History of a journey
Discussion
Today had to come back from Exeter to London. In no rush, nice day, set off for an easy ride. Chose the M5-M4 route. And whilst on my way thought of a little experiment... one of those things you think of when a 200 mile motorway journey is on the cards.
As a law-abiding citizen, whilst I set to go steadily at NSL the throughout, had a closer look at the progress of other motorists along the route.
For a start, at a steady 70 mph I would say I was being consistently overtaken like a lampost. On average, 6-7 out of 10 vehicles were progressing at speeds in excess of 85-90 mph (you could tell by how fast they were separating from my vehicle after overtaking me.) 3 of those at speeds in no doubt 100+ mph. You could argue road conditions were good. Well, M5 was a bit dense (lots of holiday-makers). Interestingly, 8 of 10 of those on their way to vacations (mostly on 4x4s or SWs) had their luggage load to the roof, to the point that almost invariably they had their rear mirror vision completely impaired (legal?) Of course, many times with kids moving around, esp. in the 4x4s (what about legal req. of seat/seafety restraints, e.g. booster seats?)
TBH, coasting at 70 I looked like an old auntie...
Lots of people towing caravans, I must say almost invariably behaving properly (!) on the motorway, save the 1 or 2 odd ones.
As for lane discipline, of course, that's thrown to the dogs. Lane 2 mortgagers everywhere, and I must say you could make good progress at 60-70 on lane 1 for good stretches of road (save the M5, polluted with caravaners, which meant overtaking a bit of a chore.)
Interestingly, women drivers were particularly good at tailgating.
OK, all of you must wonder... so what?
Well, if applying the law in limine for all the breaches to the highway code over the 200 miles of motorway, I saw no TrafPol, not a single 1. Not even on bikes. As for scamerati, could see none either (but I was not worried either and "on the look" for them).
Lots, lots of driving outside the boundaries of the law (not making a judgement about the reasonability of those boundaries). Yet no policing. Makes one wonder...
As a law-abiding citizen, whilst I set to go steadily at NSL the throughout, had a closer look at the progress of other motorists along the route.
For a start, at a steady 70 mph I would say I was being consistently overtaken like a lampost. On average, 6-7 out of 10 vehicles were progressing at speeds in excess of 85-90 mph (you could tell by how fast they were separating from my vehicle after overtaking me.) 3 of those at speeds in no doubt 100+ mph. You could argue road conditions were good. Well, M5 was a bit dense (lots of holiday-makers). Interestingly, 8 of 10 of those on their way to vacations (mostly on 4x4s or SWs) had their luggage load to the roof, to the point that almost invariably they had their rear mirror vision completely impaired (legal?) Of course, many times with kids moving around, esp. in the 4x4s (what about legal req. of seat/seafety restraints, e.g. booster seats?)
TBH, coasting at 70 I looked like an old auntie...
Lots of people towing caravans, I must say almost invariably behaving properly (!) on the motorway, save the 1 or 2 odd ones.
As for lane discipline, of course, that's thrown to the dogs. Lane 2 mortgagers everywhere, and I must say you could make good progress at 60-70 on lane 1 for good stretches of road (save the M5, polluted with caravaners, which meant overtaking a bit of a chore.)
Interestingly, women drivers were particularly good at tailgating.
OK, all of you must wonder... so what?
Well, if applying the law in limine for all the breaches to the highway code over the 200 miles of motorway, I saw no TrafPol, not a single 1. Not even on bikes. As for scamerati, could see none either (but I was not worried either and "on the look" for them).
Lots, lots of driving outside the boundaries of the law (not making a judgement about the reasonability of those boundaries). Yet no policing. Makes one wonder...
Edited by Troesma on Saturday 14th July 23:08
Flintstone said:
Sounds like a normal day. Nobody died either I take it?
Now, seriously... my slightly ironic post goes about the fuss that I sometimes see in the forum because someone got nailed doing, say, 75 in a 70 ("sorry mate, you broke the law" type replies) and then you realise what happens "in a normal day". OK, 75 is above the legal limit by the book, but FFS...
As for HATOS... seen just 1 on the hardshoulder in the M4 (assisting no-one, lights out), that's all in 200 miles of road.
Edited by Troesma on Saturday 14th July 23:20
Troesma said:
Now, seriously... my slightly ironic post goes about the fuss that I sometimes see in the forum because someone got nailed doing, say, 75 in a 70 ("sorry mate, you broke the law" type replies) and then you realise what happens "in a normal day". OK, 75 is above the legal limit by the book, but FFS...
The squealing does wear a bit thin in the end - I did something illegal today because I don't like that particular law and wait for it I got done.
......
Sheriff JWPepper said:
Troesma said:
Now, seriously... my slightly ironic post goes about the fuss that I sometimes see in the forum because someone got nailed doing, say, 75 in a 70 ("sorry mate, you broke the law" type replies) and then you realise what happens "in a normal day". OK, 75 is above the legal limit by the book, but FFS...
The squealing does wear a bit thin in the end - I did something illegal today because I don't like that particular law and wait for it I got done.......Edited by Troesma on Saturday 14th July 23:55
Troesma said:
Sheriff JWPepper said:
Troesma said:
Now, seriously... my slightly ironic post goes about the fuss that I sometimes see in the forum because someone got nailed doing, say, 75 in a 70 ("sorry mate, you broke the law" type replies) and then you realise what happens "in a normal day". OK, 75 is above the legal limit by the book, but FFS...
The squealing does wear a bit thin in the end - I did something illegal today because I don't like that particular law and wait for it I got done.......Edited by Troesma on Saturday 14th July 23:52
Sheriff JWPepper said:
Not suggesting you were bud & I agree on the last bit, just frustated that SP&L seems to be heaving with I got caught threads.
Yep, you're right. But understand why people sometimes get frustrated by the state of our road policing/law enforcement/judiciary/sentencing, and the fact that BiB are around provides a good opportunity to check facts and gauge outcomes.Edited by Troesma on Sunday 15th July 00:15
Went on a trip a couple of weeks ago (two cars, 4 BiB in total), from one side of the country to the other, to lift someone who was wanted.
230ish mile round trip, only saw one BiB car, and that was after an accident, so most likely had been dealing with that. Saw half a dozen HATO trucks though... and plenty of bad driving as well.
You'll be pleased to know we got our man...
230ish mile round trip, only saw one BiB car, and that was after an accident, so most likely had been dealing with that. Saw half a dozen HATO trucks though... and plenty of bad driving as well.
You'll be pleased to know we got our man...
Towie said:
See boys, it`s working!
Towie, check out the latest version of the Highway Code (not in print yet). http://www.dsa.gov.uk/Documents/consult/Responses/...
It explains how HATOs can stop moving vehicles.
And I do my APTR training next month, so we're moving on to the A/trunk roads........
It certainly is working!
Edited by Vaux on Sunday 15th July 18:13
I'm sure it's been said before but I resent the use of HATO's as 'mock' BiB in the same way I felt about private traffic wardens (before they were shown to routinely abuse their positions in some areas then I began to really despise them). Their vehicle livery is hardly a coincidence and clearly an attempt at policing on the cheap.
Not the fault of those doing the job, merely an observation of the cynicism of the guv'mint.
Not the fault of those doing the job, merely an observation of the cynicism of the guv'mint.
Sheriff JWPepper said:
Troesma said:
Sheriff JWPepper said:
Troesma said:
Now, seriously... my slightly ironic post goes about the fuss that I sometimes see in the forum because someone got nailed doing, say, 75 in a 70 ("sorry mate, you broke the law" type replies) and then you realise what happens "in a normal day". OK, 75 is above the legal limit by the book, but FFS...
The squealing does wear a bit thin in the end - I did something illegal today because I don't like that particular law and wait for it I got done.......I hope they still take COAST on board. It does help focus on safety led driving und smoothest nonchalant passing of a speed cam without having to brake too
. It also help if blatting toward the 80 mph mark on motorway too. May not resolve the scammer on the bridge - but COAST does make one focus on road ahead more keenly if done properly . You train yourself to glean up at the bridges in the distance You also check out websites und local press for planned timetables . I will be fair to our submarinated one: he publish planned mobile scam sites in the local paper now. We note this. Merci vielmal - Steviebabes/Kevin und Jan as I know you do lurk on here. 
I thus post this up to show you may have some heart deep down . I play fair by you anyway. I post up your negatives with some feline glee most of the time - I admit. I not agree with your policies as regards speed cams, but when you do do something worthy of decency - I will post it up on the sites which do criticise you negatively for most part I know Steviebabes still lurk as have now evidence from posts made on different boards courtesy of blokes who post to the sites in question.
I address on this board on that basis
So! "trio of singing/dancing/knickers in submarinated twisted SpeedFinder Generals of Cumbria" - the "attitude" ist towards your speed cams. We not find much fault with some other initiatives you have as current. I will post this thought to be most fair minded as am aware of two safety advice initiatives for our lovely region which Mad Doc und self do actually support. So I play fair. Some things I find OK but ist the speed cam silliness which not work in reality. I know you lurk. I remind you that I live here since marrying my Mad Doc. I have a son aged 20 years next month. He was conceived just before we celebrated first anniversary of our marriage. It give you some idea as to how long we live here.
You waste time at Shap. Incidents seem increased since you start there
You waste time at Ings und the other spots too. No speed related incidents occur. Heart attacks/fatigue from excess potholing/fell walking/cycling seem to be cause.
You just not targetting where the dangers are. Look at the press reports
We have increases und they are not where you are targetting. Be honest, Steviebabes, who lurk on this site to try to see if anyone pervert "justice" Your KSI still high. Low where scams are - but always were low apart from high profile "multi freakery" in reality. We have the cuttings from press/ hospital stats too - und can prove it by the way
Sherriff J Pepper said:
Troesma said:
I'm not advocating to break the law just because "on average" (or I must say "well above average" ) people do not abide by it on the roads (again, not making a judgement about the reasonability of the law, that's another issue.) What I mean is that one needs to see the full picture before throwing the book on a piecewise basis.
Not suggesting you were bud & I agree on the last bit, just frustated that SP&L seems to be heaving with I got caught threads. Edited by Troesma on Saturday 14th July 23:52
Troesma said:
I'm not advocating to break the law just because "on average", or I must say "well above average", people do not abide by the HTA rules...
Why not?!? If more than half of society are breaking a particular law, then that is clear and unequivocal evidence that that particular law is no longer serving society......and ultimately that is the purpose of laws.
As a society we are increasingly getting things arse-about-face here (led by the nose by the power- (and control-) seeking politicians and the hand-wringing 'human rights' and 'environmentalist' movements*. LAWS are therer to serve and protect society, POLITICIANS are there to serve society, and (on a slight aside) people should be able to defend themselves from criminals/from harm without fear of prosecution themselves! Yet I have to say that from where I sit all three topics seem to be quite the reverse...
- You wouldn't believe that according to every 'test' my politics are left-of-centre, would you?!?
Vaux said:
we're moving on to the A/trunk roads........
Good. That`s exactly where you should be. Incidents/accidents cause far more congestion and risk of escalation than incidents on th motorway due to the lack of hard shoulder. Hopefully your remit will include towing casualty vehicles to a place of relative safety.
Towie said:
Vaux said:
we're moving on to the A/trunk roads........
Good. That`s exactly where you should be. Incidents/accidents cause far more congestion and risk of escalation than incidents on th motorway due to the lack of hard shoulder. Hopefully your remit will include towing casualty vehicles to a place of relative safety.
Hey ho - Civil Service.......
Towie said:
Vaux said:
We're getting new procs. that say we can only tow using the approved towing eye on the dead vehicle. Not easy when the front end is missing........
personally I`d never use it anyway!Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff