Inappropriate driving

[Bluecube]

Why? You called him out on it and apparently didn't back down when he confronted you. Much better than turning a blind eye and caving in when he shows a hard-nut attitude.

I agree. Well done on actually doing something rather than just shaking your head and tut tutting. Think how bad you'll feel when this idiot actually kills someone. Driving 40 to 50mph above the speed limit in a residential area is inexcusable, idiotic and extremely dangerous to other road users. I would definitely shop him before he kills someone.

[roachcoach]

<snip>
The problem is what can you really do about it? The police won't do a thing about it without proof, aside from perhaps have a word if you are lucky, but that achieves nothing.
<snip>

That's not entirely accurate, S59 is unbelievably easy to throw around if you want to.

Why do people do it? Because they know that no one can do anything to stop them. Sound like a familiar excuse? Thats because it's the exact same one that many of the rioters gave the other week. It didn't wash for them, why should it for all these criminals breaking the traffic laws??

Or it is because in a number of ways some of the laws make no sense whatsoever? Given the government is thinking about upping motorway limits, it is pretty obvious even they think they some of the existing rules are inappropriate. Plus comparing speeding/lane change with no indicator to rioting/looting is borderline new form of godwin imho

No, people do it because they don't think, not malice a'forethought. Further, 99%* of the time these indiscretions harm no-one.


*Figure made up based on accident rates vs miles covered, probably close.

[Spud1]

Or it is because in a number of ways some of the laws make no sense whatsoever? Given the government is thinking about upping motorway limits, it is pretty obvious even they think they some of the existing rules are inappropriate.

I agree in principle that some of the laws might not make sense to you - but it for us to *question* the laws through the legal process, NOT to break them because you don't agree with them.

I think your 99% figure is way out tbh - but I know what you mean and that it's not meant to be a genuine figure

Far more accidents are caused because people think the traffic laws don't apply to them than people think, largely because the person who caused the accident is usually miles away when it actually happens. I've lost count of how many near misses I have had because of terrible driving..usually a combination of someone speeding and then cutting into the lane in front me of (or accross 3 lanes at once). If I had not been alert when it happened (say I had been on the phone..) then there would very likely have been an accident.

Anyway the main point was that just because you don't agree with it, doesn't mean you can break the law. Question it as much as you want though. (I woudl alwasy encourage anyone to question any law or government!).

edit: one thing - seriousness is subjective. To sensible people like most of us here, stealing from shops is a serious crime and should be dealt with accordingly. To some of those that did it however, it wasn't serious at all. The same applies here - I consider dangerous speeding and lack of indicating quite serious due to the immense risk to people's lives - you may not agree and that is your right, but it shows how subjective it can be. The law is pretty clear though.

[TheAnimus]

Far more accidents are caused because people think the traffic laws don't apply to them than people think, largely because the person who caused the accident is usually miles away when it actually happens.

Yup, had that, was driving along minding my own business, call comes through (on hands free) I take call, a friend of mines aunt has just died and she is needing some support, I don't check blind spot....

Luckily the other person was alert and nothing bad happened, except my humble apology!

[roachcoach]

I know it was made up, that's why I pointed it out. It will be high though.

If I was to lay a wager, I'd wager that most accidents are caused by not paying attention to overall surroundings rather than single factors. Speed is nothing with adequate stopping distance available for example. Indicating is worthless if you don't look first and so on. However, if I was pressed to name a single factor for accidents....people drive FAR too close together.


Actually it is a major hate of mine, so hard has the slow=safe message been pushed to the detriment of ALL other road safety... People stop caring about everything else so long as they are under a number on a stick - all concept of appropriate driving for the conditions has been long lost.

Example: When it rains now, people here slow down....and half the gap between them simultaneously, because they're going slower so its ok. Seriously, I'm talking 50-60 mph at a gap of about 5 meters. 70-75 in the dry? Gap is about 10 meters.

Road safety as a package has been disregarded and policing devolved to contextless cameras and single track messages. It is a disgrace.

Observation is king.

There is also a distinct lack of teaching what to do when it all goes tits up too, but I digress and it is already borderline on a rant


Edit: I'd consider inappropriate speed serious, for me though, that can happen under or over the limit. Particularly when said limit is often arbitrary and ill reflective of the road. There are 60's near me that would be thoroughly reckless to do that speed on and there are 50's near me that used to be 60's and have no business being a 50 now. Commonly limits change after a boy racer wraps a tree at over 100, so obviously changing the limit from 60-50 would stop that A doing 60 on a road driven at 60 for years didn't suddenly get more dangerous because the numbers on a sign changed

[Zadock]

I agree. Well done on actually doing something rather than just shaking your head and tut tutting. Think how bad you'll feel when this idiot actually kills someone. Driving 40 to 50mph above the speed limit in a residential area is inexcusable, idiotic and extremely dangerous to other road users. I would definitely shop him before he kills someone.

Cheers

I just felt a bit self-righteous after the event, telling a grown man at least a decade older than me that he is driving like a teenage boy. He's had a warning, if I see him again... I'll video it and log it with the police non-urgent line.

[Butuz]

80 in a 30?? Shop him straight to the police.

Butuz