For all M25 users TOLD YA

[K9sixtwo]

Speed isn't a problem.  Inappropriate speed is the problem.

  people who think they know how to drive are a problem.. people that travel like total twats i.e... 90+ in lane 3 or four right up your rear as if its there god given right to drive how they want ,then dropping for an undertake if they cant get by.. why people cant seem to stick to 70 is a mystery..
Some of these people think i have ESP and can foresee there driving lunacy......

[AdamM]

90 was too much in the 50's when the speed limit was introduced, fine now with modern cars. most cars didn't even have disc brakes back then let alone ABS, ESP etc etc etc

you can't base the law on the condition of brakes of the better cars on the road. You base it on the condition of a basic road worthy car, amongst many, many other factors.

[cia260895]

I think the argument that todays cars are so better equipped at stopping better/faster than those of yesteryear as somewhat mis-leading as it still leaves no room for mechanical/human error into consideration.Just because a car travelling @ say 120mph today can stop sooner than a 1970's cortina doing 70mph what happens if the brakes fail or a tyre blows??? Carnage will follow....

[byronkincaid]

90 was too much in the 50's when the speed limit was introduced, fine now with modern cars. most cars didn't even have disc brakes back then let alone ABS, ESP etc etc etc

you can't base the law on the condition of brakes of the better cars on the road. You base it on the condition of a basic road worthy car, amongst many, many other factors.

basic car in 50's had crossply tyres, no seatbelts, no crumple zones and the chassis was likely to be rusting through. average car today has all of those and much much more including crash testing to make it safer in an accident!

[Rookie (Rodney)]

People don't mention the middle/outside lane hoggers though do they ? The one's that just sit there whether they are over taking or not!! Regardless of my speed, if I can get to the inside I do, thus letting anyone who wants to go faster than me to pass without having to get right up my arse or undertake me.

Also, the 70 mph speed limit is ridiculous. About time it was upped if you ask me.

[Grier78]

90 was too much in the 50's when the speed limit was introduced, fine now with modern cars. most cars didn't even have disc brakes back then let alone ABS, ESP etc etc etc

I would agree with a limit of 80 as this is what most people are doing anyway. 90 is a bit too far IMHO. But I also think that all other roads should have the limit raised to 40.

I also totaly disagree with the argument that people will go 10mph faster than whatever you set the limit to, most people I see on the road drive at a comfortable speed in which they make good progress whilst being in control of their car and in relation to the traffic around them.

All speed cameras in 30 zones should be removed and children should look both ways before crossing the road.

[kinboshi]

Do more people die on Germany's Autobahns than on US freeways or British motorways?

40mph in a residential area is FAR more dangerous than 100mph on a clear motorway in fine weather.

Driving whilst on a mobile phone is FAR more dangerous than driving at 100mph on a clear motorway in fine weather.

Driving a car that hasn't been properly maintained is FAR more dangerous than driving at 100mph on a clear motorway in fine weather.

[taximan007]

Whatever the safety of cars nowadays, airbags, brakes, seatbelts etc, they count for nothing if a speeding car should hit a pedestrian or cyclist.

Why are people hellbent on speed? Are we meant to be impressed when someone boasts they got from A to B in X amount of time, when normally it takes so long, Bravo good for you!!!!!

One of my step daughters from my 1st marriage was walking on the pavement when a "speeding car" lost control and ran her over. Subsequently she had both legs amputated and lives her life in a wheelchair.

Just my thoughts.

[Grier78]

For the record I am not saying that you should drive at 40mph down a residential street. You should drive at a speed that is appropriate to your surroundings i.e. on a narrow street full of parked cars and children playing then 20mph is probably quite fast.

But I know many streets that are wide, have good visabilty and no access for pedestrians that are 30 limits with speed cameras (Penistone Road in Sheffield is a good example). Clearly this is a money making oportunity as even the South Yorkshire Police are getting caught there (though they escape punishement because they can't identify who was driving the vehicles apparently).

[kinboshi]

For the record I am not saying that you should drive at 40mph down a residential street. You should drive at a speed that is appropriate to your surroundings i.e. on a narrow street full of parked cars and children playing then 20mph is probably quite fast.

Whatever the safety of cars nowadays, airbags, brakes, seatbelts etc, they count for nothing if a speeding car should hit a pedestrian or cyclist.

Why are people hellbent on speed? Are we meant to be impressed when someone boasts they got from A to B in X amount of time, when normally it takes so long, Bravo good for you!!!!!

One of my step daughters from my 1st marriage was walking on the pavement when a "speeding car" lost control and ran her over. Subsequently she had both legs amputated and lives her life in a wheelchair.

Just my thoughts.

Which surely reinforces my point about the difference of speed, and inappropriate speed.  I don't mind and would actually prefer 20mph zones in residential areas, near schools, shopping centres, etc.

Pedestrians aren't at risk on motorways, the traffic is all flowing in the same direction, and the condition of the road and things like visibility are far better than non-motorway roads.

I don't know the stats, but it would be interesting to compare the fatalities and serious injuries on US freeways (with a 55mph limit), to those of the UK (70mph limit) and those of Germany (with some unrestricted autobahns).

I also like the dual speed limits on the French autoroutes.  They have a speed limit for dry conditions and another for wet.  Displays show the drivers the speed limit they need to adhere to. 

The problem with the 70mph limit, in my opinion, is that the speed is completely arbitrary.  On Friday when I was driving home from the office in strong winds and some snow, 70mph was too fast.  It would have been inappropriate.  On a dry, clear day, 70mph is perfectly safe, as is 80mph, 90mph and maybe even faster.  I recognise that it's illegal to exceed 70, but that's not what I'm talking about here. 

It's more dangerous for someone to answer their mobile phone at 65mph in the middle lane of a motorway (unless they're on a proper hands-free kit), than it is for someone to drive (conditions permitting) at 90mph whilst completely focused on what you're doing.

It's this fascination people have with arbitrary speeds as a means of making driving safer which I have a problem with.  Very soon, all new cars will have built in crash-prevention measures (like the Mercs and Volvos have where they measure the distance between you and the car in front and slow your car down if the car in front starts to slow).  Will this remove accidents?  No.  Why?  Not because people are going to fast, but because people are driving in a manner that's dangerous.  People change lanes without looking, cut up other drivers, drive on the hard-shoulder, etc.  Oh, and drink-driving - which is far more dangerous than exceeding the current 70mph speed limit.

(Interestingly as I was writing this, an advert was on telly part of the Think! campaign showing someone on the phone to his wife whilst driving his car.  It ends with him having an accident.  I'm glad they're not just focusing on speed.)

[Ismene]

To be honest - I'm struggling to think of any cameras along that route - and i do it fairly often...  Can anyone confirm whether there are or not? There are road markings for sure - but no cameras - and on the point of fines - don't pay them. It is an illegal tax that the government try to con you with. Since the de criminalisation of road traffic acts (1991) and the fact that prosecution is not possible.

To be honest we should all be suing them under the theft amendment act 1996 where it is an offence to obtain money by deception. To cut a long story short - and one that i have a lot of time for - the Govt know that courtesy of the Magna Carta and Bill of Rights both created at times of great constitutional crisis precisely to prevent the imposition of summary justice but until the metric Martyr judgement nobody realised that there was going to be a problem - which they are aware of now - and keep quiet abut so that they can rake in as much cash as poss.

oh by the way - if you do get a parking ticket try writing on the back of your cheque - "Paid only on the understanding that this penalty will be returned in full when the supremacy of the Bill of rights over the law under which this penalty has been levied has been confirmed in a court of law" - Always on the back of my cheques now - and the council have yet to cash a single one... -Try it - you might like it...

[HOLDorFOLD]

To be honest - I'm struggling to think of any cameras along that route - and i do it fairly often...  Can anyone confirm whether there are or not? There are road markings for sure - but no cameras - and on the point of fines - don't pay them. It is an illegal tax that the government try to con you with. Since the de criminalisation of road traffic acts (1991) and the fact that prosecution is not possible.

To be honest we should all be suing them under the theft amendment act 1996 where it is an offence to obtain money by deception. To cut a long story short - and one that i have a lot of time for - the Govt know that courtesy of the Magna Carta and Bill of Rights both created at times of great constitutional crisis precisely to prevent the imposition of summary justice but until the metric Martyr judgement nobody realised that there was going to be a problem - which they are aware of now - and keep quiet abut so that they can rake in as much cash as poss.

oh by the way - if you do get a parking ticket try writing on the back of your cheque - "Paid only on the understanding that this penalty will be returned in full when the supremacy of the Bill of rights over the law under which this penalty has been levied has been confirmed in a court of law" - Always on the back of my cheques now - and the council have yet to cash a single one... -Try it - you might like it...

I'd like to hear more or read up more on this - have you got any websites you can recommend?

[Rooky9]

The main problem in creasing the speed limit to 80 is that it also increases the top leeway speed. ie the speed limit is now 70 and you don't get pulled up to 80. A lot of motorway users will travel at 90. Add 10mph to those figures for a higher speed limit and your adding more than a big Jonathan Edwards triple jump to a stopping distance.

I do however think police should have guns and take out all people who feel the need to sit in the outside lane. I often drive correctly, head to the inside lane, have a clear lane in front and on my outside, and make up loads of time. They can also take out the ones who don't realise that something being 1/4 mile in front of them, moving at about 10mph slower, does not mean you have to sit ready to overtake, just to be stubborn and think the person behind should only be driving at 70 so its tough.

[Ismene]

To be honest - I'm struggling to think of any cameras along that route - and i do it fairly often...  Can anyone confirm whether there are or not? There are road markings for sure - but no cameras - and on the point of fines - don't pay them. It is an illegal tax that the government try to con you with. Since the de criminalisation of road traffic acts (1991) and the fact that prosecution is not possible.

To be honest we should all be suing them under the theft amendment act 1996 where it is an offence to obtain money by deception. To cut a long story short - and one that i have a lot of time for - the Govt know that courtesy of the Magna Carta and Bill of Rights both created at times of great constitutional crisis precisely to prevent the imposition of summary justice but until the metric Martyr judgement nobody realised that there was going to be a problem - which they are aware of now - and keep quiet abut so that they can rake in as much cash as poss.

oh by the way - if you do get a parking ticket try writing on the back of your cheque - "Paid only on the understanding that this penalty will be returned in full when the supremacy of the Bill of rights over the law under which this penalty has been levied has been confirmed in a court of law" - Always on the back of my cheques now - and the council have yet to cash a single one... -Try it - you might like it...

I'd like to hear more or read up more on this - have you got any websites you can recommend?

I will attempt to use a scanner because I've found a very nice article which encapsulates it all by Ashley Mote called "A Pandora's Box of Fixed Penalties" - but my tech expertise with scanners is equal to that of Queen Victoria's - i.e. non existent - so bear with me an i will either pm it to u or post it. But by all means try googling him - he generally has some interesting points and is one of those journalists who can drive you insane one week but that you will find yourself agreeing wholeheartedly with the next...

[Bongo]

http://www.ashleymote.co.uk/topics.php?filter=&sec=article&art_id=60