I'm flexible with speed limits, but other crimes = dickwad
Discussion
I sometimes take a flexible, "conditions based" approach when it comes to speed limits. Nothing dangerous and not hurting anyone.
However, many many other drivers seem to take a flexible, "conditions based" approach to all manner of other rules of the road which, despite the fact that they are not really hurting anyone either, for some reason I seem to think makes them feckless dicks.
Examples:
- Crossing red lights late, but still before the opposing light has actually gone green.
- Parking on double yellows, but where they really haven't really caused any significant obstruction.
- Crossing solid white lines on the motorway to merge early, but without significantly conflicting with other traffic.
- Turning right at "left turn only" signs, but not really causing a danger by doing so.
- Nipping through no-entry signs, rather than going the long way around.
- General lane abuse.
Questions:
- Am I a hypocrite because of my flexibility on speed but inflexibility on everything else? (Any other fellow hypocrites here?)
- Alternatively, do you do things like the examples I've given? If so, am I correct in suspecting you are a feckless dick, or do I just need to work on myself?
However, many many other drivers seem to take a flexible, "conditions based" approach to all manner of other rules of the road which, despite the fact that they are not really hurting anyone either, for some reason I seem to think makes them feckless dicks.
Examples:
- Crossing red lights late, but still before the opposing light has actually gone green.
- Parking on double yellows, but where they really haven't really caused any significant obstruction.
- Crossing solid white lines on the motorway to merge early, but without significantly conflicting with other traffic.
- Turning right at "left turn only" signs, but not really causing a danger by doing so.
- Nipping through no-entry signs, rather than going the long way around.
- General lane abuse.
Questions:
- Am I a hypocrite because of my flexibility on speed but inflexibility on everything else? (Any other fellow hypocrites here?)
- Alternatively, do you do things like the examples I've given? If so, am I correct in suspecting you are a feckless dick, or do I just need to work on myself?
some of these are just bad or inconsiderate driving - speeding in itself isnt necessarily bad or inconsiderate (though it can be). its just a number.
a clear, well sighted motorway doing 80mph is speeding, but isnt bad or inconsiderate driving,
if people had good lane discipline, left room for others and were generally more considerate drivers, then speed limits could probably be higher. but because we have poor lane discipine, parking in bad places, ignoring road markings and traffic lights, we have to have lower speed limits.
a clear, well sighted motorway doing 80mph is speeding, but isnt bad or inconsiderate driving,
if people had good lane discipline, left room for others and were generally more considerate drivers, then speed limits could probably be higher. but because we have poor lane discipine, parking in bad places, ignoring road markings and traffic lights, we have to have lower speed limits.
Interesting topic. I think some fail to remember that we aren't all robots and especially when it comes to driving, we should stop pretending it's realistic for humans to behave like them. There are plenty of examples of rule breaking that in reality don't hurt, endanger or even inconvenience anybody.
Examples:
- Crossing red lights late, but still before the opposing light has actually gone green. [on a very rare occasion (once every 5 years, or so) with nothing else around in the other lanes, I have crossed a red light within 1 sec of it going, but nope, nothing close to your suggestion]?
- Parking on double yellows, but where they really haven't really caused any significant obstruction. [nope, never done this. I always look for a better place to park]
- Crossing solid white lines on the motorway to merge early, but without significantly conflicting with other traffic. [Nope again, I always wait until the dotted line]
- Turning right at "left turn only" signs, but not really causing a danger by doing so. [f
k no, that’s the f
king point of the signs. I turn left and a find somewhere to turn around]
- Nipping through no-entry signs, rather than going the long way around. [Again No. and I know someone who got 3 points for it, but that hasn’t affected my decision to have never done it]
- General lane abuse. [it’s not hard to keep your side of the line and/or leave the junction]?
So a full score of six from me on the question of your being a hypocrite.
- Crossing red lights late, but still before the opposing light has actually gone green. [on a very rare occasion (once every 5 years, or so) with nothing else around in the other lanes, I have crossed a red light within 1 sec of it going, but nope, nothing close to your suggestion]?
- Parking on double yellows, but where they really haven't really caused any significant obstruction. [nope, never done this. I always look for a better place to park]
- Crossing solid white lines on the motorway to merge early, but without significantly conflicting with other traffic. [Nope again, I always wait until the dotted line]
- Turning right at "left turn only" signs, but not really causing a danger by doing so. [f
k no, that’s the f
king point of the signs. I turn left and a find somewhere to turn around]- Nipping through no-entry signs, rather than going the long way around. [Again No. and I know someone who got 3 points for it, but that hasn’t affected my decision to have never done it]
- General lane abuse. [it’s not hard to keep your side of the line and/or leave the junction]?
So a full score of six from me on the question of your being a hypocrite.
Tommo87 said:
Examples:
- Crossing red lights late, but still before the opposing light has actually gone green. [on a very rare occasion (once every 5 years, or so) with nothing else around in the other lanes, I have crossed a red light within 1 sec of it going, but nope, nothing close to your suggestion]?
- Parking on double yellows, but where they really haven't really caused any significant obstruction. [nope, never done this. I always look for a better place to park]
- Crossing solid white lines on the motorway to merge early, but without significantly conflicting with other traffic. [Nope again, I always wait until the dotted line]
- Turning right at "left turn only" signs, but not really causing a danger by doing so. [f
k no, that’s the f
king point of the signs. I turn left and a find somewhere to turn around]
- Nipping through no-entry signs, rather than going the long way around. [Again No. and I know someone who got 3 points for it, but that hasn’t affected my decision to have never done it]
- General lane abuse. [it’s not hard to keep your side of the line and/or leave the junction]?
So a full score of six from me on the question of your being a hypocrite.
Can you honestly say that you never speed? I doubt it. - Crossing red lights late, but still before the opposing light has actually gone green. [on a very rare occasion (once every 5 years, or so) with nothing else around in the other lanes, I have crossed a red light within 1 sec of it going, but nope, nothing close to your suggestion]?
- Parking on double yellows, but where they really haven't really caused any significant obstruction. [nope, never done this. I always look for a better place to park]
- Crossing solid white lines on the motorway to merge early, but without significantly conflicting with other traffic. [Nope again, I always wait until the dotted line]
- Turning right at "left turn only" signs, but not really causing a danger by doing so. [f
k no, that’s the f
king point of the signs. I turn left and a find somewhere to turn around]- Nipping through no-entry signs, rather than going the long way around. [Again No. and I know someone who got 3 points for it, but that hasn’t affected my decision to have never done it]
- General lane abuse. [it’s not hard to keep your side of the line and/or leave the junction]?
So a full score of six from me on the question of your being a hypocrite.
And if you do, no matter how slight, you're a hypocrite. Like I said, I would suggest everybody is to some extent.

Bennet said:
I sometimes take a flexible, "conditions based" approach when it comes to speed limits. Nothing dangerous and not hurting anyone.
However, many many other drivers seem to take a flexible, "conditions based" approach to all manner of other rules of the road which, despite the fact that they are not really hurting anyone either, for some reason I seem to think makes them feckless dicks.
Examples:
- Crossing red lights late, but still before the opposing light has actually gone green.
- Parking on double yellows, but where they really haven't really caused any significant obstruction.
- Crossing solid white lines on the motorway to merge early, but without significantly conflicting with other traffic.
- Turning right at "left turn only" signs, but not really causing a danger by doing so.
- Nipping through no-entry signs, rather than going the long way around.
- General lane abuse.
Questions:
- Am I a hypocrite because of my flexibility on speed but inflexibility on everything else? (Any other fellow hypocrites here?)
- Alternatively, do you do things like the examples I've given? If so, am I correct in suspecting you are a feckless dick, or do I just need to work on myself?
I adhere to limits within a fairly close tolerance lately, go a tad over in the environment of social norm, other rules normally strictly adhered.However, many many other drivers seem to take a flexible, "conditions based" approach to all manner of other rules of the road which, despite the fact that they are not really hurting anyone either, for some reason I seem to think makes them feckless dicks.
Examples:
- Crossing red lights late, but still before the opposing light has actually gone green.
- Parking on double yellows, but where they really haven't really caused any significant obstruction.
- Crossing solid white lines on the motorway to merge early, but without significantly conflicting with other traffic.
- Turning right at "left turn only" signs, but not really causing a danger by doing so.
- Nipping through no-entry signs, rather than going the long way around.
- General lane abuse.
Questions:
- Am I a hypocrite because of my flexibility on speed but inflexibility on everything else? (Any other fellow hypocrites here?)
- Alternatively, do you do things like the examples I've given? If so, am I correct in suspecting you are a feckless dick, or do I just need to work on myself?
Lincsls1 said:
Tommo87 said:
Examples:
- Crossing red lights late, but still before the opposing light has actually gone green. [on a very rare occasion (once every 5 years, or so) with nothing else around in the other lanes, I have crossed a red light within 1 sec of it going, but nope, nothing close to your suggestion]?
- Parking on double yellows, but where they really haven't really caused any significant obstruction. [nope, never done this. I always look for a better place to park]
- Crossing solid white lines on the motorway to merge early, but without significantly conflicting with other traffic. [Nope again, I always wait until the dotted line]
- Turning right at "left turn only" signs, but not really causing a danger by doing so. [f
k no, that’s the f
king point of the signs. I turn left and a find somewhere to turn around]
- Nipping through no-entry signs, rather than going the long way around. [Again No. and I know someone who got 3 points for it, but that hasn’t affected my decision to have never done it]
- General lane abuse. [it’s not hard to keep your side of the line and/or leave the junction]?
So a full score of six from me on the question of your being a hypocrite.
Can you honestly say that you never speed? I doubt it. - Crossing red lights late, but still before the opposing light has actually gone green. [on a very rare occasion (once every 5 years, or so) with nothing else around in the other lanes, I have crossed a red light within 1 sec of it going, but nope, nothing close to your suggestion]?
- Parking on double yellows, but where they really haven't really caused any significant obstruction. [nope, never done this. I always look for a better place to park]
- Crossing solid white lines on the motorway to merge early, but without significantly conflicting with other traffic. [Nope again, I always wait until the dotted line]
- Turning right at "left turn only" signs, but not really causing a danger by doing so. [f
k no, that’s the f
king point of the signs. I turn left and a find somewhere to turn around]- Nipping through no-entry signs, rather than going the long way around. [Again No. and I know someone who got 3 points for it, but that hasn’t affected my decision to have never done it]
- General lane abuse. [it’s not hard to keep your side of the line and/or leave the junction]?
So a full score of six from me on the question of your being a hypocrite.
And if you do, no matter how slight, you're a hypocrite. Like I said, I would suggest everybody is to some extent.

But, can you honestly see a speeding example in that list?
Also, Speeding whilst keeping same pace with all other vehicles on the road, (e.g. 35 in a 30 limit with no schools/kittensor 77mph on the motorway) is not exactly in the same ballpark, or even country as going through a red light soo late, that you risk a collision.
Unless YOU think they are the same?
But to me, that just sounds like a lame excuses, for being a hypocrite.
Edited by Tommo87 on Friday 19th January 15:06
I also speed depending on the conditions and traffic. Generally this is only on NSL roads unless I am keeping up with a steady stream of traffic all slightly over the limit
The only other one I do semi regularly is crossing a solid line on the motorway if it is at a standstill and someone leaves a gap before the merge point.
Occasionally during busy times, the motorway exit for a large out of town shopping centre near me will be queued past the end of the slip road onto what would be the main carriageway. There is a general local acceptance to queue along the hard shoulder instead which is highly illegal but safer than being at a standstill in lane 1. I have been known to partake in said queue once or twice in my time...
The only other one I do semi regularly is crossing a solid line on the motorway if it is at a standstill and someone leaves a gap before the merge point.
Occasionally during busy times, the motorway exit for a large out of town shopping centre near me will be queued past the end of the slip road onto what would be the main carriageway. There is a general local acceptance to queue along the hard shoulder instead which is highly illegal but safer than being at a standstill in lane 1. I have been known to partake in said queue once or twice in my time...
Bennet said:
I sometimes take a flexible, "conditions based" approach when it comes to speed limits. Nothing dangerous and not hurting anyone.
However, many many other drivers seem to take a flexible, "conditions based" approach to all manner of other rules of the road which, despite the fact that they are not really hurting anyone either, for some reason I seem to think makes them feckless dicks.
Examples:
- Crossing red lights late, but still before the opposing light has actually gone green.
- Parking on double yellows, but where they really haven't really caused any significant obstruction.
- Crossing solid white lines on the motorway to merge early, but without significantly conflicting with other traffic.
- Turning right at "left turn only" signs, but not really causing a danger by doing so.
- Nipping through no-entry signs, rather than going the long way around.
- General lane abuse.
Questions:
- Am I a hypocrite because of my flexibility on speed but inflexibility on everything else? (Any other fellow hypocrites here?)
- Alternatively, do you do things like the examples I've given? If so, am I correct in suspecting you are a feckless dick, or do I just need to work on myself?
This is very similar to my outlook. I am flexible on dual and m-way speeds (conditions based), but people breaking right of way or basic courtesy type rules really annoys me, and I wouldn't consider them. As does tailgating, poor lane discipline and more serious stuff like driving impaired.However, many many other drivers seem to take a flexible, "conditions based" approach to all manner of other rules of the road which, despite the fact that they are not really hurting anyone either, for some reason I seem to think makes them feckless dicks.
Examples:
- Crossing red lights late, but still before the opposing light has actually gone green.
- Parking on double yellows, but where they really haven't really caused any significant obstruction.
- Crossing solid white lines on the motorway to merge early, but without significantly conflicting with other traffic.
- Turning right at "left turn only" signs, but not really causing a danger by doing so.
- Nipping through no-entry signs, rather than going the long way around.
- General lane abuse.
Questions:
- Am I a hypocrite because of my flexibility on speed but inflexibility on everything else? (Any other fellow hypocrites here?)
- Alternatively, do you do things like the examples I've given? If so, am I correct in suspecting you are a feckless dick, or do I just need to work on myself?
I don't see it as hypocritical though - they are different things.
Humans are complex, and we don't need to over simplify things down to "following absolutely every rule", or "following no rules".
In nearly 30 years of motoring I've had 3 points and no particular untoward events arising from excess speed.
Interesting topic though.
Double white lines are, for me, an interesting one. I don’t personally overtake on them as I don’t fancy penalty points, but I very easily and safely could.
For a motorbike or decently quick car they can be really over-conservative, but I guess that they’re made to consider the lowest common denominator (overtaking wise), a lorry, big van or very slow car.
For a motorbike or decently quick car they can be really over-conservative, but I guess that they’re made to consider the lowest common denominator (overtaking wise), a lorry, big van or very slow car.
Ian Geary said:
Bennet said:
I sometimes take a flexible, "conditions based" approach when it comes to speed limits. Nothing dangerous and not hurting anyone.
However, many many other drivers seem to take a flexible, "conditions based" approach to all manner of other rules of the road which, despite the fact that they are not really hurting anyone either, for some reason I seem to think makes them feckless dicks.
Examples:
- Crossing red lights late, but still before the opposing light has actually gone green.
- Parking on double yellows, but where they really haven't really caused any significant obstruction.
- Crossing solid white lines on the motorway to merge early, but without significantly conflicting with other traffic.
- Turning right at "left turn only" signs, but not really causing a danger by doing so.
- Nipping through no-entry signs, rather than going the long way around.
- General lane abuse.
Questions:
- Am I a hypocrite because of my flexibility on speed but inflexibility on everything else? (Any other fellow hypocrites here?)
- Alternatively, do you do things like the examples I've given? If so, am I correct in suspecting you are a feckless dick, or do I just need to work on myself?
This is very similar to my outlook. I am flexible on dual and m-way speeds (conditions based), but people breaking right of way or basic courtesy type rules really annoys me, and I wouldn't consider them. As does tailgating, poor lane discipline and more serious stuff like driving impaired.However, many many other drivers seem to take a flexible, "conditions based" approach to all manner of other rules of the road which, despite the fact that they are not really hurting anyone either, for some reason I seem to think makes them feckless dicks.
Examples:
- Crossing red lights late, but still before the opposing light has actually gone green.
- Parking on double yellows, but where they really haven't really caused any significant obstruction.
- Crossing solid white lines on the motorway to merge early, but without significantly conflicting with other traffic.
- Turning right at "left turn only" signs, but not really causing a danger by doing so.
- Nipping through no-entry signs, rather than going the long way around.
- General lane abuse.
Questions:
- Am I a hypocrite because of my flexibility on speed but inflexibility on everything else? (Any other fellow hypocrites here?)
- Alternatively, do you do things like the examples I've given? If so, am I correct in suspecting you are a feckless dick, or do I just need to work on myself?
I don't see it as hypocritical though - they are different things.
Humans are complex, and we don't need to over simplify things down to "following absolutely every rule", or "following no rules".
In nearly 30 years of motoring I've had 3 points and no particular untoward events arising from excess speed.
Interesting topic though.
Many people speed slightly where it’s safe to do so, but we’re not talking about that speed level being at a point that would equate to the complete disregard of a key rule.
On TV Saul Goodman might suggest a moral defence for driving through a no entry sign, because someone overtook you on the motorway, but not in the real world.
We all have a slightly different moral compass but I'd imagine many would have similar kinds of outlooks.
Doing 90mph on a motorway that's clear I suspect wouldn't phase many but doing 40mph past a school or down a small side street would seem stupid.
Also I think that anything which directly affects others would be a no no for me. Inconsiderate parking, general selfishness or causing danger to others being up there.
Doing 90mph on a motorway that's clear I suspect wouldn't phase many but doing 40mph past a school or down a small side street would seem stupid.
Also I think that anything which directly affects others would be a no no for me. Inconsiderate parking, general selfishness or causing danger to others being up there.
Bennet said:
I sometimes take a flexible, "conditions based" approach when it comes to speed limits. Nothing dangerous and not hurting anyone.
However, many many other drivers seem to take a flexible, "conditions based" approach to all manner of other rules of the road which, despite the fact that they are not really hurting anyone either, for some reason I seem to think makes them feckless dicks.
Examples:
- Crossing red lights late, but still before the opposing light has actually gone green.
- Parking on double yellows, but where they really haven't really caused any significant obstruction.
- Crossing solid white lines on the motorway to merge early, but without significantly conflicting with other traffic.
- Turning right at "left turn only" signs, but not really causing a danger by doing so.
- Nipping through no-entry signs, rather than going the long way around.
- General lane abuse.
Questions:
- Am I a hypocrite because of my flexibility on speed but inflexibility on everything else? (Any other fellow hypocrites here?)
- Alternatively, do you do things like the examples I've given? If so, am I correct in suspecting you are a feckless dick, or do I just need to work on myself?
Everybody makes excuses for their own behaviour and criticises people who do things they personally wouldn't.However, many many other drivers seem to take a flexible, "conditions based" approach to all manner of other rules of the road which, despite the fact that they are not really hurting anyone either, for some reason I seem to think makes them feckless dicks.
Examples:
- Crossing red lights late, but still before the opposing light has actually gone green.
- Parking on double yellows, but where they really haven't really caused any significant obstruction.
- Crossing solid white lines on the motorway to merge early, but without significantly conflicting with other traffic.
- Turning right at "left turn only" signs, but not really causing a danger by doing so.
- Nipping through no-entry signs, rather than going the long way around.
- General lane abuse.
Questions:
- Am I a hypocrite because of my flexibility on speed but inflexibility on everything else? (Any other fellow hypocrites here?)
- Alternatively, do you do things like the examples I've given? If so, am I correct in suspecting you are a feckless dick, or do I just need to work on myself?
The vast majority of people are hypcrites
Countdown said:
Everybody makes excuses for their own behaviour and criticises people who do things they personally wouldn't.
The vast majority of people are hypcrites
I try to have flexibility for things I personally wouldn't do as long as they're safe.The vast majority of people are hypcrites
And there are times where flouncing the rules is actually safer - riding a bike, I'll happily admit to breaking rule 130 here:
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