Why do drivers speed?

[safespeed]

Hi All,

I've added a new page at Safe Speed today discussing the reason why drivers speed.

www.safespeed.org.uk/why.html

Comments welcome as ever.

Best Regards,
Paul Smith
Safe Speed
www.safespeed.org.uk

[hertsbiker]

Because I can.
Because the speed limits are too low.
Because I feel that wasting time going slow is a waste of my time.
Because I *do* actually know better than the people who decide the limits, as I am a human being who actually drives, compared to the pontificating fossils who make the laws.
Because I have taken 2 tests with 2 different vehicles to drive.
Because my vehicles are capable of something better than a 1950's Austin 7.

Because the limits are set for numptista, and not people who care about driving carefully and considerately like me.

Big headed? egotistic? yep. So what. I am better, so why should I obey laws fit for the plebs?

I await flames, but I don't care. I'm with DeltaF & a few other interesting people who actually go fast, but with care. NOt just those who talk a big talk. Stuff the law. If it told you to kill your mother, would you do it?

YOurs in total disillusionment, Carl

[bryan35]

I realy REEALY like that bit, and not thought of it before.

If you haven't got a speedo, you can't drive safely because you'd never know when you were over the speed limit.

[woof]

interesting page but in a direct reply ..

coz I need to get where I'm going quickly.

and sometimes coz I enjoy driving quickly because modern day life doesn't challenge our basic urges of being mentally or physically challenge. It's something I've built up to over many years of coaching and practice.

We don't have to hunt for our food or defend ourselves - but that basic instinct of competition and the need for the hunt - still exists and some of us feed that urge by driving .. Of course sometimes I do that on the race track ...




>> Edited by woof on Friday 28th May 18:59

[deltaf]

I speed because im non conformist. I wont do what the authorities tell me to simply cos they "say so", neither should you.
I NEED a VALID reason to stay within a speed limit.
Give me a VALID reason or go get lost.
I dont need speed kills, think of the sprogs etc.

I speed because i always have and its kept me mostly OUT of danger caused by numpty muppets obeying the speed laws and who've been brainwashed by the kinds of dumb "think" ads we've all complained about.
I enjoy high speed, as do millions of drivers. Theres nothing wrong with having a drug free high as long as it causes neither you nor anyone else any harm.
I get from A to B faster, spending less time exposed to numptyist behaviour (has to be a good thing).

Downsides are the burning of more fuel, wear and tear on the vehicle, other idiots playing stupid tailgating and blocking games with you and flashing cos they have no conception of a safe free travelling speed; Its heads down and bugger the rest of ya with those people.

I speed because i want to and cos the laws an ass, cos theyre out to get you, to make you pay and cos to go speeding in spite of all their scameras and oppression, sends them a powerful F**K YOU! message.
I refuse to submit cos im a rebel (as if you hadnt realised).
Some of you talk in a similar manner, but i doubt you actually do what you say, legends in your own minds...

[safespeed]

Deltaf, Woof and Hertsbiker,

Think one level more deeply and I think you'll find you are precisely in agreement with the content of the new page.

You're all saying "stuff the speed limit" BECAUSE you know how to set an appropriate speed according to the conditions. You speed, not to get there quicker as such (otherwise 100mph in the high street would be OK) but because you feel entitled to drive as fast as the conditions allow.

QED.

Best Regards,
Paul Smith
Safe Speed
www.safespeed.org.uk

[deltaf]

Absolutely. And put very much better than im capable of.

Regards Deltaf

[Balmoral Green]

I love the idea about not having a speedo, that would be a fantastic road safety feature in a car. Speed would then become an irrelevance to safety. You would drive as appropriate, not to something arbitary.

[deltaf]

Balmoral Green said:

I love the idea about not having a speedo, that would be a fantastic road safety feature in a car. Speed would then become an irrelevance to safety. You would drive as appropriate, not to something arbitary.

I already do in the other one cos the speedo sensor is broken.

[JohnL]

Good stuff Paul.

How much correspondence do you have with political figures etc?
Do you reckon any of them listen? If so, which ones?

[supraman2954]

Amusing interpretation of that page:

safespeed.org said:

The clear proof of this is that at least 95% of accidents take place within the speed limit

So from this, we should all break the speed limit and become safer drivers.

Seriously though, I tend to fall asleep when I become bored, and there is nothing more boring than everyone driving at the same, slow speed, on a motorway. Driving at a 'proper' speed forces me to be aware of other vehicles, conditions and potential numptys around me, which in turn keeps me awake. Does anyone else agree?

A great example of this is in Germany, where all the slower drivers ARE EXTREMELY AWARE of the fast bogeys rapidly approaching behind them, they tend to keep out of each others way!

And hey, maybe some drivers ARE better than others at speed, I know grown men that scream when driven at 70MPH on M-way (I kid you not).

No reason for more than 30 in built up area though, I dont want to risk killing anyone, even if it their fault!

[henrycrun]

People speed because THEY feel safe.
Its not the speeding, its the stopping thats the problem.

[Balmoral Green]

henrycrun said:

People speed because THEY feel safe. Its not the speeding, its the stopping thats the problem.

Quite right, speed doesnt kill, it's the sudden stop.

[Peter Ward]

Excellent, Paul. I find the evidence on deaths vs. injuries in 30 limits compelling.

Clearly most car-to-pedestrian accidents in 30 limits happen at a much lower speed than 30, indicating both that people do moderate their speed according to the conditions and that people brake before impact. Hence those who talk about 30 vs. 35 are missing the point.

I hope the papers pick this up. However, it's necessary to actually follow an argument to understand this, so probably not.

[supraman2954]

Sudden stops on most roads cannot be avoided, but I do have to ask why this routinly occurs on M-ways. Could it be anything to do with the govenments continuing stance that there should be no mandatory training on the correct use of M-ways? Where issues of dangers of slip roads, tailgating, braking late and panic overbraking are never tackled before the driving test?

[safespeed]

JohnL said:

Good stuff Paul. How much correspondence do you have with political figures etc? Do you reckon any of them listen? If so, which ones?

I was doing very well indeed with Tim Collins (Tory shadow on Transport) until he was replaced with Damian Green. Unfortunately Damian Green doesn't know what's going on. I exchange info with his office quite a bit.

The senior Labour people are a waste of time.

I get on well with John Thurso (my local MP and also Lib Dem shadow on Transport). I have another meeting with John to schedule shortly. I think he agrees with everything I say but has a problem because my views are not PC enough. There's room for progress.

About a dozen back bench MPs contact me for info fairly regularly. And I have no idea how many important people read the web site.

Best Regards,
Paul Smith
Safe Speed
www.safespeed.org.uk

[safespeed]

Peter Ward said:

Excellent, Paul. I find the evidence on deaths vs. injuries in 30 limits compelling.

I've been on about it for years! It comes up on the following pages:
www.safespeed.org.uk/killspeed.html
www.safespeed.org.uk/proof.html
www.safespeed.org.uk/thatad.html

And we have a version for car drivers:
www.safespeed.org.uk/12mph.html

I'm working on an estimate of the relative importance of speed limit compliance compared with Safe Speed behaviour. Presently I have a minimum estimate of 1:248. It should soon be ready for publication. Maybe tomorrow.

Best Regards,
Paul Smith
Safe Speed
www.safespeed.org.uk

[safespeed]

supraman2954 said:

Seriously though, I tend to fall asleep when I become bored, and there is nothing more boring than everyone driving at the same, slow speed, on a motorway. Driving at a 'proper' speed forces me to be aware of other vehicles, conditions and potential numptys around me, which in turn keeps me awake. Does anyone else agree?

Hell yes. There's a very strong link between speed and concentration. Has anyone researched this scientifically? No. Why? Because the people setting research objectives don't know ANYTHING about driving, yet (like most drivers) they think they know enough.

Best Regards,
Paul Smith
Safe Speed
www.safespeed.org.uk

[bogush]

Why do drivers speed?

Do you mean train drivers doing 186mph?

Or tram drivers doing the same speeds as cars, despite taking at least twice the distance to stop (and being unable to steer round hazards/probably not having crumple zones/pedestrian friendly bonnets......)?

[ledfoot]

Speeding doesn't kill.

Stopping doesn't kill.

It's impact that kills.

So as long as we don't hit anything, then we can carry on speeding