101 on the M40

[james_j]

nickwilcock said:

"I did between 120 and 140mph up the M4 at 11.45pm the other night" No doubt there'll be a few photos to confirm that to you dropping through your letterbox very soon. You'll be able to reminisce by looking at them whilst serving your ban... And wasn't it soooooo thoughtful of you to slow down to a mere 90 mph to overtake lorries - although you also stated that the motorway was empty. Let's have a sensible UK motorway speed limit (NOT 70 mph) - but also very harsh sentences indeed for total imbeciles who delight in flouting the law.

I think for most people it's not a question of "delight in flouting the law", it's that the law is itself stupid. A great many limits are simply too low.

[nickwilcock]

Yes, sorry - to clear up any confusion when I said 'NOT 70 mph', I certainly didn't mean that the limit should be lowered!

I reckon that 140 kph (87.5 mph) in the dry and 120 kph 75 mph) on a wet surface would be reasonable on UK motorways - with the usual 10% speedo error tolerance before prosecution.

Cars have come a long way since Castle introduced her infamous blanket speed limit - sadly, drivers haven't.

Perhaps if there were proper limits, not politically expedient limits, they (and the BiB) would receive greater respect?

As for tailgaters, those who drive too fast in poor conditions and those who drive without due care and attention on the motorways - I'm 100% with you there! Speed doesn't kill; stopping suddenly does!



>> Edited by nickwilcock on Wednesday 19th May 16:33

[cptsideways]

nickwilcock said:

"I did between 120 and 140mph up the M4 at 11.45pm the other night" No doubt there'll be a few photos to confirm that to you dropping through your letterbox very soon. You'll be able to reminisce by looking at them whilst serving your ban... And wasn't it soooooo thoughtful of you to slow down to a mere 90 mph to overtake lorries - although you also stated that the motorway was empty. Let's have a sensible UK motorway speed limit (NOT 70 mph) - but also very harsh sentences indeed for total imbeciles who delight in flouting the law.

Sounds perfectly sensible to me, just the sort of thing I'd do every single day on a German Autobahn, along with millions of others, in perfect safety I may add.

Just because they banned alcahol in the US in the 30's does not mean it was a law that people obeyed or belived was right, though you no doubt would have an opinion on this.

And stop trolling your making yourself look like a lentilist.

[gone]

juk said:

woodytvr said: Fat Audi 80 said: What has happened to this forum? We have been overrun with cycle clip wearing tree hugging vegans who think 101 on the motorway is tantamount to attempted murder and we should all be locked up! I did between 120 and 140mph up th M4 at 11.45pm the other night. I consider that less dangerous than doing 65mph in the rush hour. There was nothing on the motorway on the night in question, the visability was excellent and I slowed down to 95 to overtake lorries and used the outside lane giving me a whole lane clearance on my inside. If the Gentleman in question at the star of this thread wants advice about his predicament, he does not need a lecture about whether someone else thinks he is a danger to society or not (You have my sympathy Sean.... ) Anyone care to critise my driving? Nomex overall suitably zipped up Cheers, Steve Couldn't agree more. Absolutely bloody right. Sanctimonious Tw@t Forum urgently required where ST's can congratulate each other on not breaking the speed limit (or in fact any law),being generally too perfect for this world & allowing themselves to tut tut at everyone else to their hearts content.

I reserve the right to remain sanctimonious
I also reserve the right to criticise anyones driving, especially if it is up the M4

>> Edited by gone on Wednesday 19th May 23:24

[gone]

juk said:

What if , by some fluke, M Way speed limits were abolished. Would people driving at 120 - 140 + still be total imbeciles? Are those driving on unlimited autobahns at speed total imbeciles? Am I wasting my time writing this?

Quite a few would not be hear very long to do it a lot of times

only last week at about 0800 Monday 11th May, on the M4, two obviously wealthy motoring enthusiasts managed to bring the road to a 6 mile creeping queue when their skill decided to abandon them at the wrong moment and they collided with each other
Imbeciles

[WildCat]

juk said:

What if , by some fluke, M Way speed limits were abolished. Would people driving at 120 - 140 + still be total imbeciles? Are those driving on unlimited autobahns at speed total imbeciles? Am I wasting my time writing this?

No - those who drive on German A/bahn are not total imbeciles - but they have had a better driving test than you have had! UK urgently needs upgrade of L/test if it wants to introduce unlimited speed limits - but given the attitude that anything above 25mph is SINFUL and should be banned outright - somehow do not think that will happen. Think we should count blessings if it is raised to 80mph to bring in line with mainland EU for start!

Even so - not all A/bahn are unlimited. Many are limited to 80mph in dry and 70mph in wet - like France. Some have variable speed limits - around Munich, Rhein/Ruhr basin, Eastern stretches. They advise a speed of 80mph equivalent and you have to read the small print of your insurance as you may not be covered if you crash at speed higher than this!

Lane discipline, MSM/PSL and COAST disciplines are observed more in Germany - as you do not argue with the Turbo Rolfs in their black Mercs! But Germany's safety nerds will use CCTV footage against Turbo Rolf if they think he has driven far too dangerously along the unlimited A/bahn!

Not quite the utopia you think! And besides - there are silly laws about hanging out washing, washing the car, mowing the lawn, wheeling out the wheely bin for collection, falling asleep in train stations whilst waiting for train (yup - had that one as student!) .....

[WildCat]

gone said:

I also reserve the right to criticise anyones driving, especially if it is up the M4 >> Edited by gone on Wednesday 19th May 23:24

I was on M4 couple of weeks ago! But you did not cop me! (Was seeing cousin in South Wales! - but picked up another relative en route and we joined at M25 to Wales!) Must have been a good girlie - no NIP arrived despite driving in "enemy's" notorious countryside. Course - had tons of practice avoiding scams and talivan twazaks when driving through my fave county up here!

[nilknarf]

I never obey any speed limits.

I drive as fast as either the road or conditions dictate, which could be well below the limit.

Sometimes... I exceed the speed limit, if in my opinion I am able to do so safely and without endangering anyone else, I can and have and will continue to exceed the speed limit.

I have driven my car at speeds in excess of an indicated 160mph a few times, nearly flat out for my car on public motorways.

I a life long motorcyclist also, so I am more aware of the amount of grip available to me on any road surface or driving 'condition', this makes me a safer driver (that's my personal opinion). I have riden bikes on public roads in excess of 160mph also.

I can scrap my knee sliders any time I want to on either side whilst riding my bike, and, my car runs over 500 horse power with nitrous on.

I think I am a fast and safe driver. I've vastly exceeded speed limts and I've also driven extremely slowly on public roads.

It all depends on the road conditions and whats safe to other road users.

I feel for the guy who copped the speeding ticket, it sounds like you were pretty unlucky.

>> Edited by nilknarf on Thursday 20th May 17:07

>> Edited by nilknarf on Thursday 20th May 17:07

[ohnoodle]

couple of weeks ago i was up to 140 on the m6 toll. stupid speed, but there was nothing else on the road. had it felt dangerous i wouldn't have done it. had i been clocked by plod, i wouldn't complain, i'd just accept it. i knew the speed limit and was basically taking the p**s.

we all know the speed limit, most agree it's too low, but, if you choose to rip the arse out of it, suppose you just have to accept that you're in the wrong and pay the fine / take the ban / both, even if it feels safe and the road was clear, and you pay your tax, blah, blah, blah.

so, if you're doing 101 and get clocked, can you really complain??

[gone]

Gazboy said:

Have the posters who slated this chap actually ever driven on the M40?

Personally. I have driven up the M40
Between 1983 and 1989, I drove on virtually nothing else.
I drove on it when the top bit was concrete!
I drove on it when they filled the broken concrete bits with tarmac!
I drove on it when they were tarmaccing over the concrete surface and extending it to Birmingham.
I have driven the length of it in excess of 130mph.
Recently (in the last month or so) I drove up the hard shoulder at over 100mph .
I have walked a considerable distance of it.
I have even swept a large amount of it.
I could probably tell you how many cats eyes there are on it

Gazboy said:

Most of the driving is quite good (except between 4.30pm-6.30pm)

Gazboy said:

and 95-105 is an average, yet there isn't many accidents on the M40,

Do you get notification of RTAs on the M40 by any chance

Gazboy said:

when there are, they almost always include a foreign truck.

Errrrr, where did this gem of information come from ?

Gazboy said:

As for the others shooting people down for breaking a law, shouldn't you be aware of what is dangerous without someone else telling you?

I don't think anyone is trying to shoot anyone else down!

Gazboy said:

If like Plotloss says, the limit was raised, would you then feel safe at the new limit but unsafe before the limit was raised, at the same speed. There are many unfathomable laws in this country (as well as many good ones), it is illegal for more than two gay men to have sex in one room, yet if you add just sexually active woman into the room, you can have as many gay men as you can fit into the same room and it is perfectly legal.

Strange example to pick Gazzer! Got something to tell us by any chance? Is the closet too small to contain you?

[8Pack]

Isn,t it about time that we had variable speed limits on our motorways? The technology exists to record traffic density! We Know when "rush hour" occurs! We know when adverse weather is likely!

If the authorities would put as much effort into keeping traffic flowing as quickly as possible, instead of camera's and traps etc. etc. designed to slow us down. Perhaps we too, in this country could have a motorway system that works! Variable speed limit signs are perfectly possible! No more complex than the installation of camera's, specs etc. We have signs showing us smilies for god's sake! The only thing missing as I see it is the political will.

On a safety note, the variable signs, placed at intervals could double to warn of an accident ahead.


For me though I just want to be able to drive my car in Britain on a MOTORWAY, legally in top gear! thereby saving fuel and resulting in a cleaner exhaust.