IAM Poll On Speeding
Discussion
THE IAM has just posted a poll on speeding on its website and has asked for replies from a cross section of different drivers.
http://www.iam.org.uk/iam_polls/
http://www.iam.org.uk/iam_polls/
Mods could this stay in GG please as it is not solely aimed at Advanced Drivers, thanks.
Edited by markmullen on Tuesday 17th August 16:20
I didn't like the survey questions at all; they weren't impartial and non-suggestive. It's a well studied and understood phenomenum in survey creation that you can load questions to achieve a particular response, and this IAM survey is a terrible example of this.
My responses were based around my attitude to speeding, which is that drivers, cars and situations are all different, so it stands to reason that an alert experienced racing driver with advanced road training driving a very grippy well composed sports car is going to be safer at a higher speed than Mr Joe Average one handed steerer in a wobbly hatchback in the rain. The former is me, so if the speed limit of 50mph down an A road is designed to suit me, what on earth is Joe Average in a Fiesta in the rain supposed to do - 30mph?
This attitude clearly isn't one shared by the IAM though, as it doesn't fit with the questions at all.
My responses were based around my attitude to speeding, which is that drivers, cars and situations are all different, so it stands to reason that an alert experienced racing driver with advanced road training driving a very grippy well composed sports car is going to be safer at a higher speed than Mr Joe Average one handed steerer in a wobbly hatchback in the rain. The former is me, so if the speed limit of 50mph down an A road is designed to suit me, what on earth is Joe Average in a Fiesta in the rain supposed to do - 30mph?
This attitude clearly isn't one shared by the IAM though, as it doesn't fit with the questions at all.
soad said:
Didn't like the survey or its questions - therefore not voted
Agreed, that was terrible. Answering honestly I come across as a careless clown who should be banned. In reality the only time and place I speed is a quiet moorland road early in the morning or late at night on roads where the entry and exit of the bends are sited. I never speed around a blind bend or over a blind crest.
The questionnaire doesn't have that sort of sensitivity though. Going above the speed limit is not going to kill you if done with some common sense.
jeez, did they get a couple of work experience kids in to write that poll????
the "when do you speed the most" question:
a) morning
b) lunchtime
c) afternoon
d) evening
e) I NEVER SPEED, AND ANYONE WHO DOES SHOULD BE SHOT IMMEDIATELY AND THEN HAVE ALL THE FAMILY SENT TO A PENAL COLONY AS A PUNISHMENT
thing is, where was
f) only when i am driving a car
for example, i didn't speed at all this morning, but then again i didnt really get out of bed till midday!! (ah, the joys of being retired, and i'm only 36 !! ;-)
the "when do you speed the most" question:
a) morning
b) lunchtime
c) afternoon
d) evening
e) I NEVER SPEED, AND ANYONE WHO DOES SHOULD BE SHOT IMMEDIATELY AND THEN HAVE ALL THE FAMILY SENT TO A PENAL COLONY AS A PUNISHMENT
thing is, where was
f) only when i am driving a car
for example, i didn't speed at all this morning, but then again i didnt really get out of bed till midday!! (ah, the joys of being retired, and i'm only 36 !! ;-)
This survey has further degraded my opinion of the IAM to be honest. Whilst I appreciate that as an organisation they must support the law of this country, the attitude they seem to show in that survey about speeding highlights a deeply worrying attitude to the link between speed and accidents. After all, the difference between 50 and 60mph on a 50 limit A road is broadly similar to the difference between 40 and 50, but they don't seem to appreciate that continuity, instead linking speeding directly with dangerous driving, no matter what the conditions, driver or car. Complete and utter nonsense, and I shall never join the IAM.
Crumbs, that poll has missed the point by a derestricted country mile.
It assumes that people actively think "oh, I fancy a bit of speeding today, I'd better plan it all in advance because I am determined to be an evil scourge on the planet". If that's what the policymakers really think, then no wonder road safety and the attitude towards driving is all over the place.
People wish to make as good progress as possible whilst maintaining what they perceive to be reasonable and appropriate safety and without alarming other road users. Sometimes parts of their progress might happen to be above the posted limit. Yes, the limit is often ignored because it is perceived as inappropriate for that particular time and conditions. And that's pretty much all there is to it.
It assumes that people actively think "oh, I fancy a bit of speeding today, I'd better plan it all in advance because I am determined to be an evil scourge on the planet". If that's what the policymakers really think, then no wonder road safety and the attitude towards driving is all over the place.
People wish to make as good progress as possible whilst maintaining what they perceive to be reasonable and appropriate safety and without alarming other road users. Sometimes parts of their progress might happen to be above the posted limit. Yes, the limit is often ignored because it is perceived as inappropriate for that particular time and conditions. And that's pretty much all there is to it.
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