Question about Speeding
Discussion
We read all the time that more people are being prosecuted for the Offence of speeding as opposed to other offences.
Do we think that this is true?
Ask yourself this question -:
How many times a day do you speed, is it on every journey ? (even by as much as 5mph)
I believe that most people will say that they speed everyday to some degree or other if they are honest...i know that i do.
How many days have you driven over the past few years?
Now look at how many times you have been caught and prosecuted for the Offence.
Ive never been stopped for speeding in over 20 years of driving.
When you work it all out its not too bad at all is it.
I would like to think that if you were out stealing cars, or Burgling peoples houses everyday that in 20 years you certainly would be caught.
I know that some of you will think that this is a really stupid question but when you think about it, its based purely on fact (real life personal experiences) and not conjecture.
So in reality, is it really that bad?
Do we think that this is true?
Ask yourself this question -:
How many times a day do you speed, is it on every journey ? (even by as much as 5mph)
I believe that most people will say that they speed everyday to some degree or other if they are honest...i know that i do.
How many days have you driven over the past few years?
Now look at how many times you have been caught and prosecuted for the Offence.
Ive never been stopped for speeding in over 20 years of driving.
When you work it all out its not too bad at all is it.
I would like to think that if you were out stealing cars, or Burgling peoples houses everyday that in 20 years you certainly would be caught.
I know that some of you will think that this is a really stupid question but when you think about it, its based purely on fact (real life personal experiences) and not conjecture.
So in reality, is it really that bad?
It's the fear of getting caught, some nice BIB follows me and pulls me for speeding inappropriately - no problem fair cop, Kodak cop hides in a little van to get some cash - no fair. Knowing that the points you could get would raise your insurance, and knowing some partnerships are seemingly only after your money get on people t1ts.
But you are correct could be lots worse, and will do if we bend over and do a Charles.
Malc
But you are correct could be lots worse, and will do if we bend over and do a Charles.
Malc
I think I speed every single journey I make - so that makes me a veteran criminal 
However, I have been stopped and I have been fined, but until the last couple of years I ALWAYS got off with a warning, which did slow me down (for a few mins, anyway). In the last 3 1/2 years tho, I've acquired 9 points, 6 from camera and 3 from trafpol. The camera ones were dodgy to say the least, neither dangerous nor excessive for the conditions, (the trafpol ones are a slightly different matter tho
)
But its the real thought now that the "Safety" partnerships are out to get me. For the last 15 years I haven't caused an accident and I do 4 times the average mileage a year regularly, so afaiac its only a matter of time til I get nabbed again, and it won't be a static camera, more like a hidden van that'll catch me.
Do I feel persecuted - Yes
Do I think I've had "value for money" - maybe
Has it stopped me from "speeding" - NO WAY!
Do I think I am a danger to society - NO.
However, I have been stopped and I have been fined, but until the last couple of years I ALWAYS got off with a warning, which did slow me down (for a few mins, anyway). In the last 3 1/2 years tho, I've acquired 9 points, 6 from camera and 3 from trafpol. The camera ones were dodgy to say the least, neither dangerous nor excessive for the conditions, (the trafpol ones are a slightly different matter tho
) But its the real thought now that the "Safety" partnerships are out to get me. For the last 15 years I haven't caused an accident and I do 4 times the average mileage a year regularly, so afaiac its only a matter of time til I get nabbed again, and it won't be a static camera, more like a hidden van that'll catch me.
Do I feel persecuted - Yes
Do I think I've had "value for money" - maybe
Has it stopped me from "speeding" - NO WAY!
Do I think I am a danger to society - NO.
The point is that it is all such a bloody lottery - some areas you'll get caught and dependant on the method (officer, gatso) or mood of the officer depends if you get a ticket or not. Depends on the court what your punishment will be - some get off with a small fine no points, others slapped with a huge fine and ban for the same offence.
Take todays news - scrote killed a pedestrian, no insurance, TAX, MOT and was over the drink drive limit - what did she get?
£150 fine and ban for a year.
Drive 100 mph and what do you get? Let off? banned + £1000 fine?
It's all f'd up.
>> Edited by reanimate on Friday 5th December 09:54
Take todays news - scrote killed a pedestrian, no insurance, TAX, MOT and was over the drink drive limit - what did she get?
£150 fine and ban for a year.
Drive 100 mph and what do you get? Let off? banned + £1000 fine?
It's all f'd up.
>> Edited by reanimate on Friday 5th December 09:54
tonyrec said:
Ask yourself this question -:
How many times a day do you speed, is it on every journey ? (even by as much as 5mph)
Fair comment. I know I do too.
This also works the other way - if the simplistic "Speed Kills" slogan were really true - thousands of people would get killed on a daily basis, because there's hundreds of thousands speeding every day...
Speed everytime i go out. I do it deliberately.
Ill continue to do it deliberately. Why should i comply? Cos ill get a speeding ticket and a fine? To hell with that, ill keep doing it for the following reasons:
1) My style of driving has so far proved itself to be extremely safe.
2)I enjoy travelling at speed.
3)I wont comply with limits i see as too low for my level of ability or safety. That applies to being Under the limit as well as over, so if its pissing down and the limit is 70, i reserve the right to do UNDER the limit to retain a good safety margin.
Point 3 is what i was saying before about use of discretion to set a safe speed. Just cos the limit says 70 or 170, it dosent mean at this instant in time that its safe to do it.Hence my attitudes towards limits.
As for being stopped by police for speeding... been a few times, and been a few times i did the er "outrun" on them......
but that was when i was younger and had little sense.
Ill continue to do it deliberately. Why should i comply? Cos ill get a speeding ticket and a fine? To hell with that, ill keep doing it for the following reasons:
1) My style of driving has so far proved itself to be extremely safe.
2)I enjoy travelling at speed.
3)I wont comply with limits i see as too low for my level of ability or safety. That applies to being Under the limit as well as over, so if its pissing down and the limit is 70, i reserve the right to do UNDER the limit to retain a good safety margin.
Point 3 is what i was saying before about use of discretion to set a safe speed. Just cos the limit says 70 or 170, it dosent mean at this instant in time that its safe to do it.Hence my attitudes towards limits.
As for being stopped by police for speeding... been a few times, and been a few times i did the er "outrun" on them......
but that was when i was younger and had little sense. tonyrec said:
<...> i know that i do.
<...>
Ive never been stopped for speeding in over 20 years of driving.
<...>
When you work it all out its not too bad at all is it.
Yes it is. How many of those times that you sped resulted in an accident (as a result of the speeding)?
tonyrec said:
I would like to think that if you were out stealing cars, or Burgling peoples houses everyday that in 20 years you certainly would be caught.
It's a bogus comparison; by definition, 100% of those car thefts or burglaries was a car theft or a burglary.
OTOH, an infinitesimaly small number of speeding incidents, as a % of the total number of speeding incidents that take place, results in an accident as a result of the speeding incident.
tonyrec said:
So in reality, is it really that bad?
Yes, for the reasons above.
Yes, the chances might be slim. But if you're the one getting caught doing 83 on a clear stretch of motorway, you don't care about whether the chances are slim or not...
But the obsession by government and scamera partnerships with speeding being the most contributary factor for accidents is just plain wrong. We have more or less agreed that almost everyone speeds on a daily basis, so if it was all that bad, many, many more accidents would happen - and KILL of course. In fact, from this, you can pretty much draw the conclusion that accidents are most likely caused by factors other than speeding (not paying attention, reckless driving, not keeping distance etc..)
And this is exactly why we need proper, independent scientific research as to what the main causes of road traffic accidents are.
Edited to add the last paragraph...
>> Edited by wimdows on Friday 5th December 10:38
But the obsession by government and scamera partnerships with speeding being the most contributary factor for accidents is just plain wrong. We have more or less agreed that almost everyone speeds on a daily basis, so if it was all that bad, many, many more accidents would happen - and KILL of course. In fact, from this, you can pretty much draw the conclusion that accidents are most likely caused by factors other than speeding (not paying attention, reckless driving, not keeping distance etc..)
And this is exactly why we need proper, independent scientific research as to what the main causes of road traffic accidents are.
Edited to add the last paragraph...
>> Edited by wimdows on Friday 5th December 10:38
I'm sure that the overwhelming majority of us will admit to speeding, I do. However we only do it because the odds are stacked in our favour of getting away with it, sure we can influence those odds to a degree by being observant but generally as Tony indicated the chances of us getting caught are fairly remote.
I suggest that our speeding habits would decrease in direct proportion to advances in detection technology, in other words as the odds get smaller - we get slower.
I suggest that our speeding habits would decrease in direct proportion to advances in detection technology, in other words as the odds get smaller - we get slower.
Funny you should ask this tonyrec. I live slightly northwest of glasgow where there are (well were) a LOT of really good roads that were designated as being at the NSL. They tend to be where I do most of my driving. Now, most of them are being brought down to 40, and there are cameras (One got killed a few weeks ago) sitting on some of these roads.
The thing is, these roads were being driven for many years at 60 without problems. The reduction doesnt make sense.
The risk of getting caught is low, but I dont fancy getting done for doing 85 in a 40 zone
>> Edited by kenny320 on Friday 5th December 10:52
The thing is, these roads were being driven for many years at 60 without problems. The reduction doesnt make sense.
The risk of getting caught is low, but I dont fancy getting done for doing 85 in a 40 zone
>> Edited by kenny320 on Friday 5th December 10:52
tonyrec said:
How many times a day do you speed, is it on every journey ? (even by as much as 5mph)
How many days have you driven over the past few years?
Now look at how many times you have been caught and prosecuted for the Offence.
Ive never been stopped for speeding in over 20 years of driving.
When you work it all out its not too bad at all is it.
I would like to think that if you were out stealing cars, or Burgling peoples houses everyday that in 20 years you certainly would be caught.
Fair point tony. But a real comparison would be, how many times has a burglar *attempted* to break in and walked away without doing it in 20 years -- and not got caught?
would they face charges? would they get a fine? most burglars even after getting caught, recieve no fines. most get a warning, some get community service they dont attend. Do it 98 times, you might get a stretch.
They DO NOT recieve £60 pound fines for ATTEMPTED break ins. They do not pay higher insurance for 5 years after. They dont risk losing their licence, going down, massive fines, and job loss for 4 consecutive attempts in a 6 year period.
WHilst a driver.. Ive never injured anyone, had an accident with another car, or cost anyone a penny for my driving. No one has the fear to leave their home because of seeing me speed.
But I have never been involved in an accident, I still get fined and my licence scarred for a six year period ( 2 speeds )
So my speeding has never cost lives, in the same way an attempted robbery hasnt actually robbed anything.
whats the comparison here?
speeding=climbing into garden, checking the locks
accident from crashing= actually break in and steal.
but the penalty?
speeding=£60 fine min. and points
checking the locks= nothing, not even a record.
accident=fines, points, even a stretch
bulgary=ticking off, small fine you dont pay.
If there were a fixed camera and a £60 fine just for trying someones car door/front door we could really compare like for like.
However, its unlikely the police would even attend if you called and said "theres a scrote attempting all the car doors on the street"
I speed, dont do any harm, yet could face £60 fine straight away.
Until on the spot fines are handed out for *attempted* burgulary never mind actual burglary, I think the speeders have the worst conviction issue.
I speed on practically every journey where its appropriate. I never speed in a 30 and infact usually slow right down to 20 on roads with cars parked where kids can run out etc.
I do speed on A roads and motorways when the conditions allow.
I speed by a small margin on the motorways as that is where I've been caught before. My speeding is mainly A - Roads and country lanes with good visiblity - making sure I can stop in the distance I can see etc.
When I did get caught I was very stupid. I actually saw the unmarked Vauxhall following me at a suspicious distance. At that time I still beleived the urban myth that two police officers had to be in the car so thought I was safe. Duuuh !!
Trafpol was very pleasant and reasonable. It was a fair cop. Points expire in June
To answer your question Tony, I have to say there does seem to be a low probability of getting caught speeding.
As long as you are observant, have detectors and don't take the p**S.
I still think the government spend to much on speed cameras and that that money could be better spent on more BIB.
I certainly think there should be more trafpol on the motorways because the amount of crap and dangerous driving I see is frightening - even though this would increase the chance of me getting caught speeding.
>> Edited by mdh on Friday 5th December 11:02
I do speed on A roads and motorways when the conditions allow.
I speed by a small margin on the motorways as that is where I've been caught before. My speeding is mainly A - Roads and country lanes with good visiblity - making sure I can stop in the distance I can see etc.
When I did get caught I was very stupid. I actually saw the unmarked Vauxhall following me at a suspicious distance. At that time I still beleived the urban myth that two police officers had to be in the car so thought I was safe. Duuuh !!
Trafpol was very pleasant and reasonable. It was a fair cop. Points expire in June
To answer your question Tony, I have to say there does seem to be a low probability of getting caught speeding.
As long as you are observant, have detectors and don't take the p**S.
I still think the government spend to much on speed cameras and that that money could be better spent on more BIB.
I certainly think there should be more trafpol on the motorways because the amount of crap and dangerous driving I see is frightening - even though this would increase the chance of me getting caught speeding.
>> Edited by mdh on Friday 5th December 11:02
Why dont you speed in a 30 Mdh? I dont see the problem.
Its all a question of circumstances.
If the conditions are such that the hypothetical 30 zone is a straight clear road, with no parked cars, good visibility etc, then whats the problem with 40?
There isnt one.
The argument about speeding in a 30 being somehow more dangerous than going over 60 in an NSL seems kind of senseless to me.
Call me reckless, call me irresponsible, call me stupid, ive done 140mph in a NSL.
you criminal!
Wont say where or when. However, the road was clear, little traffic, sunny day etc etc.
Before i get slated, at least 4 or 5 others (including the biker on the Bandit) thought it safe to do so, and thus it proved to be.
I suppose what im saying here is that blind obedience to a limit, however high or low, is not what people should be doing. Use your discretion and experience to make the decision, just make the correct one.
Its all a question of circumstances.
If the conditions are such that the hypothetical 30 zone is a straight clear road, with no parked cars, good visibility etc, then whats the problem with 40?
There isnt one.
The argument about speeding in a 30 being somehow more dangerous than going over 60 in an NSL seems kind of senseless to me.
Call me reckless, call me irresponsible, call me stupid, ive done 140mph in a NSL.
you criminal! Wont say where or when. However, the road was clear, little traffic, sunny day etc etc.
Before i get slated, at least 4 or 5 others (including the biker on the Bandit) thought it safe to do so, and thus it proved to be.
I suppose what im saying here is that blind obedience to a limit, however high or low, is not what people should be doing. Use your discretion and experience to make the decision, just make the correct one.
"Why don't you speed in a 30 Mdh? I dont see the problem."
Its just that where I live they all are small roads with cars on either side - that's why I generally do 20. Doing 30 - even though its the limit is to fast - in my opinion - for the roads.
I regularly go over 100 on A roads - and have had my car flat out on the M4 at 3:00am with no other cars around. Still dangerous - I know - but only to me.
In all cases I try and drive appropriate to the conditions and how far ahead I can see, how much of the pavement I can see.
>> Edited by mdh on Friday 5th December 11:18
>> Edited by mdh on Friday 5th December 11:19
Its just that where I live they all are small roads with cars on either side - that's why I generally do 20. Doing 30 - even though its the limit is to fast - in my opinion - for the roads.
I regularly go over 100 on A roads - and have had my car flat out on the M4 at 3:00am with no other cars around. Still dangerous - I know - but only to me.
In all cases I try and drive appropriate to the conditions and how far ahead I can see, how much of the pavement I can see.
>> Edited by mdh on Friday 5th December 11:18
>> Edited by mdh on Friday 5th December 11:19
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