Family Emergency. How fast would you go? Be honest.

[mph1977]

PinkFatBunny said:

We've all used the line when justifying to the wife why we need a 170mph car... "it's incase of an emergency"
So far i've not needed to VMax the M4, and hopefully won't have to on public roads ....but its reassuring knowing you have something that will get you point A to point B quickly if the worse does happen.

Dunning-Kruger writ large once again ...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Krug...


aka doesn;t know what they don;t know

aka peering through the wrong pane of the johari window

[HughS47]

The best part of this thread is that what seems to be a life-or-death situation to most people, actually isn't. Even people arriving to A&E by blue light can spend an hour on a trolley before they even get seen by a doc. Even then, relatives are often not by the bed while we're putting in chest drains etc, so although I can totally understand the urge to drive flat out to get to hospital, often it doesn't change a thing. Worth getting there safely IMO, rather than join them in the bed next door in resus.

[Moonhawk]

Seems appropriate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQzQp4JBi3I

[anonymous-user]

Moonhawk said:

Seems appropriate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQzQp4JBi3I

posted before and is a yarn.

[Disastrous]

ORD said:

Not entirely true. I know for certain that I would take substantial risks with the lives of others in order to get somewhere more quickly. It is gross and seriously immoral selfishness to think 'It is important to me, so to hell with everyone else!'.

Thinking about journeys I frequently do, I expect that I coujld reasonably safely average 10-15mph faster as an average speed, but no more than that. That isn't going to make much difference in any scenario, so even those modest extra risks are probably not worth it.

I find that very sad.

I think a basic human instinct of care and protectiveness means exactly that you would absolutely risk everyone and everything else to save your own.

If it was life and death, I couldn't give a st about the Police, speed limit or anything else. The only consideration would be making sure I didn't crash myself but beyond that, all bets are off.

[ORD]

Disastrous said:

ORD said:

Not entirely true. I know for certain that I would take substantial risks with the lives of others in order to get somewhere more quickly. It is gross and seriously immoral selfishness to think 'It is important to me, so to hell with everyone else!'.

Thinking about journeys I frequently do, I expect that I coujld reasonably safely average 10-15mph faster as an average speed, but no more than that. That isn't going to make much difference in any scenario, so even those modest extra risks are probably not worth it.

I find that very sad.

I think a basic human instinct of care and protectiveness means exactly that you would absolutely risk everyone and everything else to save your own.

If it was life and death, I couldn't give a st about the Police, speed limit or anything else. The only consideration would be making sure I didn't crash myself but beyond that, all bets are off.

Which is it? Life or death or just needing to be somewhere quickly? Most people are posting about wanting to get somewhere to see a dying relative, not to save a life.

You then end by saying you wouldn't risk crashing, which is precisely my point! Plenty of people have made clear that they don't care about crashing into and killing other people and their children while they are in a rush.

Who said they would obey speed limits? I certainly didn't!

I wish PHers would try to read what is actually posted.

[Zippee]

HughS47 said:

The best part of this thread is that what seems to be a life-or-death situation to most people, actually isn't. Even people arriving to A&E by blue light can spend an hour on a trolley before they even get seen by a doc. Even then, relatives are often not by the bed while we're putting in chest drains etc, so although I can totally understand the urge to drive flat out to get to hospital, often it doesn't change a thing. Worth getting there safely IMO, rather than join them in the bed next door in resus.

Easy to say and in fact I totally agree with you. However, that logic can easily (and did for me) go completely out the window when faced with the situation first hand. Stepping back from it for me it didn't change a thing and I could have driven slower/safer but fear/panic unfortunately can over rule the head.

[Disastrous]

ORD said:

Disastrous said:

ORD said:

Not entirely true. I know for certain that I would take substantial risks with the lives of others in order to get somewhere more quickly. It is gross and seriously immoral selfishness to think 'It is important to me, so to hell with everyone else!'.

Thinking about journeys I frequently do, I expect that I coujld reasonably safely average 10-15mph faster as an average speed, but no more than that. That isn't going to make much difference in any scenario, so even those modest extra risks are probably not worth it.

I find that very sad.

I think a basic human instinct of care and protectiveness means exactly that you would absolutely risk everyone and everything else to save your own.

If it was life and death, I couldn't give a st about the Police, speed limit or anything else. The only consideration would be making sure I didn't crash myself but beyond that, all bets are off.

Which is it? Life or death or just needing to be somewhere quickly? Most people are posting about wanting to get somewhere to see a dying relative, not to save a life.

You then end by saying you wouldn't risk crashing, which is precisely my point! Plenty of people have made clear that they don't care about crashing into and killing other people and their children while they are in a rush.

Who said they would obey speed limits? I certainly didn't!

I wish PHers would try to read what is actually posted.

Actually, I misread you saying you "would take substantial risks" as you "wouldn't take substantial risks" and thought your point about 'gross and immoral selfishness' implied you wouldn't do it - Apologies.

[Potatoes]

As fking fast as my car can go! There are times in life where I would absolutely fk the rules in favour of my famiy.

[ORD]

You've misunderstood. Speeding is not a substantial risk. Chancing your life and that of innocent bystanders by doubling your normal speed does involve substantial risks and is grossly immoral (and stupid). The idea that someone would hammer down a road to get to a poorly animal is utterly disgusting.

[deltashad]

No figures. I would nail it. In my max safety zone, which is not the same as others.

[MrMoonyMan]

I had to call an ambulance for someone who stopped breathing in my home last Monday.

I've just checked the phone call and it was 4 minutes in length. I said goodbye to the operator after the ambulance crew had been with me a good 30 seconds too.

That was pretty damn quick!

[Troubleatmill]

"6 month old is seriously ill......"

It doesn't matter how fast I get home, I am not medically qualified to help.

"Call 999, I'm on my way"


And as a cop out - I would ask someone to drive me there.
As much as we are all driving Gods.... our judgement will be seriously impaired with news like that.

I'd probably end up killing myself or others due to me not coping.

[John D.]

KingNothing said:

I do 100 on the motorway when not in a hurry anyways. So, maybe 160.

[zarjaz1991]

Potatoes said:

As fking fast as my car can go! There are times in life where I would absolutely fk the rules in favour of my famiy.

Here's another one.

This thread really is quite the eye opener.

[Potatoes]

You're entitled to your opinion, but you act like a tt on this thread.

Most people who have young kids would do this in the heat of the moment... maybe eye opening to you but this is life dude.

Edited by Potatoes on Monday 9th May 22:23

[jamiem555]

I have driven as fast I possibly could in this situation. No regrets. My wife was in premature labour and I was on Shetland. I had to drive 60 miles to make the last flight of the island and then hot foot it from Aberdeen to Dundee. I only slowed for the speed cameras. The thing was, even though I was flat out where I could be, traffic dependent, my focus was steady. I was planning ahead, looking out for hazards and always with the thought that I cannot have an accident. Cars used, were a 1.4 Polo TDI hire car on Shetland and my Mk3 Focus ST. On the run down the a90 people seemed to sense that I wasn't being an idiot and moved out of the way pretty sharpish without the volley of abuse.

[Disastrous]

ORD said:

You've misunderstood. Speeding is not a substantial risk. Chancing your life and that of innocent bystanders by doubling your normal speed does involve substantial risks and is grossly immoral (and stupid). The idea that someone would hammer down a road to get to a poorly animal is utterly disgusting.

Where did doubling your speed come from?

I would go as fast as I possibly could. No idea if it would be double or not as I wouldn't be looking at the speedo.

I maintain that any correctly wired human animal would risk absolutely everyone's life to protect those of his family. It's just normal, human and completely understandable. The people here claiming they'd carry out a calm, measured risk assessment and drive to conditions just sound like wet little babies. Poor wives!

[ashleyman]

Would road rage be classified as a family emergency?

Being verbally abused and physically threatened by a man on a bike wearing a helmet attempting to enter your car to give you a beating is that an emergency?

It was for me, the guy was adamant he wanted to drag me from my car and I was preparing to drive as fast as I possibly could to get away from him to PROTECT my family in my car whilst also notifying police. The police officer who caught up with us understood this and said I had every right to do what I did and she was more concerned about getting the biker.

Never did get a speeding ticket for that one, never did get in trouble for the lights I jumped which caught their attention... She was more worried about calming me down and making sure he was found...

This has happened twice in the course of a few years thanks to some lovely people around where I live who drive too close to your back bumper and don't look out for hazards so that when you react to hazards (as I did) they think you're threatening them... Lovely...

[Efbe]

speed is not the issue.

running lights is. this is also the point you will make up most time. it's dangerous, stupid but the only way you will actually gain much time over 30 miles.