Discussion
Why do people speed?
Legal limits are just that. Limits. Regardless of whether or not the limit is correct, it's still the maximum possible speed you are allowed to drive at.
Think about it. Nobody likes getting caught speeding and I'm yet to meet anyone who likes camera vans and speed cameras. Yet people keep doing it, keep getting caught, keep totting up the figures for the partnerships and keep adding to the justification for more and more cameras and automated systems. People who speed actually keep the anti-speed establishments alive.
It just seems bizarre to me that so many people simply cannot abide to the limit.
I started a thread about the increasingly bad behaviour of a lot of drivers in 30 mph zones. It is as if a lot of drivers are far too stupid to understand why they are in place.
Vehicles are far more advanced and safe than when the speed limits were originally introduced. However, the human body hasn't evolved much further and is still a big sack of meat that doesn't like sudden deceleration, or being hit by a tonne of metal doing any sort of speed. This is where the problem lies, I think. Sat in a comfy, air conditioned and peaceful modern vehicle, 50 mph along a residential road may seem like nothing. Yet to a pedestrian, a cyclist or anyone else at the roadside, it's still fast.
As this is a motoring site, I can understand the thrill a good blast in a motor vehicle can provide. However, thrills can be had without having to put others at risk. So, to anyone who thinks that driving really fast along a residential road is great fun and shows what a huge sausage they have, you are wrong. You are a muppet and I hope one day the extra speed you carry doesn't result in an injury or a death. Also, the morons who whizz along the motorways well above the speed limit. Just think about what would happen if something went wrong. Sudden deflation of a tyre or hitting a patch of water isn't fun at 70 mph, but it could be even worse at 100 mph. Of course, morons will be morons and you will always get idiots driving like idiots. But why people who aren't morons do it?
There is so much more to bad driving than speed alone. However, speed is one of the easiest things to measure. It's much easier to catch someone doing >10mph over the speed limit than someone tailgating. It's also one of the easiest things to control from the driver's seat. Yet many, many people still do it and play right into the hands of the local partnerships.
It's got to a point now where someone like me (who sticks to limits) is regularly hounded, tailgated, abused and made to feel like a piece of s
t on the road. It isn't because I drive slowly and doddle around as I like to crack on as much as any PH'er. However, my cracking on stops at the limit of the road or a limit I feel safe at if conditions don't warrant doing the limit. To some, that is like me asking to bum their wife or daughter.
I just don't get it. My humble opinion, of course.
Legal limits are just that. Limits. Regardless of whether or not the limit is correct, it's still the maximum possible speed you are allowed to drive at.
Think about it. Nobody likes getting caught speeding and I'm yet to meet anyone who likes camera vans and speed cameras. Yet people keep doing it, keep getting caught, keep totting up the figures for the partnerships and keep adding to the justification for more and more cameras and automated systems. People who speed actually keep the anti-speed establishments alive.
It just seems bizarre to me that so many people simply cannot abide to the limit.
I started a thread about the increasingly bad behaviour of a lot of drivers in 30 mph zones. It is as if a lot of drivers are far too stupid to understand why they are in place.
Vehicles are far more advanced and safe than when the speed limits were originally introduced. However, the human body hasn't evolved much further and is still a big sack of meat that doesn't like sudden deceleration, or being hit by a tonne of metal doing any sort of speed. This is where the problem lies, I think. Sat in a comfy, air conditioned and peaceful modern vehicle, 50 mph along a residential road may seem like nothing. Yet to a pedestrian, a cyclist or anyone else at the roadside, it's still fast.
As this is a motoring site, I can understand the thrill a good blast in a motor vehicle can provide. However, thrills can be had without having to put others at risk. So, to anyone who thinks that driving really fast along a residential road is great fun and shows what a huge sausage they have, you are wrong. You are a muppet and I hope one day the extra speed you carry doesn't result in an injury or a death. Also, the morons who whizz along the motorways well above the speed limit. Just think about what would happen if something went wrong. Sudden deflation of a tyre or hitting a patch of water isn't fun at 70 mph, but it could be even worse at 100 mph. Of course, morons will be morons and you will always get idiots driving like idiots. But why people who aren't morons do it?
There is so much more to bad driving than speed alone. However, speed is one of the easiest things to measure. It's much easier to catch someone doing >10mph over the speed limit than someone tailgating. It's also one of the easiest things to control from the driver's seat. Yet many, many people still do it and play right into the hands of the local partnerships.
It's got to a point now where someone like me (who sticks to limits) is regularly hounded, tailgated, abused and made to feel like a piece of s
t on the road. It isn't because I drive slowly and doddle around as I like to crack on as much as any PH'er. However, my cracking on stops at the limit of the road or a limit I feel safe at if conditions don't warrant doing the limit. To some, that is like me asking to bum their wife or daughter.I just don't get it. My humble opinion, of course.
Jasandjules said:
This is where you have gone wrong.
Exceeding an arbitrary number is not inherently unsafe nor putting others at risk.
Of course, driving fast in an urban area is foolish and ought to be stamped on, but there are plenty of open roads which have limits which are too low. How do I know? Because people don't obey the limits. If the limits were appropriate, most people would obey them.
How do you know the limits are too low?Exceeding an arbitrary number is not inherently unsafe nor putting others at risk.
Of course, driving fast in an urban area is foolish and ought to be stamped on, but there are plenty of open roads which have limits which are too low. How do I know? Because people don't obey the limits. If the limits were appropriate, most people would obey them.
As I mentioned in my post, in a modern vehicle they may seem too low. To a vulnerable road user who is sharing the same piece of tarmac though?
MODS! I think FunkyRobot's account has been hacked by someone from BRAKE or Mumsnet!? 
caelite said:
funkyrobot said:
yonex said:
Taxi....for OP
I got in a taxi once. The driver was proudly telling me that his Toyota Avensis was special because it had 'Subaru wheels on, mate!'.Nope. It made it better as it had a hint of rally bred heritage. It was better than his mate's one that had standard Toyota alloys, which obviously aren't rally bred.
Jasandjules said:
Because if they were not people would obey them.
People inherently obey laws which are appropriate, and ignore those which are not..
You really believe that?People inherently obey laws which are appropriate, and ignore those which are not..
Wasn't there a discussion on here a few months ago about raising the motorway limit to 80mph? Wasn't the consensus that if this were done, people would travel at 90 mph rather than than the 80 mph they currently do?
mwstewart said:
funkyrobot said:
Bored, local Russian housewives wanting to grease your piston website is that way ->
Now, now.funkyrobot said:
It just seems bizarre to me that so many people simply cannot abide to the limit.
I started a thread about the increasingly bad behaviour of a lot of drivers in 30 mph zones. It is as if a lot of drivers are far too stupid to understand why they are in place.
The above in the opening post seems strange to me - mainly as this is a performance car enthusiast site, but also given your attitude to 30 limits, e.g. from http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...I started a thread about the increasingly bad behaviour of a lot of drivers in 30 mph zones. It is as if a lot of drivers are far too stupid to understand why they are in place.
funkyrobot said:
Just rounded a corner and was faced with a camera van pointing at me or a lorry in front. Checked speedo and needle was around 35 mph. The limit on the road is 30 mph.
Anyone think I will receive a NIP? First ever if I do.
Further down the thread:Anyone think I will receive a NIP? First ever if I do.
funkyrobot said:
roofer said:
Karma.
When is your court date?At most, I'm getting 3 points or a SAC.
If I were like you on 9 points already, I wouldn't be doing 35 in a 30.
My point relates to people who know the speed limit and who carry on over that regardless.
The last post relates to some moron on here who got caught speeding over and over again. He then tried to blame a system that was out to get him.
Jasandjules said:
funkyrobot said:
You really believe that?
Wasn't there a discussion on here a few months ago about raising the motorway limit to 80mph? Wasn't the consensus that if this were done, people would travel at 90 mph rather than than the 80 mph they currently do?
It is a matter of significant jurisprudential debate over the centuries. Plenty of books out there if you want to read up on it.Wasn't there a discussion on here a few months ago about raising the motorway limit to 80mph? Wasn't the consensus that if this were done, people would travel at 90 mph rather than than the 80 mph they currently do?
Simply put, if laws are just they are obeyed by the majority.
poo at Paul's said:
But are you sticking to the limit, or are you sticking to the limit per your speedometer. Can often be 5 or 10 mph over reading which may the cause of the frustration in the 30 car queue behind you! 
My speedometer does indeed over read, so my needle is just above 30 mph on the speedo.andyalan10 said:
It might help others to see funkyrobot's perspective if I copy this comment of his from another thread:-
"My current 5 minute walk to work could be a commute one day if I change jobs."
What has that got to do with anything? Just because I walk to work, it doesn't mean I don't drive or even enjoy driving."My current 5 minute walk to work could be a commute one day if I change jobs."
Anything else you want to pick from my posting history?
Boosted LS1 said:
Yep, he's stirring the pot.
Not really. I'm posting some thoughts on a motoring forum that spark a bit of debate.If I simply posted something like 'all speeders are f
king idiots and they will kill everyone', then fair enough. But I'm not.The main point of my post is that regardless of what anyone thinks, a limit is a limit. If it's a stupid limit, it's still a limit. I simply cannot understand why people keep speeding, get caught and go down as another statistic and another tick for the war on speed establishments.
I would love to see what would happen if everyone drove to the speed limit.
poing said:
DoubleD said:
poing said:
DoubleD said:
Why drink?
Why eat fatty foods?
Why have sex with multiple partners?
To be fair, none of those are illegal, yet. It would be better to say why use illegal drugs.Why eat fatty foods?
Why have sex with multiple partners?
Why drink underage?
Why eat something thats......not on your diet plan?
Why have.....erm.......nope im not going there.
Don't get me wrong, I speed so I'm not defending the question. I suspect Mr Robot is a little bored and just stirring the pot a little.
No, I'm not stirring anything. Just some thoughts I posted up.
InductionRoar said:
Your mind seems to be made so I doubt you will be vacating your ivory tower any time soon regardless of how persuasive other internet randoms' viewpoint may be.
People speed for any number of reasons but I'm sure you know that really.
For the record I have a clean license and have never been pulled over by the police.
Oh yeah and speed isn't dangerous. It's the sudden stopping that is the problem.
What ivory tower?People speed for any number of reasons but I'm sure you know that really.
For the record I have a clean license and have never been pulled over by the police.
Oh yeah and speed isn't dangerous. It's the sudden stopping that is the problem.
In relation to the stopping, did you even read my op?
InductionRoar said:
funkyrobot said:
InductionRoar said:
Your mind seems to be made so I doubt you will be vacating your ivory tower any time soon regardless of how persuasive other internet randoms' viewpoint may be.
People speed for any number of reasons but I'm sure you know that really.
For the record I have a clean license and have never been pulled over by the police.
Oh yeah and speed isn't dangerous. It's the sudden stopping that is the problem.
What ivory tower?People speed for any number of reasons but I'm sure you know that really.
For the record I have a clean license and have never been pulled over by the police.
Oh yeah and speed isn't dangerous. It's the sudden stopping that is the problem.
In relation to the stopping, did you even read my op?
funkyrobot said:
The last post relates to some moron on here who got caught speeding over and over again.
To be honest no, I didn't read your OP. I got bored part way through and skipped straight to the comments. It seemed to be an extension to your 
post on the "have you exceeded the speed limit by more than 50%" thread. chrisga said:
funkyrobot said:
Why do people speed?
Don't know, ask the OP of this thread http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...funkyrobot said:
Legal limits are just that. Limits. Regardless of whether or not the limit is correct, it's still the maximum possible speed you are allowed to drive at.
What made the OP of the thread above exceed the maximum speed he was allowed to drive at?funkyrobot said:
Think about it. Nobody likes getting caught speeding and I'm yet to meet anyone who likes camera vans and speed cameras. Yet people keep doing it, keep getting caught, keep totting up the figures for the partnerships and keep adding to the justification for more and more cameras and automated systems. People who speed actually keep the anti-speed establishments alive.
It just seems bizarre to me that so many people simply cannot abide to the limit.
I started a thread about the increasingly bad behaviour of a lot of drivers in 30 mph zones. It is as if a lot of drivers are far too stupid to understand why they are in place.
So much so that people come on to a motoring forum to ask others whether they think they'll get a NIP through the post as they had been speeding in a 30 limit...... OP are you far too stupid to understand why they are in place? Why did you not abide by the limit?It just seems bizarre to me that so many people simply cannot abide to the limit.
I started a thread about the increasingly bad behaviour of a lot of drivers in 30 mph zones. It is as if a lot of drivers are far too stupid to understand why they are in place.
funkyrobot said:
As this is a motoring site, I can understand the thrill a good blast in a motor vehicle can provide. However, thrills can be had without having to put others at risk. So, to anyone who thinks that driving really fast along a residential road is great fun and shows what a huge sausage they have, you are wrong. You are a muppet and I hope one day the extra speed you carry doesn't result in an injury or a death.
So why did you speed? Was it to show everyone else what a huge sausage you have? You sir, are one of us muppets! I try to stick to 30 and 40 limits but have been known to sneak over them on the odd occasion but not on purpose but there is no way I would come on here claiming to be whiter than white. Everyone speeds. If they say they don't they are lying. Even my mum who is the slowest driver in the world has been done for 34 in a 30. She was mortified.funkyrobot said:
There is so much more to bad driving than speed alone. However, speed is one of the easiest things to measure. It's much easier to catch someone doing >10mph over the speed limit than someone tailgating. It's also one of the easiest things to control from the driver's seat. Yet many, many people still do it and play right into the hands of the local partnerships.
Including yourself.funkyrobot said:
It's got to a point now where someone like me (who sticks to limits) is regularly hounded, tailgated, abused and made to feel like a piece of st on the road.
Except you don't stick to limits do you? So maybe if you are getting the abuse you claim your driving isn't up to the standard you assume it is in other areas.t on the road. funkyrobot said:
I just don't get it. My humble opinion, of course.
Perhaps you should have just asked yourself, what makes me speed, rather than asking everyone else and then trying to appear whiter than white yourself. You speed, as does everyone else. You've been lucky you haven't been caught so far. Accept it. Next.
swisstoni said:
funkyrobot said:
chrisga said:
funkyrobot said:
Why do people speed?
Don't know, ask the OP of this thread http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...funkyrobot said:
Legal limits are just that. Limits. Regardless of whether or not the limit is correct, it's still the maximum possible speed you are allowed to drive at.
What made the OP of the thread above exceed the maximum speed he was allowed to drive at?funkyrobot said:
Think about it. Nobody likes getting caught speeding and I'm yet to meet anyone who likes camera vans and speed cameras. Yet people keep doing it, keep getting caught, keep totting up the figures for the partnerships and keep adding to the justification for more and more cameras and automated systems. People who speed actually keep the anti-speed establishments alive.
It just seems bizarre to me that so many people simply cannot abide to the limit.
I started a thread about the increasingly bad behaviour of a lot of drivers in 30 mph zones. It is as if a lot of drivers are far too stupid to understand why they are in place.
So much so that people come on to a motoring forum to ask others whether they think they'll get a NIP through the post as they had been speeding in a 30 limit...... OP are you far too stupid to understand why they are in place? Why did you not abide by the limit?It just seems bizarre to me that so many people simply cannot abide to the limit.
I started a thread about the increasingly bad behaviour of a lot of drivers in 30 mph zones. It is as if a lot of drivers are far too stupid to understand why they are in place.
funkyrobot said:
As this is a motoring site, I can understand the thrill a good blast in a motor vehicle can provide. However, thrills can be had without having to put others at risk. So, to anyone who thinks that driving really fast along a residential road is great fun and shows what a huge sausage they have, you are wrong. You are a muppet and I hope one day the extra speed you carry doesn't result in an injury or a death.
So why did you speed? Was it to show everyone else what a huge sausage you have? You sir, are one of us muppets! I try to stick to 30 and 40 limits but have been known to sneak over them on the odd occasion but not on purpose but there is no way I would come on here claiming to be whiter than white. Everyone speeds. If they say they don't they are lying. Even my mum who is the slowest driver in the world has been done for 34 in a 30. She was mortified.funkyrobot said:
There is so much more to bad driving than speed alone. However, speed is one of the easiest things to measure. It's much easier to catch someone doing >10mph over the speed limit than someone tailgating. It's also one of the easiest things to control from the driver's seat. Yet many, many people still do it and play right into the hands of the local partnerships.
Including yourself.funkyrobot said:
It's got to a point now where someone like me (who sticks to limits) is regularly hounded, tailgated, abused and made to feel like a piece of st on the road.
Except you don't stick to limits do you? So maybe if you are getting the abuse you claim your driving isn't up to the standard you assume it is in other areas.t on the road. funkyrobot said:
I just don't get it. My humble opinion, of course.
Perhaps you should have just asked yourself, what makes me speed, rather than asking everyone else and then trying to appear whiter than white yourself. You speed, as does everyone else. You've been lucky you haven't been caught so far. Accept it. Next.
sunbeam alpine said:
Most modern cars are so well-developed that the driver becomes distanced from the enjoyment of driving, to the point that you have to be doing quite high speed to enjoy yourself. (I'm writing this as someone who enjoys driving rather than viewing it as just a way to get from A to B).
My modern cars (pretty basic stuff) are extremely comfortable ways to get about, but at legal speeds (on NSL roads) it's like sitting on the sofa at home, waiting to arrive somewhere.
I never (knowingly) exceed 30 & 40 limits (lost a childhood friend who ran into the road when I was 8), but at other times I will drive at a speed I feel appropriate to the road & weather conditions.
I get the most enjoyment out of my classic cars (and the occasional track day). Drive a 1960's/70's classic without all the modern driver aids, and you can have a lot of fun while respecting the speed limits!
That's what I hinted at in my original post. You need to be aware of what you are doing in a modern car.My modern cars (pretty basic stuff) are extremely comfortable ways to get about, but at legal speeds (on NSL roads) it's like sitting on the sofa at home, waiting to arrive somewhere.
I never (knowingly) exceed 30 & 40 limits (lost a childhood friend who ran into the road when I was 8), but at other times I will drive at a speed I feel appropriate to the road & weather conditions.
I get the most enjoyment out of my classic cars (and the occasional track day). Drive a 1960's/70's classic without all the modern driver aids, and you can have a lot of fun while respecting the speed limits!
However, some people just seem to carry on regardless and don't seem to care. To them a limit is just something to be ignored. They know better etc.
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