Unsafe evidence of speeding????
Discussion
quote:I did this as 75mph (indicated) on the M6 about 3 weeks ago. There was lots of traffic shooting past me at over 80mph (which is what I was doing). I see a Omega jam butty in the distance and then the brake lights and indicators as everyone drops into the inside line behind the copper. I slow down to 75mph, but am still faster than all those who are now in the inside lane, so I overtake them and the copper. I overtake quickly and safely and then pull back into the inside lane, keeping my speed constant at 75mph. I carry on for about a mile at 75mph and then the dreaded lights come on. Everyone else just shot off once the copper had pulled me, but I only got a bollocking for being naive!
As a final point, I never 'bunch' into a stupid 72mph pack when overtaking a 70mph marked car on the motorway like some motorists. I think they would rather I didn't tailgate or bunch, so I overtake at up to 80mph (probably a real 75mph). Haven't been pulled for that one yet, but please tell me john r if I will be soon!!!!
Now some might call me an intolerant sod, but if one of the checkered-hat brigade informed me he had stopped me for being 'naive' I would demand that he 'do' me for it. He should be reluctant to proceed with this, as naivete does not rate so much as a footnote in English common law. I would then challenge him to 'do' me for speeding. If he did I would have my day in court and make sure the press were there to witness the occasion. 75 mph on a motorway? It would be worth every penny of the fine.
I confess I do the same thing: cruise past the mess of scared drivers plus jam sarnie at an indicated 75 to 80 (which, according to the trip computer, is 72 to 76) in lane 3.
I'd rather be in loads of space going a touch over the limit than in a tight pack of idiots doing 65-70, with tiny gaps between cars, knackered lane discipline, and so on and so forth. It just seems to make sense...
I don't have a problem with you passing at 75 ish with speedo error its about right anyway.
Just a point re some 'nasty' cops the other day I 'advised' a young lad for blazing up to a junction and anchoring up just over the give way line, o.k I had already covered me brakes and could have stopped if needed but if instead of me it had been a cylist or motorcycle he would have probably pulled out because he had not seen it. I was particularly unimpressed with the manover as I had recently attended an RTA where the same thing had just happened and a motorcylist was now on a life support machine. OK he was not to know that had just happened, but sometimes you can get a bit involved when you see the results of the RTA. It may not be 100% professional but contry to popular belief some of us are human.
Amen to that!
I paid up the fine a few weeks back now on the basis that justice was at a price I not prepared to risk. All it needed was a magistrate with indigestion and I could have got a lot more points and much bigger fine just because of a point of principle. It'll be a long time before I'll overtake a marked car again, even if it is stuck behind a milk float!
You've got to be philosophical about these things if you are going to stay sane. If I add up all those 'not quite amber' lights I've chanced, chevrons I've overtaken on, pavements I've parked on and wreckless single cariageway overtaking manoeuvres I'd say I've done fairly well to only have two fixed penalties in 15 years driving. There are good guys and bad guys in every profession and I got unlucky. It's all swings and round-a-bouts...
We've all been there, a bunch of cars tailgating behind a marked car, sidle past at indicated 80. I've never been pulled for doing this, and its a lot safer than joining the herd behind.
Question is, if most speedos run fast, and 80mph generally is probably less than 75, then exactly what speed is plod doing to cause this dangerous situation in the first place? Just a bit less than 70mph maybe?
I'm quite sure they can see the mayhem developing behind. How can they preach about road safety when the 2 biggest causes of motorway bottlenecks in otherwise free flowing (and therefore safe) motorway traffic are a/ 2 HGV's playing the pass me pass you game or b/ a traffic car at 65mph?
Edited by philshort on Tuesday 17th July 23:51
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