.

Mercdriver

CardinalWolsey wrote: »

Some people who are arguing that higher speeds cause more injuries / deaths appear to be missing the point about cause and effect. Higher speeds are not necessarily responsible for the majority of accidents (in fact, see the list in an earlier post in this thread), but clearly injuries in an accident might be worse.

I definitely agree that its inappropriate speed that should be addressed, and that includes people driving substantially lower than the speed limit for no visible reason. The area I live in even the A/trunk roads have had their speed limits reduced - broadly down to 50, but also a lot of roads down to 40; for no perceivable reason. Why some people then insist on driving at 30 throughout I struggle with. and likely cause as many incidents as those driving at excessive speed, with people attempting to overtake at inappropriate places.

Anyway, I'm tempted to suggest that many roads should be deregulated anyway, as Darwins law will kick in, and we've only got perhaps 10-15 years of "self-will" driving left anyway - we'd better enjoy it whilst we can (and before the autobots take over).

Darwin's Law won't necessarily just take out the bad driver though will it? They often walk away scot free.

How do you decide what an appropriate speed is? How do you legislate for something that is subjective according to driving ability, state of mind, driver fatigue. Some of the driving I saw on the M4 yesterday beggared belief, and this was across different ages and gender.

People pulling out in front of me with a looks saying: "well, at least I indicated!" Then a white van man at 10.30pm who almost drove into the back of one of those cone lorries with a huge yellow keep left lit on the back of it. He had to swerve at last minute to avoid driving into the back of it, and then 30 seconds later he almost took out a car. All within the temp 50mph limit on that section of the M4. What speed limit do we give him? How do we enforce it?

Gloomendoom

Mercdriver wrote: »

The majority of Autobahn is restricted to 120kph. They also have laws about distance from the front which is enforced by camera.

Significant lengths of it are still derestricted though. Not that that means you can go as fast as you like all the time as some of the bends are tight (for a motorway) and the common two lane layout means other traffic gets in the way.

Mercdriver

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Significant lengths of it are still derestricted though. Not that that means you can go as fast as you like all the time as some of the bends are tight (for a motorway) and the common two lane layout means other traffic gets in the way.

Indeed. I think that speed limits on UK motorways should go up, but they should bring in the minimum distance legislation they have in Germany at the same time.

Norman_Castle

Guerillatoker wrote: »

This is not true though. Its 70mph for all lanes and people should be moving over to the left if they're not overtaking whether they're doing 10mph or 100mph.

Its how motorways are used and it works because of the limited speed difference between the fastest and slowest vehicles.

NitinParmar

What ever the rules there will be people who like to break them.

It's as simple as that.

George_Michael

EssexExile wrote: »

Double nerd point - Escorts were made in the 50s, but they'd only get to 70 if it was downhill.

The Mk1 Ford Escort was first made in late 1967.

https://visual.ly/community/infographic/transportation/history-ford-escort-micksgaragecom

Guerillatoker

Norman_Castle wrote: »

Its how motorways are used and it works because of the limited speed difference between the fastest and slowest vehicles.

If that was really the case why would it need enforcing?

The truth is some people drive below that - HGVs are commonly limited to 56mph and I often see them overtaking cars going slower than that - and some drive over that, as the need for enforcement shows. It also doesn't "work" as cars crash all the time on the motorway.

People crash on the motorway because people are downright stupid and self destructive. Whether its dawdling at 55mph in the middle lane or driving up the arus of an articulated lorry. Speed is only a factor once other elements of ignorance are introduced.

Our motorways have an attitude problem not a speed problem. If people showed proper lane and distance discipline I dare bet we would be safer even if the limit was 100mph.