Driving at 70mph on the M4 – my observations today
Discussion
With the latest police crackdown on drivers exceeding the 70mph limit between J14 and 18, I thought as I was off to Dads I’d drive on the M4, from the M25 junction to Slough as if I was driving through the newly policed 14-18 junctions, and note down my observations.
I drive around 20,000 miles a year and have been driving since 1990 and riding since last year. I have held a full race licence since 2000.
I’ve tried to be as unbiased as I can. The traffic was fine. I drove in my rather dull (gutless) Golf 1.8 SE. I managed to arrive without having an accident.
Pro’s
* It was a less stressful journey
* It didn’t really take me too much longer to get to my destination
* I was not overtaken by as many people as I thought I would
* I had more time to react to situations
* I was able to look ahead more
* I noticed more out of the window, which was very pleasant.
Con’s
* It felt really slow, boring and there was not enough going on to “keep me occupied” I “switched off” and my mind wondered, thinking about other things. I started multi-tasking
* As I was primarily concentrating on not exceeding the limit, I found that I my speed drifted up and down between 66 and 70mph between checks.
* This was probably closer to real-world of 64 mph as I know the golf over-reads
* I mainly concentrated on the speed, not the dangers
* It was far harder to overtake safely, as normally you (OK .. I!) put my foot down, over take then slip back into the lane again. So I didn’t bother overtaking as I would be holding up people for too long while I made the move.
* It felt too risky to overtake anyway. I was still overtaken by lots of drivers
* I kinda “couldn’t be arsed” and I drove like a clone
* I felt like a right numpty!
The main problem though is that there is a huge difference between driving 7 miles at 70 and 40 miles at 70. I must say those 40 miles will be very dull.
My question - which do you think is safer?
What was silly was that after the 3 lane motorway with the 70 limit was a single 2 way country road, with a 60 limit.
>>> Edited by reAnimate on Friday 15th April 12:21
I drive around 20,000 miles a year and have been driving since 1990 and riding since last year. I have held a full race licence since 2000.
I’ve tried to be as unbiased as I can. The traffic was fine. I drove in my rather dull (gutless) Golf 1.8 SE. I managed to arrive without having an accident.
Pro’s
* It was a less stressful journey
* It didn’t really take me too much longer to get to my destination
* I was not overtaken by as many people as I thought I would
* I had more time to react to situations
* I was able to look ahead more
* I noticed more out of the window, which was very pleasant.
Con’s
* It felt really slow, boring and there was not enough going on to “keep me occupied” I “switched off” and my mind wondered, thinking about other things. I started multi-tasking
* As I was primarily concentrating on not exceeding the limit, I found that I my speed drifted up and down between 66 and 70mph between checks.
* This was probably closer to real-world of 64 mph as I know the golf over-reads
* I mainly concentrated on the speed, not the dangers
* It was far harder to overtake safely, as normally you (OK .. I!) put my foot down, over take then slip back into the lane again. So I didn’t bother overtaking as I would be holding up people for too long while I made the move.
* It felt too risky to overtake anyway. I was still overtaken by lots of drivers
* I kinda “couldn’t be arsed” and I drove like a clone
* I felt like a right numpty!
The main problem though is that there is a huge difference between driving 7 miles at 70 and 40 miles at 70. I must say those 40 miles will be very dull.
My question - which do you think is safer?
What was silly was that after the 3 lane motorway with the 70 limit was a single 2 way country road, with a 60 limit.
>>> Edited by reAnimate on Friday 15th April 12:21
Which is safer?
If there is a crash then 70mph is safer.
However, as the experiment shows, there may be more chance of a crash happening at 70mph due to lack of concentration, as this speed does not occupy the mind enough.
A classic example of this can be seen in motor racing. A driver in the lead of a race has to keep pushing no matter how big his lead, as reducing pace normally leads to errors, even in the best drivers (e.g. Senna, Monaco 1988.)
If there is a crash then 70mph is safer.
However, as the experiment shows, there may be more chance of a crash happening at 70mph due to lack of concentration, as this speed does not occupy the mind enough.
A classic example of this can be seen in motor racing. A driver in the lead of a race has to keep pushing no matter how big his lead, as reducing pace normally leads to errors, even in the best drivers (e.g. Senna, Monaco 1988.)
reAnimate said:
With the latest police crackdown on drivers exceeding the 70mph limit between J14 and 18, I thought as I was off to Dads I’d drive on the M4, from the M25 junction to Slough as if I was driving through the newly policed 14-18 junctions, and note down my observations.
I drive around 20,000 miles a year and have been driving since 1990 and riding since last year. I have held a full race licence since 2000.
I’ve tried to be as unbiased as I can. The traffic was fine. I drove in my rather dull (gutless) Golf 1.8 SE. I managed to arrive without having an accident.
Pro’s
* It was a less stressful journey
* It didn’t really take me too much longer to get to my destination
* I was not overtaken by as many people as I thought I would
* I had more time to react to situations
* I was able to look ahead more
* I noticed more out of the window, which was very pleasant.
Con’s
* It felt really slow, boring and there was not enough going on to “keep me occupied” I “switched off” and my mind wondered, thinking about other things. I started multi-tasking
* As I was primarily concentrating on not exceeding the limit, I found that I my speed drifted up and down between 66 and 70mph between checks.
* This was probably closer to real-world of 64 mph as I know the golf over-reads
* I mainly concentrated on the speed, not the dangers
* It was far harder to overtake safely, as normally you (OK .. I!) put my foot down, over take then slip back into the lane again. So I didn’t bother overtaking as I would be holding up people for too long while I made the move.
* It felt too risky to overtake anyway. I was still overtaken by lots of drivers
* I kinda “couldn’t be arsed” and I drove like a clone
* I felt like a right numpty!
The main problem though is that there is a huge difference between driving 7 miles at 70 and 40 miles at 70. I must say those 40 miles will be very dull.
My question - which do you think is safer?
What was silly was that after the 3 lane motorway with the 70 limit was a single 2 way country road, with a 60 limit.
>>> Edited by reAnimate on Friday 15th April 12:21
One very disturbing comment by you there:
It felt really slow, boring and there was not enough going on to “keep me occupied” I “switched off” and my mind wondered, thinking about other things. I started multi-tasking.
How can anyone who considers themselves to be a safe driver admit to something like that?? Let alone do it in the first place!
I tried it up the M6 on a clear tuesday morning after my wife nagged me to not drive fast (I was doing maybe 85 and going slowly IMO), so I tried the 70 and found it too stressful. I ended up at 55 in the slow lane, just to see how long it would be before my wife commented. Given that a trip to the lakes usually takes about an hour and a half, it only added 3/4 of an hour to the journey.
funkyrobot said:
How can anyone who considers themselves to be a safe driver admit to something like that?? Let alone do it in the first place!
I consider myself a safe driver and I think the same applies to me. It probably applies to you too if you're honest.
When I'm driving normally I do not pay much attention to much other than driving, I spend my time monitoring the position and speed of vehicles around me and looking for hazards, checking the instruments etc. When I am stuck in traffic pootling along in a line of cars it is harder to keep the same level of concentration because there is almost nothing happening that requires my attention other than following the car in front. I do find I pay more attention to the radio, look at the people around me (rather than just their cars), look at the scenery more etc.
jacko lah said:
I tried it up the M6 on a clear tuesday morning after my wife nagged me to not drive fast (I was doing maybe 85 and going slowly IMO), so I tried the 70 and found it too stressful. I ended up at 55 in the slow lane, just to see how long it would be before my wife commented. Given that a trip to the lakes usually takes about an hour and a half, it only added 3/4 of an hour to the journey.
GreenV8S said:
How can anyone who considers themselves to be a safe driver admit to something like that?? Let alone do it in the first place!
I consider myself a safe driver and I think the same applies to me. It probably applies to you too if you're honest.
When I'm driving normally I do not pay much attention to much other than driving, I spend my time monitoring the position and speed of vehicles around me and looking for hazards, checking the instruments etc. When I am stuck in traffic pootling along in a line of cars it is harder to keep the same level of concentration because there is almost nothing happening that requires my attention other than following the car in front. I do find I pay more attention to the radio, look at the people around me (rather than just their cars), look at the scenery more etc.
I am truly honest when I say that I never have this problem. I concentrate at all times when driving to the speed limit. I don't have trouble concentrating at 70mph on a motorway at all, what with all the lane changes and idiot drivers on the roads etc you can't 'switch off'.
As we know good concentration is essential to good driving, you should be able to maintain good concentration at any time on the road, regardless of what speed you are doing.
funkyrobot said:LOL!
I am truly honest when I say that I never have this problem. I concentrate at all times when driving to the speed limit. I don't have trouble concentrating at 70mph on a motorway at all, what with all the lane changes and idiot drivers on the roads etc you can't 'switch off'.
As we know good concentration is essential to good driving, you should be able to maintain good concentration at any time on the road, regardless of what speed you are doing.
Ok FR, you've really made a splash here. Now you're not only sanctimonious, but you're a perfect driver.
I bow down to your grand entrance...
-DeaDLocK- said:
funkyrobot said:
I am truly honest when I say that I never have this problem. I concentrate at all times when driving to the speed limit. I don't have trouble concentrating at 70mph on a motorway at all, what with all the lane changes and idiot drivers on the roads etc you can't 'switch off'.
As we know good concentration is essential to good driving, you should be able to maintain good concentration at any time on the road, regardless of what speed you are doing.
LOL!
Ok FR, you've really made a splash here. Now you're not only sanctimonious, but you're a perfect driver.
I bow down to your grand entrance...
Where have I said i'm a perfect driver? I merely stated the fact that I don't have a problem with concentrating at 70mph on a motorway.
Who is sanctimonious??
>> Edited by funkyrobot on Friday 15th April 13:31
jacko lah said:
I tried it up the M6 on a clear tuesday morning after my wife nagged me to not drive fast (I was doing maybe 85 and going slowly IMO), so I tried the 70 and found it too stressful. I ended up at 55 in the slow lane, just to see how long it would be before my wife commented. Given that a trip to the lakes usually takes about an hour and a half, it only added 3/4 of an hour to the journey.
So thats 50% longer then.
Bet that was fun
hedders said:
FR, what are you doing here?
Seriously.
I don't hang out on forums where i know everyone will disagree with me unless I fancy doing some trolling, whats your excuse?
I am not trolling. I am on this forum to express some views and opinions about motoring, motorsport and related computer games etc.
Why should everyone on here agree with everything that is posted. What is wrong with disagreeing? I don't disagree with everything.
funkyrobot said:
funkyrobot said:
How can anyone who considers themselves to be a safe driver admit to something like that?? Let alone do it in the first place!
I consider myself a safe driver and I think the same applies to me. It probably applies to you too if you're honest.
When I'm driving normally I do not pay much attention to much other than driving, I spend my time monitoring the position and speed of vehicles around me and looking for hazards, checking the instruments etc. When I am stuck in traffic pootling along in a line of cars it is harder to keep the same level of concentration because there is almost nothing happening that requires my attention other than following the car in front. I do find I pay more attention to the radio, look at the people around me (rather than just their cars), look at the scenery more etc.
I am truly honest when I say that I never have this problem. I concentrate at all times when driving to the speed limit. I don't have trouble concentrating at 70mph on a motorway at all, what with all the lane changes and idiot drivers on the roads etc you can't 'switch off'.
As we know good concentration is essential to good driving, you should be able to maintain good concentration at any time on the road, regardless of what speed you are doing.
Indeed!
After all you are more at risk from vehicles in adjacent lanes with a small differential. A lot of concentration goes into maintaining the safe distance in front, but not a lot you can do about the sides and the back! Very easy to get boxed in.
A maximum 14 mph speed differential overtaking HGVs increases the time you are alongside one ot these compared to a few mph faster.
The M6 Thelwall viaduct has roadworks on it at the moment. A 40mph limit has been applied to the contraflow on the new bridge whilst the workers do up the old bridge. This is patrolled by specs cameras.
Accidents have increase considerably, many caused by people changing lane, despite there being 3 normal width lanes of traffic each way, a fixed semi-permanent concrete crash barrier in the middle and maximum compliance with the law. All because of 3 lanes of traffic moving at similar speeds.
You may not disagree with everything but you disagree with the fundamentals of being a motoring enthusiast and you are on a motoring enthusiasts forum.
You like speed cams and have no issues with having arbatrary speed limits imposed on you, and you want to rub it in our faces for some reason.
You like speed cams and have no issues with having arbatrary speed limits imposed on you, and you want to rub it in our faces for some reason.
reAnimate - how bizarre - a couple of months ago I did the same thing and wrote an account of it on another forum (with many of the same conclusions). Not sure some of the statements about driving on the M4 would be so true today though 
:
"As in my other thread, I'd been down in Somerset for the weekend and yesterday we came home, in no particular rush.
I normally 'make progress' on motorways - 80-90mph, so mainly in lanes 2-3 for the journey, overtaking more than being overtaken, on the lookout for plod etc., as I suspect most of you on here do
But for once I thought, what's it like to do 70mph on the motorway in the Coupé?
Well, driving this way has it's good and bad points:
Good:
1. It's far more relaxing. Mrs J fell asleep in our cruise rather than being a constant noise in my ear
2. You can see stuff in the fields . Being in Lane 1 and driving slower means you are much nearer the fields at the side of the road - up the M5 and along the M4 we saw much wildlife (herons, hares, deer) that we'd never have a hope of seeing whizzing along at 90 leptons.
3. Better fuel consumption - between J18 of the M4 (Bath) and home - about 70 miles, we used less than an eighth of a tank cruising at 70mph all the way. With dodgy fuel gauge allowance that translates into around 500-600 miles to a tank, which is pretty good going.
4. It wasn't that slow in the long run - the last 70 miles took only about 15 minutes less than it would take me normally.
5. You don't actually HAVE to drive. The inside lane on the M4 is so deeply rutted that if you get your wheels in the ruts, the car is like a Scalextric car and you don't have to steer - you can chat, eat things, gesture wildly at the wildlife in the fields, do your tie up if you were a rep etc. etc.
Bad:
1. It's hard to drive at a constant 70 on a normal motorway - the Coupe doesn't like it. Holding it at 70 in fifth requires such a gentle touch on the throttle that it hurts your knees after a while. The car feels sluggish and doesn't 'sing' like at 80-90.
2. No-one else drives THAT slow. For 50 miles along the M4, driving at 70, we passed TWO cars and three vans. Nobody drives at 70 ever on a normal motorway - why oh why oh why can't we have an 80 limit?
3. It's bloody slow - you feel like you're creeping along in second, people pass staring, 'why is he going so slowly?' 'maybe his car has a problem'. You feel a freak.
4. It's dangerous. The sheer monotony of driving so slowly lulls you into a false sense of security and your concentration levels fall as opposed to driving at 90 leptons where you are constantly on the lookout for police, people doing something silly, pulling out and maintaining a big stopping distance. We missed the turning off the M5 to the M4 as I just wasn't concentrating pootling along at 68mph - so we had to go on a 40 mile detour through Stroud and Tetbury to get back onto the M4 again.
All in all, it was quite interesting and relaxing, but I'm not sure I'll drive everywhere at 70 in the future
Who actually does 70 on the motorway anyway?"
Having read a few messageboards (T2000/BBC etc.) over the past few days and read the many whining minnies spouting forth 'well, it's the law', 'well, if you are doing over 70 and get caught, that's your fault', 'I stick at 70 why can't you' etc. etc., obviously none of them were on the M4 that day, or maybe all crammed into the Micra we crept past...
Edit to say: FunkyRobot - you can say what you like about concentrating at 70, but I have driven a few other places at 70 since the above journey and can categorically say that people driving at 70 DO NOT concentrate as much as those driving faster. I have had more trouble with numpties driving at 70 weaving around their lane(s), pulling out to overtake and not being aware of the speed of the traffic around them or even that there is traffic around them (!), not making room for vehicles joining the carriageway from junctions or basically driving themselves down 'blind alleys' and getting themselves and other road users in trouble.
These drivers surely can't all be merely 'bad' drivers or drivers who don't drive on the M-way often/are intimidated by it? Lack of concentration when driving at a noticeably slower pace than normal/you are comfortable at must be a factor.
>> Edited by sj78 on Friday 15th April 14:08
: "As in my other thread, I'd been down in Somerset for the weekend and yesterday we came home, in no particular rush.
I normally 'make progress' on motorways - 80-90mph, so mainly in lanes 2-3 for the journey, overtaking more than being overtaken, on the lookout for plod etc., as I suspect most of you on here do
But for once I thought, what's it like to do 70mph on the motorway in the Coupé?
Well, driving this way has it's good and bad points:
Good:
1. It's far more relaxing. Mrs J fell asleep in our cruise rather than being a constant noise in my ear
2. You can see stuff in the fields . Being in Lane 1 and driving slower means you are much nearer the fields at the side of the road - up the M5 and along the M4 we saw much wildlife (herons, hares, deer) that we'd never have a hope of seeing whizzing along at 90 leptons.
3. Better fuel consumption - between J18 of the M4 (Bath) and home - about 70 miles, we used less than an eighth of a tank cruising at 70mph all the way. With dodgy fuel gauge allowance that translates into around 500-600 miles to a tank, which is pretty good going.
4. It wasn't that slow in the long run - the last 70 miles took only about 15 minutes less than it would take me normally.
5. You don't actually HAVE to drive. The inside lane on the M4 is so deeply rutted that if you get your wheels in the ruts, the car is like a Scalextric car and you don't have to steer - you can chat, eat things, gesture wildly at the wildlife in the fields, do your tie up if you were a rep etc. etc.
Bad:
1. It's hard to drive at a constant 70 on a normal motorway - the Coupe doesn't like it. Holding it at 70 in fifth requires such a gentle touch on the throttle that it hurts your knees after a while. The car feels sluggish and doesn't 'sing' like at 80-90.
2. No-one else drives THAT slow. For 50 miles along the M4, driving at 70, we passed TWO cars and three vans. Nobody drives at 70 ever on a normal motorway - why oh why oh why can't we have an 80 limit?
3. It's bloody slow - you feel like you're creeping along in second, people pass staring, 'why is he going so slowly?' 'maybe his car has a problem'. You feel a freak.
4. It's dangerous. The sheer monotony of driving so slowly lulls you into a false sense of security and your concentration levels fall as opposed to driving at 90 leptons where you are constantly on the lookout for police, people doing something silly, pulling out and maintaining a big stopping distance. We missed the turning off the M5 to the M4 as I just wasn't concentrating pootling along at 68mph - so we had to go on a 40 mile detour through Stroud and Tetbury to get back onto the M4 again.
All in all, it was quite interesting and relaxing, but I'm not sure I'll drive everywhere at 70 in the future
Who actually does 70 on the motorway anyway?"
Having read a few messageboards (T2000/BBC etc.) over the past few days and read the many whining minnies spouting forth 'well, it's the law', 'well, if you are doing over 70 and get caught, that's your fault', 'I stick at 70 why can't you' etc. etc., obviously none of them were on the M4 that day, or maybe all crammed into the Micra we crept past...
Edit to say: FunkyRobot - you can say what you like about concentrating at 70, but I have driven a few other places at 70 since the above journey and can categorically say that people driving at 70 DO NOT concentrate as much as those driving faster. I have had more trouble with numpties driving at 70 weaving around their lane(s), pulling out to overtake and not being aware of the speed of the traffic around them or even that there is traffic around them (!), not making room for vehicles joining the carriageway from junctions or basically driving themselves down 'blind alleys' and getting themselves and other road users in trouble.
These drivers surely can't all be merely 'bad' drivers or drivers who don't drive on the M-way often/are intimidated by it? Lack of concentration when driving at a noticeably slower pace than normal/you are comfortable at must be a factor.
>> Edited by sj78 on Friday 15th April 14:08
hedders said:
You may not disagree with everything but you disagree with the fundamentals of being a motoring enthusiast and you are on a motoring enthusiasts forum.
You like speed cams and have no issues with having arbatrary speed limits imposed on you, and you want to rub it in our faces for some reason.
When have I said I 'like' the speed cams and the speed limits??? Show me. If you read my thread I started about speeding drivers you will see I don't agree with speed cameras.
I have no issue with doing the speed limit because as long as i'm doing it in a safe manner I won't have to worry about getting done for speeding! Very simple indeed!
I am not rubbing anything in people's faces. If I posted comments like 'ha ha you got done for speeding' etc etc then you could make a statement like that.
sj78 said:
....why oh why oh why can't we have an 80 limit? ...
Yes! It's the law that needs sorting. Robotic Funkmeister can do 70 as that's his comfortable speed, I can pootle along at 85 without long-range scanners looking for scammers, and the people who want to hoon along the M6 at faster-than-light speeds still do it at their own risk.
A concerted campaign is what's needed. Writing to my MP, governments, etc has not had much effect so far. Safe Speed are doing a good job (have pledged my allegiance) but justice will only be done after a long fight!
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