Safe at 190mph?
Discussion
I've got this theory of motorway speeding. It goes like this:
1. Most accidents on Motorways involve someone going into the back of someone else.
2. As you go faster, you increase the risk of running into the back of someone.
3. The faster you go, the less likely it is that someone will go into the back of you.
Conclusion:
Go as fast as you like...all speeds are equally safe
1. Most accidents on Motorways involve someone going into the back of someone else.
2. As you go faster, you increase the risk of running into the back of someone.
3. The faster you go, the less likely it is that someone will go into the back of you.
Conclusion:
Go as fast as you like...all speeds are equally safe
I'd agree with a quick burst up to 190mph. A little longer at 146mph 
Really depends on the vehicle in question IMO.
Old Skoda (you know I had to add 'Old' because they are better these days!) with big engine bolt on - maybe 100mph.
Proper sports car? 150mph would feel fine and I've done it a few times. Not for any length of time obviously, the longer you travel at that speed the increased risk of blow out, being spotted by cops, coming across unseen object etc.
Really depends on the vehicle in question IMO. Old Skoda (you know I had to add 'Old' because they are better these days!) with big engine bolt on - maybe 100mph.
Proper sports car? 150mph would feel fine and I've done it a few times. Not for any length of time obviously, the longer you travel at that speed the increased risk of blow out, being spotted by cops, coming across unseen object etc.
The goal posts seemed to have moved a bit now, 190mph down the motorway is never really possible anyway and unless you can see a long way down the road it's not going to be safe, I'd want nothing coming the other way as well
Back to the original post, 190 for a few seconds down an empty road with perfect conditions - yes, down the motorway keeping one eye on the speedo, one on the road, and one on white vans on bridges, not really possible, unless you actually have 3 eyes
Oh and of course most motorway accidents are 'running into the back' type shunts as your all going in the same direction
Back to the original post, 190 for a few seconds down an empty road with perfect conditions - yes, down the motorway keeping one eye on the speedo, one on the road, and one on white vans on bridges, not really possible, unless you actually have 3 eyes
Oh and of course most motorway accidents are 'running into the back' type shunts as your all going in the same direction
I'm afraid I'm with mungo on this one. The few remaining stretches of derestricted Autobahn are extraordinarily frightening if your not in a car that will do 170mph as you get menaced by tuned 5 series and 911s every time you try to change lanes. That is in a country where people are used to being able to travel at such speeds. Having witnessed three accidents in recent weeks where drivers have been simply knocked into the central reservation by others pulling out into them, I cannot imagine travelling at anything above about 100 on the M1 at any time when there were other drivers about the thoughts of an Artic pulling out into my lane with a 45mph+ speed differential doesn't bear thinking about...
I appreciate danhay said "Sunday morning, empty dual carriageway, 2 mile straight with no junctions, no traffic. How fast is too fast?"
but there is no way we are going to get variable increases in the national speed limit any time soon !
I appreciate danhay said "Sunday morning, empty dual carriageway, 2 mile straight with no junctions, no traffic. How fast is too fast?"
but there is no way we are going to get variable increases in the national speed limit any time soon !
Mungo don't knock it till you've tried it, the post said "empty road and no exits" so there was no risk from others, 190 mph is fairly "normal" in a lot of race classes without incident, if you're accustomed to it and dialed in to those speeds it can be done very safely, (fighter pilots do many many times that speed) you just need to adjust your reactions times, thinking, fore sight, and anticipation to suit. You almost sound like you've swollowed the "speed kills" pill, speed doesn't matter it's how you cope and adjust with it thats important.
incorrigible said:On how many wheels Mel ?
mel said: IMO yes 190 could be achieved safely on public roads given "ideal" conditions, competance etc etc.
I think even I'd have to draw the line at this point and say at that speed I'd want both wheels very firmly planted.
I will also add though that all my opinions are bike based as I'm still assuming danhay is talking bikes from his profile as it's the only vehicle he's got that could do such speeds, oh yes and because I have absolutely no experience of doing anything over 160 in a car I can't comment.
mel said: 190 mph is fairly "normal" in a lot of race classes without incident, if you're accustomed to it and dialed in to those speeds it can be done very safely, (fighter pilots do many many times that speed) you just need to adjust your reactions times, thinking, fore sight, and anticipation to suit.
It would be great to believe that there were many (or even any) drivers who do not have racing experience but still have the reactions, foresight &c to drive at 190 on the public roads. As for fast jet pilots, they have multi-million pound training programmes, regular strict tests on health, eyesight and skills and pilot perhaps the best maintained machines in the world. Furthermore fighter pilots do not get numpties in Micras pulling out of service station slip roads at 15mph 100 yards in front of them
mel said: 190 mph is fairly "normal" in a lot of race classes without incident, if you're accustomed to it and dialed in to those speeds it can be done very safely, (fighter pilots do many many times that speed) you just need to adjust your reactions times, thinking, fore sight, and anticipation to suit.
It would be great to believe that there were many (or even any) drivers who do not have racing experience but still have the reactions, foresight &c to drive at 190 on the public roads. As for fast jet pilots, they have multi-million pound training programmes, regular strict tests on health, eyesight and skills and pilot perhaps the best maintained machines in the world. Furthermore fighter pilots do not get numpties in Micras pulling out of service station slip roads at 15mph 100 yards in front of them
On the way down to Le Mans two years we decided to test the top speed of a Cerbera 4.5. Plenty of people have had 190 out of them so I had a go on the road between Calais and Abbeville (A16).
I got to 175 then chickened out (with the owner of the car sitting in the passenger seat urging me to go on) - the front end went light, the slightest corner turned into what semeed like a hairpin bend and I became convinced something critical was going to drop off at any minute.
Safe at 190 on a bike? Rather you than me, mate.
I got to 175 then chickened out (with the owner of the car sitting in the passenger seat urging me to go on) - the front end went light, the slightest corner turned into what semeed like a hairpin bend and I became convinced something critical was going to drop off at any minute.
Safe at 190 on a bike? Rather you than me, mate.
Oh JDH do try and get the gist of what I'm talking about.
Are you now saying that drivers/riders with racing experience or fast jet pilots don't ever drive on public roads ??? I'd say there are plenty of people out there who are more than capable of doing this. As for the Micra comment well thats got absolutely FA to do with it in this instance as what we are talking about is an instance where that just wasn't an option, Oh yes and a very good friend of mine who used to fly fast jets tells a fantastic story about a news crew in Cessna that just "pulled out in front of him" it does happen.
For clarification the question as I see it was. Is it ever safe to 190mph on public roads ? My belief is that yes it is with the following criteria attached.
1) Driver/Rider has the personal experience and capabilities to be able to adjust to such speeds.
2) Machinery being used is maintained, manufactured and designed to do such speeds
3) Road conditions are such that any possible risk to or from others are minimised to such a degree as to become negligible or ideally non existant (very difficult as there's always the freak event factor, but that could happen at any speed).
If the above three are met fully, yes it's safe, and yes I've done it.
mel said:If the above three are met fully, yes it's safe, and yes I've done it.
Respect due,
During my bike lessons it scared the pants off me hanging on and changing gear at 70
But then I had only been riding for 2 days
In the car 150 scares me but is fun (in a scary way) for a few seconds/miles, 130 feels safeish, 110 is comfy crusing speed, all subject to all the usual conditions of course
But at the moment my speedo stops reading at 90 and can't be trusted anyway below that so I just drive on what feels safe all the time anyway
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