A friend thought that...
Discussion
this meant the speed limit was 30mph for 12ft. He actually asked what the point of a 30mph for such a short distance is.
(ignore the location, I just found a similar example in google)
The frustrating thing is that this guy is an exceptionally intelligent bloke educated to an amazingly high level.
I think there is a woefully bad knowledge of the Highway code in general population. How many times I get asked "what's the speed limit" is scarey! Don't get me wrong - I'm not expecitng average Joe to understand the intricacies (sp?) of law discussed on here but general awareness should really be better.
The problem is though that there is no incentive. I think there should be an incentive - perhaps link to insurance taking a test every year?! Who knows, but something needs to be done. The government's THINK campains are quite good (except the bike ones) - and are on the right track, but on asking a few middle-aged people if they knew what the speed limit was in a certain area considering they'd driven past a bus stop explaining how to work it out for 6 months, they guess wrong
(ignore the location, I just found a similar example in google)
The frustrating thing is that this guy is an exceptionally intelligent bloke educated to an amazingly high level.
I think there is a woefully bad knowledge of the Highway code in general population. How many times I get asked "what's the speed limit" is scarey! Don't get me wrong - I'm not expecitng average Joe to understand the intricacies (sp?) of law discussed on here but general awareness should really be better.
The problem is though that there is no incentive. I think there should be an incentive - perhaps link to insurance taking a test every year?! Who knows, but something needs to be done. The government's THINK campains are quite good (except the bike ones) - and are on the right track, but on asking a few middle-aged people if they knew what the speed limit was in a certain area considering they'd driven past a bus stop explaining how to work it out for 6 months, they guess wrong
Sorry Tony maybe I'm being thick but why the logic for 12 ft?
Just over the length of the red tarmac?
Or until the black/white edge markers?
In the case of the friend who thought this, surely an argument for some sort of re-check regime being imposed as you suggested.
Just over the length of the red tarmac?
Or until the black/white edge markers?
In the case of the friend who thought this, surely an argument for some sort of re-check regime being imposed as you suggested.
Edited by Flat in Fifth on Wednesday 19th July 12:33
Flat in Fifth said:
Sorry Tony maybe I'm being thick but why the logic for 12 ft?
Oh sorry I didn't explain myself too well - he thought that the red bit was where it's 30, everything else is the (as was) NSL before and after it. I meant 12ft just because that's how he put it to me (how long he thought the red bit is).
Jacko; completely agree people get to speed cameras and don't know the speed.
The thing is, people such as this are intelligent so it's not them being 'dumb'...it's simply no incentive or reason even to learn. They drive, they don't crash (or maybe do once or twice...that's life) and continue on.
A colleague (one of our project managers) drove me to work the other day (Porker was in the garage near work). As we drove through the town I live in, he started speeding up as the road widened (from quite narrow with shops/terraced houses to wider with big houses). Eventually he passed a sign that flashed "30" at him. At that point we braked from 45 to 30 and he commented: "Is it still a 30? I thought it must be higher because the road is wider"
Now maybe its just me, but I thought the presence of houses and street-lights might have given the game away, but apparently not. Interestingly enough, this guy has "only" three points on his license.
Now maybe its just me, but I thought the presence of houses and street-lights might have given the game away, but apparently not. Interestingly enough, this guy has "only" three points on his license.
TonyHetherington said:
Flat in Fifth said:
Sorry Tony maybe I'm being thick but why the logic for 12 ft?
Oh sorry I didn't explain myself too well - he thought that the red bit was where it's 30, everything else is the (as was) NSL before and after it. I meant 12ft just because that's how he put it to me (how long he thought the red bit is).
Jacko; completely agree people get to speed cameras and don't know the speed.
The thing is, people such as this are intelligent so it's not them being 'dumb'...it's simply no incentive or reason even to learn. They drive, they don't crash (or maybe do once or twice...that's life) and continue on.
Tony, I have worked with some of the most highly qualified and brilliant professionals imaginable; but common sense and logic?? Forget it!!!
pdV6 said:
TonyHetherington said:
Jacko; completely agree people get to speed cameras and don't know the speed.
Just as a matter of common courtesy, all speed cameras ought ot have the speed limit marked on the back of them. Resolves any ambiguity and (hopefully) prevents panic braking.
There was an interview with Ladyman in the IAM magazine a while back, in which they asked if he thought we should put the prevailing limit on the camera itself. He basically blathered something about "onus on the motorist to know the speed limit, blah, blah, blah - no.". So, definitely backing up the "it's about safety, not revenue" line with that answer. (The IAM bod who did the interview wasn't terribly impressed with the answer, either.)
jith said:
TonyHetherington said:
Flat in Fifth said:
Sorry Tony maybe I'm being thick but why the logic for 12 ft?
Oh sorry I didn't explain myself too well - he thought that the red bit was where it's 30, everything else is the (as was) NSL before and after it. I meant 12ft just because that's how he put it to me (how long he thought the red bit is).
Jacko; completely agree people get to speed cameras and don't know the speed.
The thing is, people such as this are intelligent so it's not them being 'dumb'...it's simply no incentive or reason even to learn. They drive, they don't crash (or maybe do once or twice...that's life) and continue on.
Tony, I have worked with some of the most highly qualified and brilliant professionals imaginable; but common sense and logic?? Forget it!!!
Tell it like it is jith.... in my case I know almost everything there is to know about Mixed Oxidant High Temperature Corrosion Simulation and begger all about real life.
It is Thursday today? right? I'm easily confused you know, it's the tablets.
I agree with the OP.
There are plenty of times I have been stuck behind someone who does not know the meaning of the national speed limit sign or similar.
However in their and other peoples defence, whereas ten or 15 years ago, before Gatsos I might add, there was more of a dividing line. 30 in built up areas with streetlights, 60 on national speed limit roads and 70 on dual carriageways. People knew the maximum limit and *most* drove in a safe way up to those limits.
Now it seems that many national speed limit roads and dual carriageways have a 'speed limit lottery' whereas sometimes there are no easy rules. I would also go on to say that it is in these places that most revenue is taken, and most money is made from safe drivers.
There are plenty of times I have been stuck behind someone who does not know the meaning of the national speed limit sign or similar.
However in their and other peoples defence, whereas ten or 15 years ago, before Gatsos I might add, there was more of a dividing line. 30 in built up areas with streetlights, 60 on national speed limit roads and 70 on dual carriageways. People knew the maximum limit and *most* drove in a safe way up to those limits.
Now it seems that many national speed limit roads and dual carriageways have a 'speed limit lottery' whereas sometimes there are no easy rules. I would also go on to say that it is in these places that most revenue is taken, and most money is made from safe drivers.
TonyHetherington said:
this meant the speed limit was 30mph for 12ft. He actually asked what the point of a 30mph for such a short distance is.
My god, I know there are some daft people around, but your friend must be extremely seriously short of common sense! No offence
. Either that, or he has a good sense of humour and got you to bite.
pdV6 said:
TonyHetherington said:
Jacko; completely agree people get to speed cameras and don't know the speed.
Just as a matter of common courtesy, all speed cameras ought ot have the speed limit marked on the back of them. Resolves any ambiguity and (hopefully) prevents panic braking.
I don't think so. The smart people who come across an unexpected camera brake before they check the speedo. If they check the speedo first it could be too late to brake sufficiently. And note that they don't even have to be speeding before this happens.
[Or maybe it isn't usually smart to fail to see a fixed camera; perhaps I should have said 'the smart people having an off dy...'
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