RE: Damon Hill against 80MPH speed limit
Discussion
http://news.sky.com/story/955334/damon-hill-speaks...
I see his point, valid argument however I comfortably drove between 80-100(depending on traffic) all the way to GWFOS and back and usually try to on any motorway journey. My response to what Hill said is that you need to take another test to prove that you're competent enough to drive at or over the 70mph speed limit. Too many times do you see people going up to 75 and hitting the brakes and slowing down and then going back up, hitting the brakes and then slowing down again, they have no control in their feet!
I see his point, valid argument however I comfortably drove between 80-100(depending on traffic) all the way to GWFOS and back and usually try to on any motorway journey. My response to what Hill said is that you need to take another test to prove that you're competent enough to drive at or over the 70mph speed limit. Too many times do you see people going up to 75 and hitting the brakes and slowing down and then going back up, hitting the brakes and then slowing down again, they have no control in their feet!
...Cheers Damon 
Driving faster than 55mph isn't safe, says Formula One champion Damon Hill
Grand Prix driver says he finds driving at 70mph 'too stressful'
He made a career out of racing at speeds of up to 200mph.
But now former Formula One champion Damon Hill is an advocate of slower driving - claiming the motorway speed limit should be cut to 55mph.
Mr Hill, who won 22 Grand Prix and a Formula One world championship, said he hardly ever drives about 70mph because it is 'too stressful'.
Speaking out about the Government’s plan to raise the motorway speed limit from 70mph to 80mph, he said: ‘Most people aren’t safe to drive over 55. Honestly, the speed limit going up to 80mph makes me shudder.
‘Because people drive too fast on the motorway. Mostly they drive too fast, too close to the car in front, and they think they know what they’re doing. And they don’t.’
Mr Hill told the Radio Times he had experienced some narrow escapes in the past.
He said: ‘I used to drive like that and I had a few near misses. My kids have learnt to drive and they’re out on the roads and it’s dangerous.
‘You don’t want to spoil people’s fun. It’s a fantastic day when you get your driving licence, but it is also for some people the worst day of their life. I escaped by the skin of my teeth when I was younger because I was a good driver, but that didn’t make it OK.’
And he said driving at 200mph on a racetrack did not compare to driving at high speeds on a motorway.
'The concentration level you are at in a race situation, you’re in a totally different state of mind,’ he said.
'What happens when people drive on the roads is that they don’t concentrate, they just think about something else.
'So they’re relying on their unconscious to respond to things. That’s why it’s better to drive at a sensible pace.'
Driving faster than 55mph isn't safe, says Formula One champion Damon Hill
Grand Prix driver says he finds driving at 70mph 'too stressful'
He made a career out of racing at speeds of up to 200mph.
But now former Formula One champion Damon Hill is an advocate of slower driving - claiming the motorway speed limit should be cut to 55mph.
Mr Hill, who won 22 Grand Prix and a Formula One world championship, said he hardly ever drives about 70mph because it is 'too stressful'.
Speaking out about the Government’s plan to raise the motorway speed limit from 70mph to 80mph, he said: ‘Most people aren’t safe to drive over 55. Honestly, the speed limit going up to 80mph makes me shudder.
‘Because people drive too fast on the motorway. Mostly they drive too fast, too close to the car in front, and they think they know what they’re doing. And they don’t.’
Mr Hill told the Radio Times he had experienced some narrow escapes in the past.
He said: ‘I used to drive like that and I had a few near misses. My kids have learnt to drive and they’re out on the roads and it’s dangerous.
‘You don’t want to spoil people’s fun. It’s a fantastic day when you get your driving licence, but it is also for some people the worst day of their life. I escaped by the skin of my teeth when I was younger because I was a good driver, but that didn’t make it OK.’
And he said driving at 200mph on a racetrack did not compare to driving at high speeds on a motorway.
'The concentration level you are at in a race situation, you’re in a totally different state of mind,’ he said.
'What happens when people drive on the roads is that they don’t concentrate, they just think about something else.
'So they’re relying on their unconscious to respond to things. That’s why it’s better to drive at a sensible pace.'
Another test is a stupid idea. If you can't drive safely at 80, you can't drive safely at 70. The only difference I can tell between the speeds is a higher number on the dashboard.
I see Hills point, but the point he seems to be making is drivers are s
t 
Maybe these drivers should be trained to a competant level before they are let out on the roads?
I see Hills point, but the point he seems to be making is drivers are s
t Maybe these drivers should be trained to a competant level before they are let out on the roads?No, he doesn't. He said that most people aren't safe over 55mph and he's right. He's not calling for a lower limit, he's calling for the 80mph limit to be revised.
He's got a point. Pistonheads is not a good cross section of drivers as most on here are enthusiasts and take their driving seriously enough to not mindlessly tailgate all the time at 80 and crash at the first sign of a light breeze. However in doing 30k a year I have learned that the majority haven't got a clue what they're doing and more importantly really don't care about anybody else at all so make brainless mistakes and make stupid decisions all the time. High speeds just make the inevitable messier.
He's got a point. Pistonheads is not a good cross section of drivers as most on here are enthusiasts and take their driving seriously enough to not mindlessly tailgate all the time at 80 and crash at the first sign of a light breeze. However in doing 30k a year I have learned that the majority haven't got a clue what they're doing and more importantly really don't care about anybody else at all so make brainless mistakes and make stupid decisions all the time. High speeds just make the inevitable messier.
To be fair, looking at the standards of driving on our motorways, I'd find it hard to deny the comment "most people aren't safe to drive at over 55mph". The question is whether or not that's reason not to raise the limit to 80. I don't think anyone would be blinkered enough to claim that raising motorway speeds wont result in more fatal accidents (or that reducing them wouldn't result in less); the question is "how many" and whether it's worth the benefits.
Ultimately we live in a capitalist society - even "life" has a monetary value.
Ultimately we live in a capitalist society - even "life" has a monetary value.
StottyZr said:
I see Hills point, but the point he seems to be making is drivers are st Maybe these drivers should be trained to a competant level before they are let out on the roads?
Agreed.t Maybe these drivers should be trained to a competant level before they are let out on the roads?The current test is too easy and doesn't include M Ways & frequently any roads over 40mph.
Perhaps there should be another (high speed) one after one year of driving.
Personally, I'd like to see a change to the licence categories like they did with trailers in the 90s, so that new drivers passing their tests aren't allowed to use the motorway until they've taken a second, more comprehensive, test. Whether you impose a minimum time between passing your first test and taking the extended one, I don't know.
I shall let Sammy Hagar express my thoughts on this proposal...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvV3nn_de2k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvV3nn_de2k
I have to say he's not wrong in all honesty. I do not trust the majority of road users to travel over 55mph.
I think a 55mph limit, with 90mph exception for anyone displaying a PH sticker (subject to conditions obviously) would be great.
That 90mph should be extended to decent A roads too.
I think a 55mph limit, with 90mph exception for anyone displaying a PH sticker (subject to conditions obviously) would be great.
That 90mph should be extended to decent A roads too.
Kozy said:
I think a 55mph limit, with 90mph exception for anyone displaying a PH sticker (subject to conditions obviously) would be great.
Would you really be happy with having a 35mph closing speed on the motorway with the awareness of their surroundings that the average driver has when changing lanes? Tests won't really help, maybe they'll get a few people off the road, but it won't make enough difference to justify the cost of implementation.
The problem is most people are either too stupid, too disinterested, or a potent combination of the two to be safe in charge of a car (obviously PH is not a representative cross section of the driving public...)
This contrasts with the fact that it's simply expected that almost everyone will have a car and drive, so what can really be done?
The fact there are so few accidents as it is is pretty miraculous.
The problem is most people are either too stupid, too disinterested, or a potent combination of the two to be safe in charge of a car (obviously PH is not a representative cross section of the driving public...)
This contrasts with the fact that it's simply expected that almost everyone will have a car and drive, so what can really be done?
The fact there are so few accidents as it is is pretty miraculous.
Works relatively well for Germany, even with their antiquated Autobahns and challenging terrain in parts.
Not a bad thing when people realise their survival hinges on them thinking for themselves a wee little bit. That, and German drivers tend to take a little more heed of posted speed limits because they're indicative of a specific situation rather than a blanket limit that some technocrat dreamt up from behind his/her desk.
Putting people in 5 star NCAP boxes that offer almost complete isolation from their surroundings and the road, then expecting them to drive slower than they used to do in their 1.3 Marinas was always going to end badly, too.
As they say - make thing fool-proof and all you do is create a better idiot.
Not a bad thing when people realise their survival hinges on them thinking for themselves a wee little bit. That, and German drivers tend to take a little more heed of posted speed limits because they're indicative of a specific situation rather than a blanket limit that some technocrat dreamt up from behind his/her desk.
Putting people in 5 star NCAP boxes that offer almost complete isolation from their surroundings and the road, then expecting them to drive slower than they used to do in their 1.3 Marinas was always going to end badly, too.
As they say - make thing fool-proof and all you do is create a better idiot.
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