Do you break the law??
Discussion
It has to be one of the most abused laws ever... breaking the speed limit. (Please answer yes or no to whether you have ever done it, to gauge a percentage.) Me = yes.
The vast majority of drivers do it, but of all the acts of speeding committed daily, only a small percentage are detected. Most of us will break a speed limit at some point, or many points, on every journey without being detected and penalised. But still we survive
.
Which makes me wonder, are the government serious about detecting speeding offences? Is it really important? If yes, at best their efforts are very poor. At worst, if speed kills as we are told, their efforts are murderously poor!
I just wondered what opinions you lot have
. Do you feel that the authorities aren't doing enough in enforcing speed limits, or perhaps too much already?
More importantly, what is the objective in enforcing the limits? (interested to hear from BIB here). Is it to ensure compliance with the law or is it about safety? If the authorities increased enforcement would it make the roads safer and how, or would it be to detect more acts of speeding just because the law is the law?
Lastly, if so many people are breaking a law, does that say something about that law, or about the people? Does something need to change (the law or the people) or should compliance always be pursued?
ok, so I couldn't sleep, too damn hot
The vast majority of drivers do it, but of all the acts of speeding committed daily, only a small percentage are detected. Most of us will break a speed limit at some point, or many points, on every journey without being detected and penalised. But still we survive
. Which makes me wonder, are the government serious about detecting speeding offences? Is it really important? If yes, at best their efforts are very poor. At worst, if speed kills as we are told, their efforts are murderously poor!
I just wondered what opinions you lot have
. Do you feel that the authorities aren't doing enough in enforcing speed limits, or perhaps too much already? More importantly, what is the objective in enforcing the limits? (interested to hear from BIB here). Is it to ensure compliance with the law or is it about safety? If the authorities increased enforcement would it make the roads safer and how, or would it be to detect more acts of speeding just because the law is the law?
Lastly, if so many people are breaking a law, does that say something about that law, or about the people? Does something need to change (the law or the people) or should compliance always be pursued?
ok, so I couldn't sleep, too damn hot
deeps said:
ok, so I couldn't sleep, too damn hot
First cool night in Reading for a while - managed to sleep without the fan on! As for the topic...
The government have set targets for KSI limits - the councils are either ill-informed on how to reduce KSIs or greenie liberals and believe the only method is reducing the speed limit.
Hence the proliferation of speed cameras and talivans and worse still the mass reduction of speed limits.
The RAC claimed last year that Britain is in the grip of a “speeding epidemic”. Their survey proved that 15 million drivers exceed speed limits on a daily basis. If we were to speculate that each of these drivers does so just ten times a day then that is around 150 million events where drivers exceed the speed limit.
Despite these 150 million incidents of speed limits being exceeded every day just two or three people are killed nationwide in what the government calls “speed related” accidents, though we know this to be based on twisted statistics and it's actually more like one person per day. Considerably more people are killed each day as a result of accidents in the home!. So, very approximately 150 Million incidents of speeding a day results in one death daily which is why speed cameras are not working. If you were to half the number of speeding incidents and double the deaths it is still an overwhelming ratio.
This highlights that, despite 15 million drivers exceeding speed limits daily, they are largely driving safely, but we knew that anyway.
Despite these 150 million incidents of speed limits being exceeded every day just two or three people are killed nationwide in what the government calls “speed related” accidents, though we know this to be based on twisted statistics and it's actually more like one person per day. Considerably more people are killed each day as a result of accidents in the home!. So, very approximately 150 Million incidents of speeding a day results in one death daily which is why speed cameras are not working. If you were to half the number of speeding incidents and double the deaths it is still an overwhelming ratio.
This highlights that, despite 15 million drivers exceeding speed limits daily, they are largely driving safely, but we knew that anyway.
Edited by regmolehusband on Sunday 23 July 09:10
deeps said:
It has to be one of the most abused laws ever... breaking the speed limit. (Please answer yes or no to whether you have ever done it, to gauge a percentage.) Me = yes.
Yes. Blips (und the odd blat on a nice road we know
(but are not saying in case Steviebabes lurks ) Also... can blip over on bicycle on downhill 20 mph und 30 mph limits too
deeps said:
The vast majority of drivers do it, but of all the acts of speeding committed daily, only a small percentage are detected. Most of us will break a speed limit at some point, or many points, on every journey without being detected and penalised. But still we survive
.But look where the scams und the mobiles und the vans are und then take another look. Painted yellow .. but crude attempts to "conceal" Example ... one as you approach - you see the lolly for the slip road - but it "hides" the scam on the faster road. Good many are set up near trees und are completely hidden by foliage come the summer.. und we found one in Lancs on a 50 mph ring road "concealed" by a lamp post und another sign post - und no white line markings. These were obviusly attempts to conceal these cams - even though they placed location on the pratsite.
Even then.. they say that not every scam has film or camera .. und half of these scams are just housings und thus it becomes as Dr Rose Baker discovered in a published (und "peer reviewed"
) paper "a pinging lottery" 
with the live scams being scewed at cash register till points Ist in the paper she published about the same time as Dr Mountain's work. Was debated on here at the time it appeared in the press.
deeps said:
Which makes me wonder, are the government serious about detecting speeding offences? Is it really important? If yes, at best their efforts are very poor. At worst, if speed kills as we are told, their efforts are murderously poor!
Ist lip service to a desire to appear to be "doing something" und besides that - they have a target to reduce car dependency too. They have even roped in the Church to tell vicars to preach to congregations that ist "a sin to drive gas guzzling car und take plane to go on hols und have all the mod gadgets"
I am sure that will get congregations flocking back to evening services. NOT! Ist all part of the "greener than thee" bandwagon - only they forget how bicycles are delivered, how the economy works und how things get into all shops...
(It remind me of an old Dave Allen sketch..
) - but anyway this story ist in Sunday Times today per an early morning listen to chap running through the headlines - have not read our papers yet. deeps said:
I just wondered what opinions you lot have
. Do you feel that the authorities aren't doing enough in enforcing speed limits, or perhaps too much already? They concentrate on areas where they make cash und not on promoting safety led driving skills - which in turn lead to safest speed being chosen.
deeps said:
More importantly, what is the objective in enforcing the limits? (interested to hear from BIB here). Is it to ensure compliance with the law or is it about safety? If the authorities increased enforcement would it make the roads safer and how, or would it be to detect more acts of speeding just because the law is the law?
They would cop more people blipping over. It would not make the roads any safet though because we do not do anything to educate or raise standards regarding observation und anticipation of hazard - or educate pedestrians und cyclists to obey or even read the Highway Code either. Interesting take on this published in Cycling Mags und IG posted these on Paul's Cycling sub fora.
It seems a lot of cyclists want other cyclists to obey red lights und read the CODE! deeps said:
Lastly, if so many people are breaking a law, does that say something about that law, or about the people? Does something need to change (the law or the people) or should compliance always be pursued?
It says that the speed limit on the road in question should be reviewed as the higher speed would seem to be the normal safe speed since everyone tootles along at this - braking only for the scam
deeps said:
ok, so I couldn't sleep, too damn hot
Ist horrendously hot....
Of more relevance, perhaps, is to ask how many accidents have been caused by people piling on the brakes as they pass the camera, not having a clue what the speed limit is in the area they are driving. Why oh why do they not show the limit on the back of these boxes?
Or by the idiots who insist on driving at 25 mph on the stretch of road near me where there are eight cameras in a half mile stretch?
Or by the idiots who insist on driving at 25 mph on the stretch of road near me where there are eight cameras in a half mile stretch?
As I drive/ride watching out for hazards (front and rear) in the ever changing environment that is a public highway, instead of gluing my eyes to the speedo, yes I'm sure I occasionaly speed.
Perhaps I need "reeducating" though. After all, if I hit a child that has run into the road, I would feel much better knowing that I watched my speedo religiously and never strayed above the limit.
Perhaps I need "reeducating" though. After all, if I hit a child that has run into the road, I would feel much better knowing that I watched my speedo religiously and never strayed above the limit.
WildCat said:
But look where the scams und the mobiles und the vans are und then take another look. Painted yellow .. but crude attempts to "conceal" Example ... one as you approach - you see the lolly for the slip road - but it "hides" the scam on the faster road. Good many are set up near trees und are completely hidden by foliage come the summer.. und we found one in Lancs on a 50 mph ring road "concealed" by a lamp post und another sign post - und no white line markings. These were obviusly attempts to conceal these cams - even though they placed location on the pratsite.
Are you suggesting they don't really want drivers to obey the speed limit at the camera site/accident black spot?
I took this pic on the M4 last week, it's a 50 limit. Strangely there's alot of panic braking occurring by the tree.
Ja - ist strange that they claim to put the scam there to "save our lives by slowing us down" und that they claim to paint it yellow und place a small rectangle which look like an overturned ship to "inform und warn us to slow down" und then go to extreme measures to try to conceal this money making device which ist no where near the accident site .. which ist another reason why they make spin claims that "zero accidentss occur at these cam sites"
Or lurk on motorway bridges (und now park van "out of view" ) I hope that guy on M6 bridge (Lancs bit in the "Speed check zone per blue signs ) ) on Wednesday was hot und bothered up there .. und I would remind him that "only mad dogs und Englishmen go out in the mid-day sun!" (I look at timetables.. I knew he would be lurking.. und so I drove the stretch at sedate speed
Result - only accident which occur are the rear end shunts which are reported to insurers as rear end shunts which did not involve police or hospitals und thus not recorded in those stats but are recorded in accident stats reported to insurers which appear higher than government onese :scratcchin:
to "inform und warn us to slow down" und then go to extreme measures to try to conceal this money making device which ist no where near the accident site .. which ist another reason why they make spin claims that "zero accidentss occur at these cam sites" Or lurk on motorway bridges (und now park van "out of view"
) I hope that guy on M6 bridge (Lancs bit in the "Speed check zone per blue signs ) ) on Wednesday was hot und bothered up there .. und I would remind him that "only mad dogs und Englishmen go out in the mid-day sun!" (I look at timetables.. I knew he would be lurking.. und so I drove the stretch at sedate speed Result - only accident which occur are the rear end shunts which are reported to insurers as rear end shunts which did not involve police or hospitals und thus not recorded in those stats
but are recorded in accident stats reported to insurers which appear higher than government onese :scratcchin: I drive as I have always done, with my eyes watching the road ahead and not the speedometer. I find the additional hazard of watching for the deliberately concealed talivan or patrol car a nuisance distraction, verging on the dangerous when overtaking. Overtaking has become a more frequent necessity with single carriageway speeds around the 37-40 nowadays.
And with the rash of inappropriately lowered speedlimits I have to conclude that I speed far more often on every journey nowadays compared with 15-20 years ago.
Suprisingly according to PC propaganda there should be KSIs in my wake over the last nearly million miles I've driven but with 1 own fault accident ( 2 mile/h bumper crumpler at t-junct in 1981) I offer no apologies.
And with the rash of inappropriately lowered speedlimits I have to conclude that I speed far more often on every journey nowadays compared with 15-20 years ago.
Suprisingly according to PC propaganda there should be KSIs in my wake over the last nearly million miles I've driven but with 1 own fault accident ( 2 mile/h bumper crumpler at t-junct in 1981) I offer no apologies.
When i drive I almost always spend a fair few miles on NSL A-roads or M/ways.
I would say it is most likely that on these sections of road I may occassionaly be in breach of the law for only one reason.
I have only had 1 accident that was my fault in 9 yrs of driving and that was below the speed limit when i was 17. The only other accident was when i was stationary on the A77 in a que of traffic and a driver (working for a well known mobile telecommunications firm) who felt his phone call was more important than the stationary q of 30 or so vehicles in front of him, rammed another van into me.
So in approx' 60000 miles of possibly driving above the speed limit, no accidents.
It is the only law i knowingly break, although i have been intoxicated in a licensed establishment on occasion and i believe that is also technically illegal.
As of this time next year another activity of mine shall become illegal. There is new H & S laws regarding sound pressure levels in the workplace. Apart from the fact that the technicalities of the legislation are ridiculously flawed it seems that when i occasionally turn the music up to check final mixes and so on i will be breaking these laws. It will also become illegal for me to record a drumkit and the bagpipes.
I would say it is most likely that on these sections of road I may occassionaly be in breach of the law for only one reason.
I have only had 1 accident that was my fault in 9 yrs of driving and that was below the speed limit when i was 17. The only other accident was when i was stationary on the A77 in a que of traffic and a driver (working for a well known mobile telecommunications firm) who felt his phone call was more important than the stationary q of 30 or so vehicles in front of him, rammed another van into me.
So in approx' 60000 miles of possibly driving above the speed limit, no accidents.
It is the only law i knowingly break, although i have been intoxicated in a licensed establishment on occasion and i believe that is also technically illegal.
As of this time next year another activity of mine shall become illegal. There is new H & S laws regarding sound pressure levels in the workplace. Apart from the fact that the technicalities of the legislation are ridiculously flawed it seems that when i occasionally turn the music up to check final mixes and so on i will be breaking these laws. It will also become illegal for me to record a drumkit and the bagpipes.
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