Young Drivers are idiots.

[directhex]

I actually thought there was existing provision for this within the law anyway

highway code rule 125: "The speed limit is the absolute maximum"

[Salazaar]

If it was, then why not write that into the law?

It is... if the police think you're driving dangerously for any given set of circumstances they can arrest you for it.

Also, the government did write laws proscribing certain speed limits on certain roads based on the vehicles used at the time. They're the speed limits we have now. The problem is that cars have moved on a lot since then and a lot of people think some of those limits should be changed, like 80 on motorways.

[Salazaar]

highway code rule 125: "The speed limit is the absolute maximum"

It's just that the police invariably (unless they're bored or have quotas to fill) turn a blind eye unless you're driving excessivly fast.

[Salazaar]

oh, absolutely. but it's a good start.

look at it this way - if you disagree with following the laws of the land wrt how to behave on the road, why take your test in the first place? why not just drive without a license? because really your license is worthless if you undertook it to prove you were capable of meeting certain requirements - which you then actively refuse to follow

why not just drive unlicensed?

That's just silly I'm not saying that you should break the law but that in the wrong circumstance, even if you're driving perfectly legally, you can be the one causing a problem. It's why tests are so bloody hard these days (I took mine in this country just over a year ago), to make sure you're damn well good enough to cope with what can get thrown at you.

(Slaps self for posting three times in a row)

[kalniel]

Simple, you can't fine people based on a fuzzy generalisation like that, if you had that law every speeder would simply ask for his day in court and argue it was appropriate. What they want is for people to just pay it and take the points without clogging up the courts.

Well, your answer is below

It is... if the police think you're driving dangerously for any given set of circumstances they can arrest you for it.

Quick penalty fines could be applied just as much as they are today.

Also, the government did write laws proscribing certain speed limits on certain roads based on the vehicles used at the time. They're the speed limits we have now. The problem is that cars have moved on a lot since then and a lot of people think some of those limits should be changed, like 80 on motorways.

Light doesn't bend now anymore than it did 50 years ago. Nor have we evolved any quicker reactions or better sense of judgement.. If it was solely about the car then I agree - who's for raising the speed limit to 80 for fully automated cars only?

[directhex]

That's just silly I'm not saying that you should break the law but that in the wrong circumstance, even if you're driving perfectly legally, you can be the one causing a problem.

yes, you can be

excessive slowness on single-track lanes would be the example i gave

the one that drives me up the wall in general is people who don't indicate. whether on roundabouts, or shifting lanes on the motorway, if you don't indicate properly you're a bad driver. hell, even if you don't think there's anyone who can see and benefit from it YOU CANNOT BE CERTAIN OF THAT, and should indicate anyway to cover that eventuality.

[dangel]

I indicate all the time - because i like flashing lights.

So pretty.

[Salazaar]

Light doesn't bend now anymore than it did 50 years ago. Nor have we evolved any quicker reactions or better sense of judgement.. If it was solely about the car then I agree - who's for raising the speed limit to 80 for fully automated cars only?

I don't think anyone's talking about massive changes to speed limits but there is a case for small increases based on the fact the the average car has much better tyres and brakes than they did when the limits were set, and in the worst case are much safer in accidents.

yes, you can be

excessive slowness on single-track lanes would be the example i gave

the one that drives me up the wall in general is people who don't indicate. whether on roundabouts, or shifting lanes on the motorway, if you don't indicate properly you're a bad driver. hell, even if you don't think there's anyone who can see and benefit from it YOU CANNOT BE CERTAIN OF THAT, and should indicate anyway to cover that eventuality.

That frequently, royally, pisses me off!

[directhex]

I indicate all the time - because i like flashing lights.

So pretty.

you should get those boring orange lights replaced by lights that change color!

[dangel]

It's perfectly possible to introduce variable limits - whereby you give something back to drivers when things are quiet/dry etc.

you should get those boring orange lights replaced by lights that change color!

Well I did try blue flashing ones but that got me into trouble

[directhex]

It's perfectly possible to introduce variable limits - whereby you give something back to drivers when things are quiet/dry etc.

they do - if you're good, they won't lower the limit to 50 because you have the nerve to be on the m40

personally, i'd like to see more average speed cameras - they won't punish you for letting the needle dip in the wrong direction at the wrong second, but they'll help to eliminate dangerous use of the bmw lane

[godsdog]

I HATE speed humps.

Speed humping is great.

[Salazaar]

they do - if you're good, they won't lower the limit to 50 because you have the nerve to be on the m40

personally, i'd like to see more average speed cameras - they won't punish you for letting the needle dip in the wrong direction at the wrong second, but they'll help to eliminate dangerous use of the bmw lane

I agree except that as Jeremy Clarkson pointed out, all it would take is to do 120 for the most part and then slow down to 40 for the last few miles to foil them!

Oh, and I ended up speeding on my driving test and I passed! I was on an empty stretch of dual carriageway which had a temporary 50 limit that I didn't notice at first, I slowed down fairly soon though.

[directhex]

I agree except that as Jeremy Clarkson pointed out, all it would take is to do 120 for the most part and then slow down to 40 for the last few miles to foil them!

true. but it'd get the bmw drivers off the damn road for a few minutes whilst they wait for their average to creep back down, and they ALREADY do 120 today, so how's it a step backwards?

[usxhe190]

let's just say, i wouldn't believe everything clarkson says

[kalniel]

I don't think anyone's talking about massive changes to speed limits but there is a case for small increases based on the fact the the average car has much better tyres and brakes than they did when the limits were set, and in the worst case are much safer in accidents.

But poor performance from brakes or tyres is virtually never the cause of accidents. They are caused for the vast part I'd have thought by things which have not changed in 50 years such as not being able to see around corners, and poor judgement/reactions. If you can solve those things then I agree with raising the limit as a matter of course.

personally, i'd like to see more average speed cameras - they won't punish you for letting the needle dip in the wrong direction at the wrong second, but they'll help to eliminate dangerous use of the bmw lane

Agreed.

I agree except that as Jeremy Clarkson pointed out, all it would take is to do 120 for the most part and then slow down to 40 for the last few miles to foil them!

And that would take them just as long to get anywhere so why bother? (Unless they're BMW drivers who like being overtaken )