What stops you excessively speeding?
Poll: What stops you excessively speeding?
Total Members Polled: 869
Discussion
plenty said:
Fair point. As mentioned in my original post, I'm talking about prolonged stretches (hours) on empty motorways in a modern car with excellent NVH.
It's not really a matter of being tired. Don't know about you, but I find it very easy to sleep as a passenger on cars, aeroplanes and buses, even if not tired and I start the journey wide awake. Unfortunately this also applies as a driver if I don't have much to do while driving, i.e. 70 mph on an empty motorway in a modern car. Something to do with the hypnotic and repetitive movement I suppose.
Fortunately in the UK the motorways are rarely empty, and journeys seldom very long. Nonetheless wherever possible I'll usually plan a route via the back roads for a less boring and sleep-inducing drive, and I'll avoid French autoroutes at all costs. And if I do ever find myself feeling starting to feel drowsy after a boring couple of hours on the motorway, I'll pull off for a catnap which sorts me out for the next couple of hours.
Agree re: the napping thing. I remember finishing a long night shift once and setting off on my 20 minute drive home. After 5 minutes I pulled into the services for a sleep, when I told my colleagues they laughed at me, but I'm convinced I would have fallen asleep at the wheel had I continued. It's not really a matter of being tired. Don't know about you, but I find it very easy to sleep as a passenger on cars, aeroplanes and buses, even if not tired and I start the journey wide awake. Unfortunately this also applies as a driver if I don't have much to do while driving, i.e. 70 mph on an empty motorway in a modern car. Something to do with the hypnotic and repetitive movement I suppose.
Fortunately in the UK the motorways are rarely empty, and journeys seldom very long. Nonetheless wherever possible I'll usually plan a route via the back roads for a less boring and sleep-inducing drive, and I'll avoid French autoroutes at all costs. And if I do ever find myself feeling starting to feel drowsy after a boring couple of hours on the motorway, I'll pull off for a catnap which sorts me out for the next couple of hours.
Perhaps the way forward is to do motorway journeys in an Austin Metro with the soundproofing removed
V8Ford said:
Agree re: the napping thing. I remember finishing a long night shift once and setting off on my 20 minute drive home. After 5 minutes I pulled into the services for a sleep, when I told my colleagues they laughed at me, but I'm convinced I would have fallen asleep at the wheel had I continued.
Perhaps the way forward is to do motorway journeys in an Austin Metro with the soundproofing removed
Austin Metros have (had?) soundproofing?Perhaps the way forward is to do motorway journeys in an Austin Metro with the soundproofing removed
Really?
Devil2575 said:
SK425 said:
Devil2575 said:
Maybe it's because they don't wish to overtake? Maybe they're in no hurry?
Whatever their reasons, they're contributing to the problem - every time someone declines an overtaking opportunity, they make the queue longer than it would otherwise have been for the next person. I don't know whether it's any worse than it ever was, but I do think something's wrong if overtaking when you catch a slower vehicle is seen as a sign of being in a hurry (although I accept that there are plenty of people who manage to make overtaking look like a frantic and desperate and hurried affair).Pan Pan said:
Devil2575 said:
SK425 said:
Devil2575 said:
Maybe it's because they don't wish to overtake? Maybe they're in no hurry?
Whatever their reasons, they're contributing to the problem - every time someone declines an overtaking opportunity, they make the queue longer than it would otherwise have been for the next person. I don't know whether it's any worse than it ever was, but I do think something's wrong if overtaking when you catch a slower vehicle is seen as a sign of being in a hurry (although I accept that there are plenty of people who manage to make overtaking look like a frantic and desperate and hurried affair).If you have sight of the road for any distance it is entirely possible to overtake a dozen vehicles in one go (the responsive auto box and instant go of the supercharger means instant response), but always have a backup plan just in case. Committing to a manoeuvre with only one option is very risky.
When others pulled stunts like overtaking on blind bends to stay ahead I always backed off and slowed down to a steady speed. Don't see the point of putting lives at risk just for jollies
When you overtake correctly you can make really quick and safe progress, but the numpties don't particularly like it, had flashing of lights, beeping horns ect on perfectly safe overtakes, even had drivers trying to keep up with me. Waste of their fuel is all that achieved!
Some might say this is anti-social driving but as long as it is safe, is good fun and satisfying. I can see how if you haven't experienced a fast, safe car how others might think it was dangerous. Trouble is within seconds you are above the speed limit and very easy to excessively speed (in the eyes of others). Got rid of the car to preserve my clean licence in the end, although I really miss it!
"If you have sight of the road for any distance it is entirely possible to overtake a dozen vehicles in one go (the responsive auto box and instant go of the supercharger means instant response), but always have a backup plan just in case. Committing to a manoeuvre with only one option is very risky."
I am surprised that you can do that safely. Where do you drive?
It's not about performance, because you cannot afford too high a closing speed when any of the cars in the line could pull out in front of you. How can you have an adequate backup plan for when there is a slower vehicle coming out in front of you, no gaps to pull into, and a long way back to retreat to the back of the queue? If there are good gaps through the queue then fine, but normally there aren't.
I would look for emptier roads to use the performance of the car, and show restraint where there is so much traffic.
I am surprised that you can do that safely. Where do you drive?
It's not about performance, because you cannot afford too high a closing speed when any of the cars in the line could pull out in front of you. How can you have an adequate backup plan for when there is a slower vehicle coming out in front of you, no gaps to pull into, and a long way back to retreat to the back of the queue? If there are good gaps through the queue then fine, but normally there aren't.
I would look for emptier roads to use the performance of the car, and show restraint where there is so much traffic.
over 750 responses to a poll - thats a PH record isn't it?
we had an 'incident' christmas day. FIL had a suspected stroke in cambridge - we were in Romford. We arrived at the hospital in Cambridge before the air ambulance had returned with him.
Thankfully it was a seizure, so no lasting damage. took a day for the speech to return which was quite scary.
But just shows you what empty roads and the right motivation can do to journey times.
we had an 'incident' christmas day. FIL had a suspected stroke in cambridge - we were in Romford. We arrived at the hospital in Cambridge before the air ambulance had returned with him.
Thankfully it was a seizure, so no lasting damage. took a day for the speech to return which was quite scary.
But just shows you what empty roads and the right motivation can do to journey times.
Pixelpeep7r said:
i wondered what it is that actually makes people not speed excessively
Poor driving by the general populous. M25 last night, 4 lane section, lanes 1&2 being empty. With overtaking taking place in lane 4, about 0.5mph quicker than lane 3, really f
king annoying.General increase in small engined cars clogging the fast lanes in cars that cannot accelerate or hold decent speed, don't move over when there's the opportunity to do so, in the times I need or want to make decent progress.
There are times when I'm happy to kick back in the slow lanes, but the general standard of driving for many isn't getting any better, I know I'm a moany old git, but use you mirrors and indicators ffs!
bigdom said:
Poor driving by the general populous. M25 last night, 4 lane section, lanes 1&2 being empty. With overtaking taking place in lane 4, about 0.5mph quicker than lane 3, really fking annoying.
General increase in small engined cars clogging the fast lanes in cars that cannot accelerate or hold decent speed, don't move over when there's the opportunity to do so, in the times I need or want to make decent progress.
There are times when I'm happy to kick back in the slow lanes, but the general standard of driving for many isn't getting any better, I know I'm a moany old git, but use you mirrors and indicators ffs!
undertake. king annoying.General increase in small engined cars clogging the fast lanes in cars that cannot accelerate or hold decent speed, don't move over when there's the opportunity to do so, in the times I need or want to make decent progress.
There are times when I'm happy to kick back in the slow lanes, but the general standard of driving for many isn't getting any better, I know I'm a moany old git, but use you mirrors and indicators ffs!
Many years back a young kiddie ran out from behind the back of a bus, nothing I could do to avoid my vehicle hitting the child. Like slow motion I saw the impact arriving, swerved to the nearside whilst braking hard of course. The off side of the vehicle, a transit van, hit the child and she flew into the air coming down in the middle of the road. For a few moments I froze, then got out and approached this little rag doll in the middle of the road, blood coming from her head.
Emergency services arrived and carried out their work. Police apparently interviewed a number of witnesses who were standing at a bus stop my side of the road. They confirmed I was driving at likely less than 30mph in a 30mph limit and nothing could have been done to avoid the accident.
It was later confirmed the child had a fractured skull, bruising and abrasions, if my speed had been a little higher it is likely the child would have been killed.
I used to love speed as much as most people, but prefer to practice that on track days, least I did I have since packed it in. Sorry if I'm preaching but there it is.
Emergency services arrived and carried out their work. Police apparently interviewed a number of witnesses who were standing at a bus stop my side of the road. They confirmed I was driving at likely less than 30mph in a 30mph limit and nothing could have been done to avoid the accident.
It was later confirmed the child had a fractured skull, bruising and abrasions, if my speed had been a little higher it is likely the child would have been killed.
I used to love speed as much as most people, but prefer to practice that on track days, least I did I have since packed it in. Sorry if I'm preaching but there it is.
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