almost 16 years with out points, it had to end :(
Discussion
Sheepshanks said:
Where do you live?
Colleague in Germany got banned for a month for being caught twice within a fairly short space of time. The speeds, while in built-up areas, seemed very minor for such a penalty. One was at night too, caught by a cop with a hand-held speed gun.
Portugal. I've been caught on the wrong side of 150mph twice and got a 600 fine each time. Loads of other speeding tickets too, ranging from 120 euros to 600. You don't even need to go to the police station or a court, you just pay the fine there and then. It is a real fine rather than a bribe - you can even pay by card if you like Colleague in Germany got banned for a month for being caught twice within a fairly short space of time. The speeds, while in built-up areas, seemed very minor for such a penalty. One was at night too, caught by a cop with a hand-held speed gun.
Cliftonite said:
BertBert said:
It's really odd, but I have no idea whether I can stop in 315ft at 70. Like most drivers I have got a strong sense of whether I've left enough gap and what speed feels ok for the "seeable" distance. Couldn't the clever govt make up a better way to train people to be able to stop in time?
Bert
Something like "Only a fool breaks the two-second rule" perhaps? Bert
Phatboy317 said:
I didn't say it's irrelevant, but rather that it's not a good idea to rely on it to keep you out of trouble.
If something happens ahead of you, you have absolutely no control over how far ahead of you it happens, and you either have time to stop, or you don't.
You might have a slightly better statistical chance of being able to stop in time if you're travelling a bit slower, but that doesn't help in the event.
You said it yourself - it's much better to read the road properly so as to mitigate the need for last-moment braking.
If everybody left things until the situation became critical, then the accident rate would probably be at least an order of magnitude higher than it is.
How does that not help in the event? Even if you don't slow down to a stop, therefore avoiding the impact a lower initial speed will mean that the impact, if it does occur, will have less energy - that's the simple, undeniable truth, which you will now try to deny, I predict, or simply not answer this post because you can't. You ridiculous fool.If something happens ahead of you, you have absolutely no control over how far ahead of you it happens, and you either have time to stop, or you don't.
You might have a slightly better statistical chance of being able to stop in time if you're travelling a bit slower, but that doesn't help in the event.
You said it yourself - it's much better to read the road properly so as to mitigate the need for last-moment braking.
If everybody left things until the situation became critical, then the accident rate would probably be at least an order of magnitude higher than it is.
Edited by Phatboy317 on Tuesday 7th April 22:55
btcc123 said:
Who me said:
Top Gear took a trio of cars to Australia and asked the same question. I seem to remember the best car halved the distance, with the others close behind. OK - these were top of the range models, but these days no modern car would sport drums all round, cross plies on all four, but the constant factor remains the driver.
But hey ho - we don't drive Ford Anglias with drum brakes/cross ply tyres with no ABS these days...
Your example of the Top Gear cars in Australia where they stopped in half the distance is not representative as in this case the drivers knew that when they reached a certain speed they would hit the brake pedal and stop as quickly as they could.But hey ho - we don't drive Ford Anglias with drum brakes/cross ply tyres with no ABS these days...
If a member of the public was in the same car in a real life situation and were not expecting to emergency brake but suddenly had to the reaction time would be a lot longer than the Top Gear presenters and depending on the driver stop anywhere between 50% to 100% more distance.
Don't know about the TG thing in Australia, but this is Clarkson doing much the same thing on old Top Gear.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGkKDaYd3Mo
Cliftonite said:
BertBert said:
Yep, something like that but for stopping distances!
Not sure whether serious!Bert
BertBert said:
Cliftonite said:
BertBert said:
Yep, something like that but for stopping distances!
Not sure whether serious!Bert
The request was for something simple to help with distance. Stopping distance isn't linear to speed and therefore the 2 second rule is only an approximation but as a rough guide its easy to remember.
Jonsv8 said:
But the faster you go the greater the distance.
The request was for something simple to help with distance. Stopping distance isn't linear to speed and therefore the 2 second rule is only an approximation but as a rough guide its easy to remember.
But it doesn't help visualise the stopping distance. Also doesn't work at all well with no car in front The request was for something simple to help with distance. Stopping distance isn't linear to speed and therefore the 2 second rule is only an approximation but as a rough guide its easy to remember.
JJ55 said:
The course is better as the points affect your insurance for 5 years
The OP is in his 30's, has been driving for 16 years and would now be getting his first 3 points. I don't know what he drives currently but his last car was a Mazda so presumably its nothing too flash.How much do you realistically think this is going to hurt him from an insurance point of view? Combine that with the fact some insurance companies are hitting you for going on the course anyway, and for me its an easy just to just take the 3 points and keep my weekend for myself.
KFC said:
JJ55 said:
The course is better as the points affect your insurance for 5 years
The OP is in his 30's, has been driving for 16 years and would now be getting his first 3 points. I don't know what he drives currently but his last car was a Mazda so presumably its nothing too flash.How much do you realistically think this is going to hurt him from an insurance point of view? Combine that with the fact some insurance companies are hitting you for going on the course anyway, and for me its an easy just to just take the 3 points and keep my weekend for myself.
I live in Manchester so don't need to give my insurance any excuse to jack my premium up :/
KFC said:
Portugal. I've been caught on the wrong side of 150mph twice and got a 600 fine each time. Loads of other speeding tickets too, ranging from 120 euros to 600. You don't even need to go to the police station or a court, you just pay the fine there and then. It is a real fine rather than a bribe - you can even pay by card if you like
OK - but your post seemed to suggest that only the UK had points and bans, which clearly isn't correct.I'm sure you must know the law in Portugal better than I do, but a quick Google suggests that highly excessive speed will get you banned - the speed margin varying depending on whether it's a built-up area or open road.
Sheepshanks said:
OK - but your post seemed to suggest that only the UK had points and bans, which clearly isn't correct.
I'm sure you must know the law in Portugal better than I do, but a quick Google suggests that highly excessive speed will get you banned - the speed margin varying depending on whether it's a built-up area or open road.
I don't know the exact law no, all I can say is from personal experience I've been caught speeding more than 10 times. Twice that has been very near to double the speed limit on the motorway. Every single time its been 120 - 600 euro fines. I'm happy with that - I'll keep speeding when I feel like its safe, they can catch me every now and then and give me the bill I'm sure you must know the law in Portugal better than I do, but a quick Google suggests that highly excessive speed will get you banned - the speed margin varying depending on whether it's a built-up area or open road.
The law does seem to differ (or at least the application of the law) on whether you're a foreign license holder or not.
cirian75 said:
Well we are at 22 days and no letter
Sooo looking good
You're fine, they legally have to send you a NIP within 14 days of the alleged offence occurring,Sooo looking good
Im 21 and have been caught twice (first time was 4 weeks after passing my test, they had plonked the van round a corner, which actually turned out to be illegal and one of the civilian officers got sacked for it .... (I had nothing to do with it ) Complaints do go far at times.
I got a speed course for this. (41 in a 30) Cant explain the road where it is but up until last year it was a 40.
The other time was at the beginning of last year (on the way to my grans 70th) , and I got out of that by playing the system (not admitting alleged guilt, using rules of evidence against them). Whilst not the most exemplary of records, I don't think speed vans are anything but cash cows, they're there to catch you out pure and simple 'not to prevent accidents in blackspots' as they tell you on the courses. If you string letters past 6 months they cannot pursue you for any reason.
As far as Courses are concerned at the moment, everyone should take them over the points unless you have to declare it to your insurer. You may or may not learn anything, but then it doesnt effect your insurance which being younger is a big thing.
Speeding generally is a Quasi crime anyway, just don't understand why you would confess straight away.
Hope I don't seem like too much of a tw*t, I don't wish to come across as bragging.
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