RE: Damon Hill against 80MPH speed limit

[martin84]

bigdog3 said:

Why do you keep misinterpreting comments and jumping to the wrong conclusion? Is it on purpose just to be irritating? My comment was broad, not specific to motorway speed limits.

In terms of general motoring policy the UK Government has treated the motoring public (which make up the vast majority of working adults) with contempt for decades and yet they seem to get away with it.

Please pay attention, be less offensive and make sense dear boy ...

I'm not trying to be offensive and I feel I'm making perfect sense. The law does not need to be changed, people on this thread have freely admitted raising the speed limit will actually make no difference so you agree with me on the practical point. Your argument is a philosophical one about whether we should recognise the behaviour of the majority with largely ceremonious and pointless changes to the law, we could argue until cows come home on that.

All I'm saying is we have no need to change the law, it will not make a difference to anybodies lives. If anything it'll result in more rigid enforcement, a trade off by placing more 20mph zones in towns where we don't need them and the Safety Camera Partnerships would have to do something to make up lost profit. I just worry it's a typical Government smokescreen to push through something we don't like.

[deeps]

martin84 said:

... a trade off by placing more 20mph zones in towns where we don't need them

(Finished the washing up). That's happening anyway, Bath and NE Somerset are the latest to introduce the idiocy. You're desperate for material and grasping at straws it appears.

martin84 said:

and the Safety Camera Partnerships would have to do something to make up lost profit.

Haha, good one!! The potential revenue for speed camera partnerships is colossal regardless of the motorway speed limit - more grasping at straws.

martin84 said:

I just worry it's a typical Government smokescreen to push through something we don't like.

As if they need a smoke screen?


I wonder what the result of a referendum on raising the limit to 80 would be? About 80% in favour I would guess.

[bigdog3]

deeps said:

I wonder what the result of a referendum on raising the limit to 80 would be? About 80% in favour I would guess.

80mph limit is the right move but I suspect a referendum could go the wrong way and maintain 70mph, or even reduce it to 55mph. With our soft caring culture and brainwashing of the public across so many issues, today's Britain has no guts for progress.

Can you imagine an Italian, Spanish, South American or even German ex-World Champion advocating low speed limits? Britain and Damon Hill are definitely special ...

[TheHeretic]

Did Damon recommend a 55mph change to the limit?

[Limpet]

I hit 90 on the way into work this morning a couple of times. I am alive and well. As are the other people who were using the road at the same time. On Wednesday, the weather was foul and the traffic heavier. I don't think I went much over 60, even though I could have done on a few occasions. But my judgement told me it wasn't safe to do so.

Wait a minute, what was that? Judgement? Drivers aren't supposed to exercise that any more, are they? They are supposed to follow rigid rules, to the letter, then bleat that it was someone else's fault when it all goes wrong, because they were driving within the speed limit, and that's all that matters.

I reckon if they upped the limit to 100 mph, and started a policy of executing people for inappropriate use of the overtaking lanes, driving too close to the vehicle in front, driving with fog lights on in rain and dazzling anyone behind them (lots of those recently), and driving without paying attention to the road, the accident rate would fall. Oh, and while they are at it, perhaps they could start maintaining the drainage systems on the motorways so they don't end up with 2" of standing water on the carriageway after about 5 minutes of moderate rainfall. :-)

Nobody who is serious about road safety would talk about speed limits. They aren't even the tip of the iceberg.

[lombardo8]

Shock! Horror!

Ex-policeman with 20 years service admits to breaking speed limit in national newspaper!!!



''But when I'm in a national speed limit (60mph) I never look at my speedo - I just ride the road as I see it. So if it is safe to do 100mph, that's what I'll do'' - Mark Edwards

MCN - Motorcycle News - Wednesday June 27 edition

[bigdog3]

TheHeretic said:

Did Damon recommend a 55mph change to the limit?

Motorists should be stopped from driving above 55mph says Formula One ace Damon Hill

“I am a big fan of the 55mph speed limit,” he told an interview with the Radio Times, referring to the law in some parts of America.

“Most people aren’t safe to drive over 55.”

ref: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/9370309/Motori...

[TheHeretic]

bigdog3 said:

Motorists should be stopped from driving above 55mph says Formula One ace Damon Hill

“I am a big fan of the 55mph speed limit,” he told an interview with the Radio Times, referring to the law in some parts of America.

“Most people aren’t safe to drive over 55.”

ref: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/9370309/Motori...

Context, dear fellow, I am a big fan of the 55mph limit as most people aren't safe..." At no point does he say the UK speed limit should be dropped to 55mph. More sensationalist headlines, and so many of you just eat it up. Read the articles, and he is talking about the 70mph limit being raised to 80. He goes on to say people can barely drive well at 55.

[bigdog3]

TheHeretic said:

Context, dear fellow, I am a big fan of the 55mph limit as most people aren't safe..." At no point does he say the UK speed limit should be dropped to 55mph. More sensationalist headlines, and so many of you just eat it up. Read the articles, and he is talking about the 70mph limit being raised to 80. He goes on to say people can barely drive well at 55.

“I am a big fan of the 55mph speed limit” seems very close to a recommendation to me ...

[TheHeretic]

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-07-03/damon-hi...

The original interview. He says he is a fan of the 55 limit because people aren't safe to drive 55. To me that reads that people are crap at 55 never mind at 80mph, rather than saying the speed limit should be 55mph. Of course even the radio times headline is exactly that, a headline. At no point does he say that the speed limit should be dropped to 55mph. It would be impute resting if he was asked this during the coverage.

[bigdog3]

TheHeretic said:

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-07-03/damon-hi...

Thanks for the Radio Times reference, which stated:

"Former Grand Prix driver thinks the UK's speed limit should be reduced to 55mph

Former British Grand Prix driver Damon Hill has said that the speed limit on Britain's motorways should be reduced to 55mph, as he thinks most motorists aren’t capable of driving any faster than that."

So unless the article blatantly misquotes him, Damon's position is crystal clear ...

[TheHeretic]

bigdog3 said:

Thanks for the Radio Times reference, which stated:

"Former Grand Prix driver thinks the UK's speed limit should be reduced to 55mph

Former British Grand Prix driver Damon Hill has said that the speed limit on Britain's motorways should be reduced to 55mph, as he thinks most motorists aren’t capable of driving any faster than that."

So unless the article blatantly misquotes him, Damon's position is crystal clear ...

As I said, scary headlines... But at no point does he say that the limit should be dropped. I like to look at what is actually said, rather than what I'm told he said. I'm also wary of disjointed quotes that do not tell us what the question is.

[bigdog3]

Some people are "big fans of the death penalty" but would not recommend killing convicted murderers by the state ...

Damon Hill is rumoured to be seeking the post of High Profile Spokesman for Brake Charity. He will lead the charge for "Stopping the Carnage, Supporting the Victims" ...

[Limpet]

bigdog3 said:

Damon Hill is rumoured to be seeking the post of High Profile Spokesman for Brake Charity. He will lead the charge for "Stopping the Carnage, Supporting the Victims" ...

That moment when the last flicker of respect you had for someone is extinguished. Right there.

[VictorMeldrew]

Limpet said:

That moment when the last flicker of respect you had for someone is extinguished. Right there.

This.

[TheHeretic]

VictorMeldrew said:

Limpet said:

That moment when the last flicker of respect you had for someone is extinguished. Right there.

This.

You know he made that bit up, don't you?

[CBR JGWRR]

lombardo8 said:

Shock! Horror!

Ex-policeman with 20 years service admits to breaking speed limit in national newspaper!!!


''But when I'm in a national speed limit (60mph) I never look at my speedo - I just ride the road as I see it. So if it is safe to do 100mph, that's what I'll do'' - Mark Edwards

MCN - Motorcycle News - Wednesday June 27 edition

Don't we all do that?

[cjb1]

Is Damon's comment perhaps being taken out of context? The statement repeated by bigdog3 does not specifically refer to the NSL or motorways? or does it? Perhaps 55mph is suitable for some roads but sholdn't br taken generally as a limit for all roads?

bigdog3 said:

TheHeretic said:

Did Damon recommend a 55mph change to the limit?

Motorists should be stopped from driving above 55mph says Formula One ace Damon Hill

“I am a big fan of the 55mph speed limit,” he told an interview with the Radio Times, referring to the law in some parts of America.

“Most people aren’t safe to drive over 55.”

ref: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/9370309/Motori...

[VictorMeldrew]

TheHeretic said:

You know he made that bit up, don't you?

So when he says "So they’re relying on their unconscious to respond to things. That’s why it’s better to drive at a sensible pace.” he actually means they should be driving faster? I don't think so, looking at the overall tone of what he says, which even the most generous couldn't describe as pro-car. If he is genuinely seeking a position with Brake it is hard to have any respect for the man.

Oh, and there is no blanket 55mph limit in the States, hasn't been for years. He's a fan of something that doesn't even exist.

Edited by VictorMeldrew on Friday 6th July 14:28

[TheHeretic]

VictorMeldrew said:

TheHeretic said:

You know he made that bit up, don't you?

So when he says "So they’re relying on their unconscious to respond to things. That’s why it’s better to drive at a sensible pace.” he actually means they should be driving faster? I don't think so, looking at the overall tone of what he says, which even the most generous couldn't describe as pro-car. If he is genuinely seeking a position with Brake it is hard to have any respect for the man.

Oh, and there is no blanket 55mph limit in the States, hasn't been for years. He's a fan of something that doesn't even exist.

Edited by VictorMeldrew on Friday 6th July 14:28

Go back, and follow the quote, I beg you, that way you will see that your quote, of my quote, of your quote, of Limpet, is about BRAKE, not anything to do with the article.

Go on, go have a peek.