Drive the M4?

[Skii]

The point isn't irrelevant at all Spud, they cost more than a traffic copper, but they can do nothing about drivers who are a danger to other road users and know where the cameras are.

Speed camera - slow down - go past speed camera - speed up again.

I'm not trying to dress anything up here, breaking speed limits in some areas is wrong, particularly in residential areas. You still haven't addressed my point that a lot of speeding is the result of lack of awareness and human error, and committed by EVERY driver at some point in their lives, even with the best of intentions.

They should be punished for this shouldn't they ? The law is the law after all.

I don't disagree with cameras in principle, but I do belive they are being horrendoulsy misused and depended upon.

[Spud1]

Yes they should be punished as i said, even tho its just human error Though the cameras do allow for a certain amount as i said, ~10mph or so.

Throwing money at the police isnt going to get more traffic cops out there though, it needs more than just cash. Proper recruitment and training is also needed, and i'm sure it would cost lots more in both time and money to recruit and train more police than to put up some more specs cameras (which imho are a much better choice than the GATSO ones)

[Tumble]

also there's the fact that the 70mph limit was set way back when, and it was set at 70 cos it was the fastest a Ford Anglia or summat could actually go at and maintain.

[Stoo]

..and the fact that there is no correlation between higher speed limits and numbers of accidents, despite numerous international studies.

[Swafe]

I belive you can drive over the limit safely, say there was a completely straight stretch of motorway, not a car in sight, perfect conditions, no sidewinds, and you had no passengers

Theres no risk to anyone else but yourself, so why should it bother anyone apart from you ? And if the conditions are perfect, why wouldnt you drive exactly the same apart from 10 mph faster?

[DaBeeeenster]

I totally agree with Spud1. If you drive a car you need to abide by the law of the road.

It is as simple as that.

If you cant abide by the law of the road, you should not be driving. This is not to say that I dont think that we should be working out how to use modern technology to catch tail gaters, joyriders etc.etc., but this is a moot point. We have the technology available, right now, to stop people speeding on the motorway. I think we should go ahead and implement it nationwide.

Skii's point regarding "being human" and "making mistakes". Sorry, but if you cant keep your car under the speed limit you should not be driving, simple as that.

What is wrong with some people? I find it somewhat incredible that people are happy to abide by the law of the land, yet as soon as we come onto the subject of cars and driving, we all know best.

[DaBeeeenster]

This graph:



Is pure smoke screen. It assumes that there are no other factors that are relevant with regards to road deaths, other than speed limit. Utterly preposterous. Quality of road surface, quality of the cars on the road, quality of license testing are all factors (as well as dozens of others).

What is it with some people? Faster driving = more fatalities. It's quite simple. How on earth can you say otherwise?

[Knoxville]

Speed Limits on normal roads I have no problem with, but motorways could have variable limits determined by factors such as traffic, visibility and weather conditions. As for speed cameras making drivers slow down, yes, they do make people slow down for about 300 yards before they accelerate again.

Cars are designed for stability and good handling at high speeds these days, a BMW 5 series will quite happily cruise along at 155mph all night long and as long as traffic is very light and conditions are ok why the hell shouldn't it?Some kid gonna kick his football out into the middle of the M4? No accidents will all boil down to driver error something that we'll never eliminate no matter how many black boxes and cameras we use on motorists.

[rajagra]

<Exceeding the speed limit> is breaking a law and putting people at risk

There is NO such thing as speeding safely. I don't care what anyone says about statistics and other ...

Both of these statements are incorrect and based on faulty logic.

Legal speeds are not always safe.
Safe speeds are not always legal.

These facts can be easily demonstrated, or proven by hypothetical examples.

You should care about statistics and other stuff, because the truth matters.
The best way to improve things is to gather and verify facts, accept them (even if you don't like them), and come up with a rational plan that deals with them.

Speed cameras do a good job of enforcing the law over short stretches of road. They raise revenue. But they do a woefully inadequate job of making the roads safer.

Please read the link I provided about regression to the mean if you haven't already.

[Skii]

I totally agree with Spud1. If you drive a car you need to abide by the law of the road.

It is as simple as that.

If you cant abide by the law of the road, you should not be driving. This is not to say that I dont think that we should be working out how to use modern technology to catch tail gaters, joyriders etc.etc., but this is a moot point. We have the technology available, right now, to stop people speeding on the motorway. I think we should go ahead and implement it nationwide.

Skii's point regarding "being human" and "making mistakes". Sorry, but if you cant keep your car under the speed limit you should not be driving, simple as that.

What is wrong with some people? I find it somewhat incredible that people are happy to abide by the law of the land, yet as soon as we come onto the subject of cars and driving, we all know best.

So you've never broken a speed limit? ever?

[Trippledence]

Thanks for killing free will. I think speed limits should be totaly depended on the car. If your diving a Lotus then your stopping distance is less. Therefore you should be able to drive faster. What i dont get as with cars gettting better. Why are limits getting lower. its stupid. Also who are they trying to protect on the motorway. If theres people wondering about on it there probly trying to get hit. Increasing the limit on cars over a cirten age, adn under a citen weight. The way forward.

[Howard]

There is NO such thing as speeding safely.

Oh please.


Speed cameras in built up residential areas? Great. Stops cretins that drive too fast with no regard for any surroundings. Much safer for people who are crossing the road/children playing nearby/schools/crowded high streets, etc.
I myself always get the tiniest bit anxious if I drive through a very busy high street because you simply never know if someone's gonna waltz out right infront of you. Sticking to the safe speed limit ensures that it's that little bit safer.

BUT

On motorways? Why?
Most people poodle along at ~80MPH, hardly a difference really from 70/75, but it seems to be an average. 71MPH is certainly going to make almost no difference in an accident situation, but it's still speeding, illegal and will get you a fine. I would also argue this for residential areas but it has more of an effect there.

Most motorway accidents are caused by pillocks driving far too close to people infront, swerving into another lane without looking properly, and soemtimes driving too slow causing everyone to have to veer round them, are they not?

Silly speeds like 150MPH, perhaps. That's speeding, and that's ridiculous.
75/80MPh is also speeding. It's also illegal.

Variable speed limits are an excellent idea, and they already exist With the overhead gantries. Perhaps they should be made to have more of a scope.

Allen, are you telling me you NEVER drive even slightly over 40 in a 40 zone? Same for a 50, NSL, and 70 on a motorway? Ever?

[Flibb]

MY problem with speed cameras on the motorway is that a chief constable went on record as saying that doing 100mph in clear weather, and low traffic flow on a motorway was fine by him, and didnt noticeably increase the risk of major accidents. It was also pointed out that the current motorway speed limit was introduced in 1965, cars have changed a bit since then, and perhaps just as importantly so have tyres. Its a pity driver training hasnt kept pace with the cars and roads, when will they require people to be trained to drive in motorway conditions?

[Howard]

Its a pity driver training hasnt kept pace with the cars and roads, when will they train people to drive on motorways?

It's called Pass Plus

[khizman]

i never drive faster than the speed limit in a 30, 40, 50 or 60 as i know the limit is there for a reason, because the road is gonna be dodgy at some point,
motorways however i set the cruise control to 80mph,
Speed cameras, at times are EXTREMELY DANGEROUS i can imagine someone seeing one of those talivans and applying the breaks pretty harshly in order to slow down, this will cause 2 things
1) send someone into your rear bumper
2) pile up traffic behind you
i was driving the manchester - sheffield route on the a57 (i think thats what its called) and the speed limit was 60mph there was an up hill drive so i was going uphill at 60mph and at the top out of nowhere came a 40mph sign, so i thought ok i will gradually decrease my speed down to 40 but then i noticed a speed camera (it was dark) and put on the brakes pretty hard in order to go down to 40 and luckily there was noone behind me - imo thats Dangerous.
I think variable limits are a good idea, or even better no limit aka autobahn

[ajbrun]

They should just get some marked police cars to go at exactly 70 in the fast lane. That way, if a car is going faster, they're undertaking (illegal!), and anyway, people will watch out with a police car near by .