Optimal speed for economical m'way driving?

tomstickland

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Its probably no more dangerous or minutely more on an empty motorway.

But it's the numpties that don't know the difference between a dry empty motorway and a congested wet typical Friday afternoon that cause the problems.

I don't think you can give folks the choice given the number of ****** about

I tend to agree. The reason that we seem to have ever more limits appearing on junctions must be because some numpty just flies through at 60mph without looking to see if someone might be about to pull out. Hence the limit is lowred, and then we all suffer in the inefficiency of another few miles of speed limit. I'll adjust my speed based on the conditions - looking for cars pulling out or bikes and I'll slow, totally empty and I might gradually nudge up a bit.

I think my main gripe is suffering from the dumbing down caused by people beind dumb.

Idiophreak

mum2one wrote: »

You may think I am opinionated and going off track, but people who brag about speeding is unbelievable, I have a clean licence, been driving nearly 20 years, and Im on crutches, haveing spent nearly 6 months in a wheelchair, some days I have to have a mobility scooter. My life is a dam site harder....

Some idiot decided to hit the escalaltor to fast, we'd just set off from a set of traffic lights, which you go into a bend, Im 1st in the q, hes 2nd, his snap decision,to go fast has left me permanetly disabled, thats at 20 miles an hr! if it had been a motorway accident and the driver was doing 100, i doubt i would be here to tell the tale or the other driver, we'd of been in body bags.

Speed limits are there for a reason. so next time anyone thinks its quiet late at ngt i'll hit 100 on speedo, plz think again, u might not value ur life, but other people value theres.

Didn't think this thead was still going, but anyway.

1) Your example so amply demonstrates that *poor driving* is dangerous and has nothing whatsoever to do with speed - or are you advocating the national speed limit be reduced to 15mph?

2) I don't believe I was bragging at all...I just mentioned speeds I may drive. Does saying something mean you're bragging about it?

I had toast for breakfast. Man, I'm a showoff. (and a liar - I had oaty stuff really)

Now that you mention it, I'm not especially proud of speeding, but I'm certainly not ashamed of it. I don't do it for the thrill of the speed, the rush, whatever other cliches you wish to apply to it...I do it because it gets me from A to B faster and frankly, there's no good reason to go slower.

I've always been of the view that laws are there to punish people who're doing things wrong. If I'm driving safely, I don't consider myself to be doing anything wrong, so I won't feel bad for "breaking the law".

I admit, however, a nice side-effect of dropping your maximum speed is that you don't have to worry so much about the consequences of getting caught...(although I have a clean sheet thusfar and *never* go above 95, so I think I'd be unlucky to be banned straight off, but that's a little OT)

The only reason I consider going slower on safety grounds is for damage limitation from random accidents - a tyre blowing out, a deer in the road, that kind of thing. At motorway speeds though - your tyre blows out, it's pretty much hit and miss whether you'll live or die...not sure how much difference 10 or 20mph makes here...

Another interesting point about driving slower is that I find it *much harder* than driving quickly - does anyone else find this? I mean, aside from all the moving lanes and stuff (instead of just sticking in the outside one...) I find it really hard to keep concentration up to the same levels and to fend off tiredness...think my mind just switches off when you're creeping along at 30mph on a long, straight bit of road...

anewman

Idiophreak wrote: »

I find it really hard to keep concentration up to the same levels and to fend off tiredness...think my mind just switches off when you're creeping along at 30mph on a long, straight bit of road...

Hmmm driving whilst tired and about to fall asleep. :rolleyes:

tomstickland

It is certainly a point that the "speed is safety" campaigners miss. They really do think that if only every speed limit was lower than the roads would be implicitly safer, hence it is their duty to lower as many limits as possible.

I google search local council minutes whenever I see a new limit and it's local town councils who seem the most keen. Indeed, in Tetbury, one group (I think it was the chamber of trade) were reported as being "scornful" of the council's idea to extend a 40 limit for about a mile out in the countryside.

It would help if these people had ever read any of the research conducted over the last 30 years. For example, highway engineers have long known that lowering a limit does not produce an equivalent lowering in driving speeds. In order to do that it is necessary to reengineer the road layout.
The 40 limit at Tetbury, well I've yet to find anyone rigidly observing it.

The same council were rather upset that their bid to extend a 30 limit further out into the countyside was rejected because it "wouldn't be observed".

redux

Idiophreak wrote: »

At motorway speeds though - your tyre blows out, it's pretty much hit and miss whether you'll live or die...not sure how much difference 10 or 20mph makes here...

Sorry, no need for macho here - that's just ludicrous unless you're doing well over 100 mph and then panic. If you really are that underconfident, perhaps you should be going slower

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

greenman7 wrote: »

I was also abit confused by the posting Obey the speed limits etc. As an Institute member you have already told us, quotes:

I am not an institute member. Where did I say I was?

greenman7 wrote: »

So I am equally confused about both quotes - maybe it is time to contact the IAM for clarification?

Maybe its time you considered taking the course yourself?

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

The_Undercover_ADI wrote: »

The ones who suggest that the speed limit is a number on a stick are the ones who neither understand the reason behind the number, nor are capable of ignoring it in a safe manner. The finest drivers I have ever met have taken great care in noticing and understanding the speed limit system, never ignoring it and only breaking the law when necessary and with all of the caution needed to do this safely. I have only met 3 drivers who I feel do this well - 2 police pursuit trainers, and a special forces close protection officer.

Oh I always notice the speed limit. The point is that I don't pretend that it any longer has anything to do with safety. The old rule about the 85th percentile seems to have been forgotten. I pay much more attention to warning triangles about hazards ahead - they're much more relevant than the number on a stick.

The_Undercover_ADI wrote: »

Individuals who regularly break the limit for their own reasons invariably drive with less consideration for other road users - either intentionally or simply because the increased speed means less time for observation and anticipation.If you are in that much of a rush then you need to sort your life out - risking other people's lives and peace of mind simply because you can't organise your journey properly goes against the first rule of advanced driving - Plan Ahead.

Invariably is the wrong word to use, since I do not drive in any way like the way you suggest. I suggest you put your prejudices away for a moment and consider that there are actually a great many drivers who understand very well what it is to be a safe driver, rather than having an inflated opinion of their own driving skills.

The old 'you must be in a rush' line is really rather pathetic. I don't exceed limits because I'm in a rush - I do it because the limits are too low for that section of road at that time. Lets turn that around - if I'm doing 20mph in a 30mph limit, am I suddenly being slow and slovenly, and do I need to set off on my journey later? Of course not, its just as silly.

greenman7

Pew Pew Pew Lasers I apologise for calling you an Institute member - you have completed an IAM test and passed their course, of course this is not the same thing.
Maybe I should take the course myself with all the useful info off you I have gained on this thread I am sure to pass, quotes: ' Balls to the speed limit. Its a number on a stick, nothing more. It tells you nothing about safety.
Speed limits are lowest common denominator safety enforcement - and achieve little, if nothing.
What has your accident got to do with speed limits? I'll go as fast as I feel is appropriate thanks.
Speed limits are there for a reason - mostly political. Obeying a number on a stick does not guarantee safe driving, it simply turns people into sheep.
Oh I always notice the speed limit. The point is that I don't pretend that it any longer has anything to do with safety.'
When I tell them this do you think they will agree?

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

Tell who this?

meester

Idiophreak wrote: »

The only reason I consider going slower on safety grounds is for damage limitation from random accidents - a tyre blowing out, a deer in the road, that kind of thing. At motorway speeds though - your tyre blows out, it's pretty much hit and miss whether you'll live or die...not sure how much difference 10 or 20mph makes here...

My tyre blew out on the motorway at 100mph+, I had been doing sustained speeds of around 100mph (trying to catch flight), I am sure this is why it occured, and it would not have happened at 70mph.

I managed to guide the car off the motorway onto the hard shoulder, it wasn't too bad, probably better because it was 5:30am, and all happened quite quickly, so didn't have time to think about it, unfortunately a tree grazed the door and so I sold the car because it was a bit of a banger anyway, and not worth replacing.

I since check my tyres for damage a bit more often.