Hi all , i wondered if there's any police among us?

If there are could you explain why we have a 70mph m-way speed limit please? ( just asking) :D

I have seen three officers using speed guns on the M5 this week and wondered what the threshold is for prosicution? Is it 10% plus 2 = 79mph? Is it deemed to be dangerous to exceed this speed?

The head of the Somerset safety camera partnership stated on a live BBC interview this week, 'even if we did hide our cameras, the law is the law and you're breaking the law if you exceed any speed limit'.

If this is the case why are the 99% of drivers who exceed the limit when they deem it safe to do so not being prosicuted? Should we not have a system in place in all vehicles that will track your speed and issue points and a fine every time the law is broken?

After all, the law is the law and we drivers are not above it.

In a matter of months after this system was introduced , 99% of drivers will be banned.

Im not sure if the economy would collapse.

Im not sure if their would be a vote of no confidence in the government.

It would bring the whole 'speed kills' issue to a head though and perhaps would help us get some common sense policing on roads when the new conservative government took over.

Personally i would like to see an advisory national speed limit in place, say 90mph on m-ways (excluding roadworks obviously). The offence of speeding on a m-way would no longer exist and all speed detection equipment would be banned (excluding road works and police in-car monitoring equipment). I believe the effects on road safety would be positive as police would not have the cushy job of pointing guns at those travelling at speed safely anymore. Instead they would have to concentate efforts on reducing dangerous driving and actually do something about tailgating, dangerous manoeuvers, drunk/drug driving, excess speed in poor weather conditions etc etc.

 

Comments welcome! Cheers.

Agree 100% :) Also saw a policeman with gun on the M6 today :rolleyes:

I've often heard it said that with the 70 mph limit in place many people still drive at 80-90mph. If the limit was lifted or removed then people would be happy to drive at 100-110mph (and zed drivers would be blasting along at 140+!)

 

Obviously, the faster you are going the more the potential danger.

 

I certainly don't agree with any kind of de-restriction on the motorways - at least not until they stop ignorant tossers who can't drive from using them!

In reallity they dont want to stop people speeding, driving, drinking or smoking because the truth of the matter is that our economy is built on the back of it and thats all on top of the third of your wages that is taken before you even see it.

:(

Paul

At the end of the day, if the car you are travelling in has an accident then the likelihood of you being injured, and the extent of those injuries increases in proportion to the speed you are travelling at. It is my personal belief that "speed" does not kill. For the gov. or anyone else to say that if you speed , you will kill is toss. If that were the case, after many years of driving supersports bikes and fast cars as they were designed to be driven I would be a mass murderer.

 

The fact is I am not, I use the power of my vehicle in a responsible way, in a place which I judge reduces the risk of an accident and with an awareness of not only my vehicle and its capabilities, but of those around me and their limitations.

 

The whole attitude for me is displayed in the latest bike safety advert on TV. The one with the guy riding along, and he crashes into an invisible car. The message? The guy in the car wont see you, so look out for him!! Incredulous, there is a guy who is driving a ton of metal, who we (the goverment) admit is not paying attention, so be a bit more careful Mr Biker. Tosspots.

 

Everyone involved in an accident should be charged with dangerous driving, and have to prove their innocence, because while people sit in their air bagged, side impact protected, steel safety shelled car with protected no-claims, they percieve no risk to themselves. Thats why a guy who wouldnt say boo to you in a pub becomes a monster behind the wheel, the guy thinks he is invincible. Maybe the other option is to fit a six inch steel spike in the centre of every steering wheel, I think that would reduce road accidents

 

Everyone involved in an accident should be charged with dangerous driving, and have to prove their innocence, because while people sit in their air bagged, side impact protected, steel safety shelled car with protected no-claims, they percieve no risk to themselves. Thats why a guy who wouldnt say boo to you in a pub becomes a monster behind the wheel, the guy thinks he is invincible. Maybe the other option is to fit a six inch steel spike in the centre of every steering wheel, I think that would reduce road accidents

 

 

Imagine you are traveling at 40mph on a 40 road and you see a car pull up at a juction wanting to turn the way you are traveling. They stop and when you get closer they pull out and you hit the back of them. By your reckoning you should be done for dangours driving becuase you are guilty. You cant prove your inocents as the other person in the car said you where speeding. Is that right? NO!

 

Also people are forgetting the meaning of the word accident. Sometimes things just doing go as they are meant to and through no fault of any person an accident could happen

Yeah FFS what is wrong with this country, people always have to blame somebody?!! - usually the motorist :mad:. Every time a kid is hit by a car or similar accident, the PC/antimotorist/whatever brigade want to string the car driver up :confused::xxx:

 

Clearly the kid not looking and stepping out into the road unexpectedly had nothing to do with it... :rolleyes:

 

Dont get me wrong - I'm the first to critisize bad driving, but thats the "crime" that should be punished - BAD DRIVING, not just "speeding". Reminds me of the email viral with the US News presenter asking the womens rights lefty if she was a prostitute as she was "equipped to be one"...

 

Speed doesnt kill, pulling out on people does, overtaking round blind corners does, driving inappropriately for the conditions does, inattentiveness does. The campaign by the government "Speed Kills" is nothing more than propaganda to drum up acceptance for their money making schemes.

 

lol

 

Pete

i got speeeding on the M4 at 97mph in the rain. I was told that i was driving recklessly given the weather condition. I apologised and admited my fault at which point the officer said that had i been doing 95 he would have let me off the hook but he cant justify letting me of at 97 because he has to answer to his boss! I got £190 fine and 5 points on my licence.

 

a year late i was caught driving 80mph in a 40mph zone! the zone was actually a dual carriageway and no reason for there to be such a restriction. Anyway, the officer pulled me over and started shouting at me for being a reckless drivier. I stood my ground and told him to shut up and do his job instead of lecturing me. He let me off with a caution.

 

there is no real point apart from the fact that there is no consistency in the system. Good poeple (like a guy on the forum who phoned the police to inform them of a mishap on the motorway and then got 3 points for being honest) get screwed over all the time.

 

i dont think there is any real law it all about how the officer feels on the day!

I've often heard it said that with the 70 mph limit in place many people still drive at 80-90mph. If the limit was lifted or removed then people would be happy to drive at 100-110mph (and zed drivers would be blasting along at 140+!)

 

Obviously, the faster you are going the more the potential danger.

 

I certainly don't agree with any kind of de-restriction on the motorways - at least not until they stop ignorant tossers who can't drive from using them!

 

I think what you're saying is you personally wouldnt mind getting prosicuted for doing 80-90mph although driving safely at the time you were caught, as is the present police policy.

If the limit was lifted or removed then some people would be happy to drive at 100-110mph i agree, but they would have to make damn sure they were doing it safely, weather permitting and not at a busy time or they would get nicked for overtaking without due consideration for other road users. As for 140+, hmmm pushing your luck but it would not be an offence on a totally empty m-way, unless your vehicle was defective in someway.

Ignorant tossers will never be stopped from using m-ways, but with de-restriction the police would catch alot more of them as they would have to concentrate on bad driving alone.

I just believe our draconian 70mph law should be reviewed.

There are far too many safe drivers falling foul of it.

You are all right.

 

I drive a V6 Espace every day and overtaking a car going at 50mph I can probably get it up to 75mph and spend 250-400 yards in the oncoming carriageway. Driving the Zed, I can get up to 80mph very quickly and spend less time in the oncoming carriageway, thereby reducing danger.

 

But is 80mph safe? Well, from experience I can tell you thay 80mph in the Zed is far safer and more controllable than 55mph in the Espace.

 

Its horses for courses I suppose. I for one stick vehemently to 30mph and 40mph zones regardless of what I`m driving but on major (private) roads, have been up to 110mph and over without causing danger to a single soul including myself.

 

The issue is a very difficult one to manage and control with fairness to all involved. Just because you stick to speed limits does not mean you are a safe driver. A driver sticking to a 30mph speed limit while checking their hair in the rear view mirror has to be a greater threat than an alert, aware driver travelling at 80mph in a posted 60mph zone surely.

 

It is all too arbitrary. Individualism is wiped out along with individual circumstance and mitigation. Does anyone here know the amount of times the word "comrade" was mentioned at the latest Labour party meeting? ;)

IMO everyone should stick to the 30mph limit or perhaps lower in towns/villages where you've got parked cars etc. Indeed most of us probably do, it's these young tossers who don't give a sh!t about anyone or anything who don't & so the rest of us have to suffer the necessary deterrent!

IMO, in the time of the internet, the power of the people etc - I see no reason why decision on speed limits etc cannot be brought to light on the net. You should be able to make your point about a speed limit on a certain road, and given enough complaints about the same road a 'hearing' would be brought into play and local people can then decide the speed limit they want, set for 5 years (no further hearings upon complaints).

 

Motorways need a change, the overtaking lanes (all but the left one?) should be increased to 'upto' 90mph for overtaking only. Use of the left hand lane should be left at 70mph for safety reasons (or variable depending on time of day).

 

Perhaps there should also be a class system whereby cars are classed upon power/ncap rating/age whereby you are permitted to drive faster on wide motorways.

 

There's loads that can be done, and now that they are generating so much money out of us they cannot say that it would cost 'too much' to impliment.

I've read every reply so far on this thread, and you're all

right, but as we all know...70mph is too slow on a m'way

(in most situations anyway), but seeing as the govt get

so much revenue from speeding fines & the like, they're

never gonna raise the limit, just keep on persicuting the

motorist. It's a source of money for the govt that will

never stop coming in, and as more & more people take to

the road, it will just increase.

They class driving as a necessity(?), bit like drink/cigarettes,

it's something people need/have to do, so they'll keep on

putting up fuel prices, fines etc... Because the majority of

us have no choice but to accept the increases in costs.

Every time there is a budget, it's Cigarettes/Beer/Petrol/Tax

that go up, because they know we have no choice.

Imagine if they legalized Heroin! How much tax would they

make on that?! Or Prostitution!

At the end of the day, the law is the law and we have to

abide by it.....Period!

But...on the other hand, i can't see a problem with hitting

the rev limiter on an empty m'way @ 2am! ;)

At the end of the day, the law is the law and we have to

abide by it.....Period!

 

We don`t have to, if all motorists got together and did something like the fuel strike something would give. Unfortunately we are to soft and allow ourselves to be dictated to my muppets and puppets and as long as we sit on our arses and do nothing it will continue.

We don`t have to, if all motorists got together and did something like the fuel strike something would give. Unfortunately we are to soft and allow ourselves to be dictated to my muppets and puppets and as long as we sit on our arses and do nothing it will continue.

 

 

Yup, good in theory, but not with the present load of slimy, sloped shouldered incompetents! There have been a couple of occasions now, where hundreds of thousands of people (up to 2,000,000!!!) have bothered to get off their arses, and how much notice was taken?

 

MP:_"Protest? What protest? Tony never said anything about it, and He would know because He is our God and omnicient" :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :xxx: :mac1: :slap:

http://www.safespeed.org.uk

http://www.safespeed.org.uk

 

So Meeester Mainfella, you are tellink us you haf joined zee ess ess!!?!? Zees iz ver gut, you vill soon be able to be joining zee Nazi...I mean zee Britisher Government! :rofl:

I also think the m'way limit is too low. I like the idea of the variable limit on the M25, which reduces according to traffic conditions, but think that a similar thing should be adopted whereby the limit increases (say to 100mph) when clear and safe.

 

If the limit were 100mph on a clear dry day on an empty m'way I don't think many people would exceed it by too much as they would just drive at a speed they feel comfortable. (Too many think that as people exceed m'way limits by 20mph and drive at 90, then they would still exceed 100mph by the same margin. This is not true as those that do 90 feel safe/comfortable at 90 and would probably remain driving at that sort of speed. - see ABD 'site)

 

What needs to be addressed is bad lane dicipline. People need to be educated more to "keep left" unless overtaking, then they would need to be aware that if the limit was raised to 100, they must get out of the way and not hog lanes 2, 3 or 4 if unecessary. It works in Germany FFS :rolleyes:

 

Also we now have one of the lowest m'way limits in Europe. Italy have now increased theirs to 160km/h (100mph) and their m'ways are only 2 lanes. Also other EC countries enforce lower limits in bad weather, much safer IMO. I drove in Italy the other year and the standard was much better than here, people are much more aware of the speed of others and don't remain in the overtaking lane when the nearside lane is clear.

 

Richard :)

Whilst on the subject.....

 

I was driving through Wiltshire on fast A roads last year on a dry day with no traffic around at around 80mph in a 60 (national) limit. Following me (not too closely, of course :tongue: ) was a red Accord type R. As I left a roundabout I though i'd lose the fekker and booted it - bye bye accord :cool:

 

I kept at 80 for a mile then the Accord appeared (eventually) in my rear view mirror and flashed some blue lights, followed by a siren :rolleyes: When they pulled me over, the copper gave me a ticket for a dirty numberplate.......(just a £30 fixed penalty, no points :cool: ). He did say I had been driving at over 80 but considered "I was driving safely in good conditions in a car more than equipped to handle the speed......"

 

Sensible plod :bow:

 

Richard :cool:

I kept at 80 for a mile then the Accord appeared (eventually) in my rear view mirror and flashed some blue lights, followed by a siren :rolleyes: When they pulled me over, the copper gave me a ticket for a dirty numberplate.......(just a £30 fixed penalty, no points :cool: ). He did say I had been driving at over 80 but considered "I was driving safely in good conditions in a car more than equipped to handle the speed......"

 

Sensible plod :bow:

 

Richard :cool:

 

 

SENSIBLE PLOD!!!????!?!? Ok, so you didn't get a ticket for 'speeding', but the petty little feckers still nicked you for the dirty number plate of all things!!! :confused: Think of all the admin required to process that ticket, the time spent scooting around civil servants desks, the filing, the banking, the reconciliation of the 'fines' account, post, paper and print, the coppers time filling in their own reports and the filing and storage at the local nick. Was that really easier than spitting on the plate and wiping it with a sodding TISSUE!!?!? Jeeeeeeezus, the FILTH in this country!! :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :xxx: (pun intended! :p )

LMFAO! nice! Sensible for not doing him for speeding tho innit Rich.

LMFAO! nice! Sensible for not doing him for speeding tho innit Rich.

 

I did try to get out of the numberplate thing by cleaning it but the copper said "too late, I've got you on video........."

 

Easier to pay £30 than get a bigger fine for speeding and 3points..... :mac1:

 

I referred to "sensible" as being what he said about driving a car more than capable......

 

But you're right about the "petty filth :rofl: " Xbiker ;)

 

Richard :D

spent many years driving as part of my job approx 1500 miles per week but at the age of 17/18 was that really a good idea? I have now been driving 20 years and if i was an employee I am not sure if I would be happy putting a novice driver behind the wheel to drive this kind of mileage at that age. I ended up bouncing down the armco of the M1 after too many hours and not enough sleep but just trying to do my job!

Now I have total respect for most other drivers, If they choose to move into "my breaking distance" then I back off and and set a new gap If they want to shunt my ass, then I move over, but the minute I see a space that i am comfortable with I will accelerate to a speed that I am comfortable with (about 140) until I come across another car (about 5 seconds) then it all starts again. Last time I saw an accident I was at the back and waiting for it to happen..........and it did......A 5 car pile up, I was the six but not invloved as I had enough breaking distance to slow down, indicate and move arround the obstruction of tossers that can't read the road.

ARRRRRRRRRGH

Sorry to go on but I would love to be able to go out early on a sunday morning and see what my Z can really do without being sat in the back of a skoda and read my rights by some patronising (spelling?) police man .........or women and going on about road safety.

I'm off for a chillout pill

ADY

I turned into a side road where a copper was waiting in my 200SX - I put a little more acceleration on than I shudda (silly I no!) and he turned round and followed me and pulled me over - it was about half midnight saturday but I'd done nowt wrong - he just said I'd gone round the corner a little fastr than he'd expect and I had my fogs on (knee toggled them on by accidient due to passengers in the rear)...he said he appreciated I had a loud exhaust.

 

so he let me go saying better luck next time.

(knee toggled them on by accidient due to passengers in the rear)

 

Haha! Yeah right!! :D :nono: :D

I turned into a side road where a copper was waiting in my 200SX ...

 

 

What was a copper doing in your 200sx? Honestly, one law for them one for us....