RE: Jackie Stewart on Roadworks
Thursday 31st October 2002
Jackie Stewart on Roadworks
Speeding through roadworks isn't on
Discussion
"Speed Kills" - are the workers being pumelled to deaths by shockwaves? Sonic booms ripping their bodies asunder? Or is it people driving through the cones and hitting them?
"Filmed on a closed section of road on the A11 in Norfolk" - This would be the five mile long 40 MPH limit that is applied for the safety of road workers on the new road being built (for most of the five mile length) a hundred metres away on the other caridgeway.
Don't get me wrong - These guys need protection and reduced speed limits do help (not as much as improved driver standards but there you go) - but why blanket coverage for mile after mile when you only need to restict speed in the areas where work is planned.
BTW my brother is working on the A11 job.
"Filmed on a closed section of road on the A11 in Norfolk" - This would be the five mile long 40 MPH limit that is applied for the safety of road workers on the new road being built (for most of the five mile length) a hundred metres away on the other caridgeway.
Don't get me wrong - These guys need protection and reduced speed limits do help (not as much as improved driver standards but there you go) - but why blanket coverage for mile after mile when you only need to restict speed in the areas where work is planned.
BTW my brother is working on the A11 job.
Jackie Stewart said: Speed kills, there's no doubt about it
Spin, spin, spin, spin......
I'm disappointed that Jackie has put his name to the quote - I'm sure he didn't write it. Just more evidence of the all-pervasive brainwashing using the "speed kills" mantra.
As we all know, it's the people who drive inappropriately for the conditions through the roadworks that kill (including, but not only limited to, adhering to the speed limit).
jeremyc said:
Jackie Stewart said: Speed kills, there's no doubt about it
Spin, spin, spin, spin......
I'm disappointed that Jackie has put his name to the quote - I'm sure he didn't write it. Just more evidence of the all-pervasive brainwashing using the "speed kills" mantra.
As we all know, it's the people who drive inappropriately for the conditions through the roadworks that kill (including, but not only limited to, adhering to the speed limit).
I reckon its the fat wad of wedge he got for the add that swayed it!
I agree with all of you. The principle of what they're saying - For God's sake keep your speed down in roadworks where people are working is absolutely right. It drives me potty when fifty cars I overtook earlier all pile past me again as I drive carefully through the roadworks - they obviously don't give a sh*t.
Yet the soundbite is enough to make all of us here foam at the mouth with anger! Why couldn't they have adopted a slogan like...
"Careless Driving Kills - Keep Your Speed Down in Roadworks"
We'd all have been delighted!
Yet the soundbite is enough to make all of us here foam at the mouth with anger! Why couldn't they have adopted a slogan like...
"Careless Driving Kills - Keep Your Speed Down in Roadworks"
We'd all have been delighted!
What's the problem?
He's not 'betrayed' anything that I can see - he says that human error causes accidents, and the lower the speed at which these accidents occur, the better. At the risk of being ridiculed, it makes sense to me.
Generally where roadworks occur (and I know people will point out ones where this isn't the case, but bear with me) the motorway lanes narrow. Whilst being safe enough at 70+ at their normal width, travelling at this speed through restricted width temporary lanes isn't going to be safe for the majority of drivers. As a result, the blanket speed limits for 5 miles (rather than the section people are working on).
It's worth bearing in mind that cars whistling past you at 70 is bad enough when stopped on the hard shoulder - at least in this case you can keep a look out for approaching cars. When working on the roads, you're looking at the job in hand (as it were) rather than looking out for crashing cars.
Just my 2p.
Dan
Edited to say I wish I could type faster... )
>> Edited by DanL on Thursday 31st October 09:49
...accidents still happen, mostly through human error. Speed kills, there's no doubt about it, and it's just simple common sense to have speed limits where there are roadworks.
He's not 'betrayed' anything that I can see - he says that human error causes accidents, and the lower the speed at which these accidents occur, the better. At the risk of being ridiculed, it makes sense to me.
Generally where roadworks occur (and I know people will point out ones where this isn't the case, but bear with me) the motorway lanes narrow. Whilst being safe enough at 70+ at their normal width, travelling at this speed through restricted width temporary lanes isn't going to be safe for the majority of drivers. As a result, the blanket speed limits for 5 miles (rather than the section people are working on).
It's worth bearing in mind that cars whistling past you at 70 is bad enough when stopped on the hard shoulder - at least in this case you can keep a look out for approaching cars. When working on the roads, you're looking at the job in hand (as it were) rather than looking out for crashing cars.
Just my 2p.
Dan
Edited to say I wish I could type faster... )
>> Edited by DanL on Thursday 31st October 09:49
DanL said:What's the problem?...He's not 'betrayed' anything that I can see...
Dan, I agree that idiots who proceed at 70 through the 40/50 zoned roadworks are probably the type to continue through Little Melchester at 50 having come off the Nurburgring at the same inappropriate and thoroughly mindless velocity...
What gets me here, about the august prescence of the legend that is Sir Jackie, is the use - probably not, as suggested above, of his own contrivance - of the mantra that offends the seeming majority of PHers; that invidious tripe, "Speed kills..."
That this great man should be associated with any cause that includes even passing reference to this nonesense is cause for extreme dismay.
Now the lentlists have proof! Look, you speeding hooligans - even one of your own, esteemed fraternity accepts that "Speed (most definately does) kill."
Not good, I fear.
Who next, Clarkson? Needell? Bell?
>> Edited by Derestrictor on Thursday 31st October 10:20
I can picture the scene now - J. Stewart is in danger of being sliced by an industrial laser in the nether regions:
J.S.- Sho, Mishter Blair, do you exshpect me to talk.
T.B.- No Mister Stewart, I expect you to become a numpty.
J.S.- But what about the money.
T.B.- Oh, there'll be plenty of that.
I can agree with him on being careful near roadworks but to be honest you can't really manage more than 30mph past the damn things anyway. Speed doesn't kill - bad driving (people carriers, soft-roaders, oldies in Micras, Max Power morons, bints checking makeup) DOES!
J.S.- Sho, Mishter Blair, do you exshpect me to talk.
T.B.- No Mister Stewart, I expect you to become a numpty.
J.S.- But what about the money.
T.B.- Oh, there'll be plenty of that.
I can agree with him on being careful near roadworks but to be honest you can't really manage more than 30mph past the damn things anyway. Speed doesn't kill - bad driving (people carriers, soft-roaders, oldies in Micras, Max Power morons, bints checking makeup) DOES!
If I can legally drive down a single lane road at 60 being left to my own good sense to take appropriate action for horses/children/oncoming traffic, why do I have to do 40 on a one way single lane at road works? During the day - OK safety is an issue, but at night? If there is no one working then driving past road works is no more dangerous than driving anywhere else. Do the cameras on the A11/Stanstead junction get turned off at night? Nope.
Jackie quotes that Modern race cars are more nimble etc etc, but in specific areas like the pits speed limits need to be imposed.
Agreed, so why not progress the statement. Surely modern road cars are more nimble, better brakes etc as well, so why not allow them to go as fast as they are designed to except in specific areas such as built up areas, roadworks etc....
JS is one of my all time hero's - I wish he'd concentrate on racing matters..
Agreed, so why not progress the statement. Surely modern road cars are more nimble, better brakes etc as well, so why not allow them to go as fast as they are designed to except in specific areas such as built up areas, roadworks etc....
JS is one of my all time hero's - I wish he'd concentrate on racing matters..
Don't get me wrong - These guys need protection and reduced speed limits do help (not as much as improved driver standards but there you go) - but why blanket coverage for mile after mile when you only need to restict speed in the areas where work is planned.
This is at the heart of the problem; because of the way they have cones and restrictions for mile after mile wheere noone can see any reason, they just start ignoring the lot, including the places where they are justified.
If we had a highways task force that did all national road works, they could probably finish jobs they start much quicker hence less danger! Rather than one bloke working while three watch all geting £30.00 an hour & triple time on a sunday! Hurry up and finish your road digging or i'll F***ing run you over!! As for Jackie Milburn, Respect to the driving, but as anyone whos met him will vouch, you've never heard so much self gratification in all your life. I've since been told that the powers that be asked him if he wanted to be God, He said yes, only for them to realise that if you wear a skirt its because your covering up a C**t!
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