This has come off the back of a previous thread that got locked as it went off topic.

How religiously do you stick to speed limits?

What annoys you most on the road?

I've just been caught speeding, 47 in a 40 in Eastham. It was the middle of the night, it was dry etc etc and in my eyes this was no less safe than 40 and a hell of a lot safer than the example I quite often use... 30, legally, past a school during the day.

I drive within the limits of my car, my skill and visibility/conditions which at times can see me doing 100 on the motorway but at the same time see me doing the above 20 past a school.

One is legal, one is not.

I'm fully aware of the repercussions of being caught above the speed limit and accept the consequences.

It's £79 for a speed awareness course on this occasion by the way.

What annoys me most on the road?

People who do 40 in NSL areas and then continue to do 40 through the next 30mph village.

These are the people I'll catch up and overtake when making progress but then get annoyed if they end up behind me through the next village.

Had one not too long ago who I overtook in the NSL who then overtook me back in the 30mph zone.

Discuss.

Agreed... very annoying...

People who overtake on the most innapproriate roads...
Some pillock pulled alongside me at the lights by the new asda (heading towards the park). I have no problem with him whizzing off and getting in front... I'm rarely in a hurry in the truck! Anyway he didn't... instead he sat right on my rear os wheel then tucked in behind me only to fly past on the road at the back of the park... on Sunday morning when there was loads of traffic and Marathonists... wtf?...

Some roads in my opinion should be higher speed limits and some should be lower... at the end of the day a driver should be responsible and... as you said, drive in a suitable way for the conditions... sadly some people will drive fast regardless...

I can't find any fault in doing 47 in a 40mph zone Alex. I do it so often without even realising - I have no intention of speeding at all, it just happens, and got clocked 37 on Old Chester Road. Oops.
I used to live on a main road and always had 'speeders' on that. 50mph on a 30 road, I think that is genuinely intentional speeding, I think it's unfair to punish people so harshly for drifting above the speed limit, the figures may not be coming down because people do actually drift over the speed limit, that will never stop.

Doing over the speed limit and drifting sounds a bit dangerous...
but again it all depends on the conditions...

Ha, drifting as in gradually increasing speed.

In my eyes the only fault is being caught over an arbitrary number on a signpost.

I know when I'm speeding and in most cases I choose to do so, I don't think I tend to drift over the limit, I am doing it consciously.

Does this make me a bad person?

So I did 47 in a 40 at 2am. I now have to give up a few hours of my life and £80 of my own money to sit in a room and be 'spoken at' about just dangerous I am and what a liability I am on the road.

If you get clocked breaking the speed limit, this could be a reminder as to how little you are paying attention, speed traps (of any type) are one of the many hazards you should be aware of.

I've met a few badgers and rabbits/hares when travelling up to 70mph without hitting them. I wouldn't like to attempt the same manoeuvres above 100mph.

Mistakes cause accidents.
Speed governs the amount of injury.

I've driven above the speed limit for many miles over the last few years with no points whatsoever (I still don't - I just 30 seconds ago booked myself on the speed awareness course).

All points taken on board but your encounters with animals at 70mph would have been safer at 50mph and so on.

I'd also reckon on my car braking from 100mph much quicker than some of the sheds on the roads these days could break from much lower speeds. I'd also reckon on my car being more stable at these speeds than many at lower speeds.

It's all relative and that's why although I understand why we have speed limits, and that they need to be set to blanket cover everyone and every car on the roads, they're a bit out of date and cars have come on an awful lot since they were set.

30mph residential limits, I'll stick to them and lower, for obvious reasons.

But I agree that mistakes are what cause the accidents, and that inappropriate speed may make them worse.

Well its very much looking like the future is 80mph motorways and 20mph residential. Presumably residential trunk roads will remain 30/40mph.

I'm not a great believer in numbers on sticks. Like Alex, I frequently drive slower than the posted limit and at other times I exceed the limit if I think it's safe and I feel like doing it. I rely on observation not to get caught. Over the years I've been trained to a high level of competence, including membership of the High Performance Club. As a member, I've had the privilege of driving some exotic cars at some quite extreme speeds, but mostly on tracks, including the Nürburgring, and one one memorable occasion, a Porsche 911 Turbo at 190mph+ on an autobahn. I now manage happily with a Nissan Micra!

Sounds sensible to me!

Example is that new stretch of road leading to the lanes from Saughall Massie. That was 30 originally!? Been changed to 50, which is probably nearer the speed I would suggest is sensible.

Really? About time... as it was 60 when it was a narrow and windy road

Yeah, but the bits that were 60 further up are now a combination of 30/40/50.

Bypass from Bidston Moss to Moreton is now a 40 instead of NSL (I think it was NSL?) but I understand that is more to do with the shortcomings of the barrier in place and the train line etc.

I was told by a driving instructor that people doing their tests out of Wallasey now can no longer go any faster than 50mph up until they actually pass their tests, which is when they're allowed on the motorway!

Is it any wonder we have 17 year olds crashing like they have recently? They've never been faster than 50mph with more than 2 people in the car up until they're let loose on the world and have mates to impress.

Yeah the Bidston to Moreton road was NSL... 40 is very slow...

I remember when I was learning (when I wasn't doing three point turns outside your house) going along the dual carrigeway from Bayswater Road to the B&Q roundabout and my Instructor saying if you don't do at least 60mph (it was NSL at the time) you could fail your test... and now it's a 40mph limit... ker-razy.

I don't understand why learners can't go on a motorway... even if it was you can only go on with a proper Instructor and their car and not in uncle Bob's mk3 Escort with your mate Dave...

I tend to drive to the conditions the road allows.

I also like to try and plan my journeys so there is no need to travel in excess of the posted limits.

Its now very rare that I exceed the speed limits, there may be the odd occasion which warrents it - ie a safe overtake to minimise time exposed on the other side of the carrageway, or just the odd blat, but only at an appropriate time and place where the road ahead can be assessed.

Driving is a privilage, not a right, and there are reasons behind most of the limits in place. Wether the limit in force is valid or not? ....well, try arguing their validity in a court and see how far it gets you.....

Im not saying anyone elses views are wrong or right, thats just my opinion - id rather be driving at the posted limit, than not at all.....

Bloody good topic!

Quite. But I'm sure if I was on 6 points, for example, that I would start driving to the posted limits whether I agree with them or not.

I suppose thinking about it why should I think I know better?

I guess the answer is that I'm an arse.

While learning there is occasionally a need for the instructor to tell the person to stop and pull over, this is sometimes due to the instructor sensing fatigue in the pupil who can be concentrating very hard and can rapidly get exhausted. Also there is a risk of a learner over reacting to situations (braking heavily or pulling over sideways) which is much more dangerous on a motorway.

Just as likely when you've passed, as a new driver, I'd have thought.

You're likely to have more confidence with an instructor sat next to you and you have an experienced driver who can help you if he spots it.

It all seems a bit irresponsible to me but as always there's no right or wrong answers here, just different pros and cons.

Hi Guys,

As a driver I stick to the limits imposed even though I don't agree with them.

When all is said and done, the limits are there for a reason - not everybody is as confident or as able behind the wheel as some others here.

One tends to think that the motorway limit of 70 is not there for the able drivers, but so that they have sufficient reaction distance when the 80yo doing 55 pulls out into the lane in front of them.

And whether you agree with them or not, I cannot disagree with people being punished for breaking them.

Compare someone like Alex, who has stated that they do drive in excess on occasion, to a benefit cheat whose excuse is 'well I know the government sets the amount for income support, but I find it better to work a bit as well and still claim to make my life easier'.

Both are bad laws (the speed limit and the amount the government thinks you can live on), but I bet people would treat the benefit cheat more harshly than the speeder!

You can't pick and choose the laws you obey and those you ignore. If you feel that strongly, write to your MP and join the campaign groups.

You can.

But you need to be willing to pay the price if caught out.

It's a bit like my time spent in Africa. You can speed, smoke weed, and within reason do what you like, but you have to be willing to pay the fine/bribe when caught.

That's how I see it, right or not.

The attitude and acceptance of different laws has changed hugely over the years, I think that the "older" members will know what I mean and the "younger" members will wonder what I am talking about as it couldn't be true.

Drink Driving - It wasn't that long ago that even though we had a limit (as we do now) everyone knew the guys who weaved all the way home, who had to drive because they were too p!ssed to walk, and we laughed about it.

Domestic Violence - Where slapping the wife "showed that you cared".

Smacking children - When they were naughty, you smacked them (I don't mean beat up), even so far as being given "the belt" (wait 'til your father gets home...)

Benefit Cheats - Claiming too much, living with your girlfriend and letting your mate kip in the council paid flat, doing the cash in hand jobs on the side, we saw having a mate on the dole as a good thing as he could always paint your kitchen cheap, and we all used to joke as they turned up to sign on in a donkey jacket.

We "accepted" these things happen, but, like casual racism, we now look at things in a different way and our mindset accepts that these things are wrong.

I speed, my car only knows 30 as a number it passes on it's way to higher and better things, but where I think needs be I'll do MUCH less than the limit, it's all about what you, as a driver, feel is right, as when I get it wrong, and I have, it's my responsibility, the rest doesn't matter.

I'm sure over the next few years there will be a big push to make speeders the next social outcasts, maybe it'll work, or maybe it'll be a sticking point as everyone seems to think that the minute you pass your test you know it all, and it's only years later when you look back, and with the benefit of the skills you then have, realise just what a d!ck you were.

Oh yes, I have zero points on my licence, skill, judgement, or luck ?

It is funny the change in attitude, at one time if you were pulled over and probably over the limit it was ignored and you were told to drive home carefully, the same copper would insist you to had to park up and walk to get a replacement bulb if one had blown.

Tailgaters.
Neds in chavved-up cars, usually base model 1.0 Saxos with shitty tinted windows and a tin can stuck on the exhaust.
Sunday drivers.
Old men in flat caps.
Middle lane hogs.
Blatant red light jumpers.
Selfish gits who block the road to go to the cash machine/get fags/whatever. Putting your hazards on doesn't make it OK.

Alex, did you get done by a copper or a camera?

All of the above but especially middle lane drivers, grrrrrrrr

Camera

Why do you all go on about middle lane drivers? , please, someone tell me what they are?
If it's what I think it is then you all drive far too slowly.

It's people driving slowly down the middle lane of a motorway Ste... when they are not overtaking anyone...

Revenue generating me thinks

The left lane is for normal driving.

Middle and outside lanes on the motorway are overtaking lanes.

I drive properly and keep left when not overtaking. Middle lane drivers cause problems with traffic flow.

I'd have thought you'd have understood this.

Hogging the outer lanes is only an issue when there are cars behind you.

I was traveling with an advanced driver a few weeks back on the M6 and I questioned his road position in the outside lane whilst the traffic ahead was a few hundered meters away.

The motorway was gently turning to the left and he said that whilst nothing was behind him wanting to overtake, the outside lane gave him a much better view of the road ahead.

....the problem arises when there is traffic behind people hogging the middle / outside lane when they are not overtaking, and have cars waiting to pass - its just lazy, inconsiderate and could be described as driving without due care and attention.

Agree with your entire post but this is the bit I'm on about.

You are effectively making a 3 lane motorway into a 2 lane carriageway. People are overtaking the idiots in the middle lane and impeding your progress or people behind you that want to go faster.

Oh bugger, That's me.

Haha, which bit?

Or all of it?

chavved-up cars, usually base model 1.0 Saxos with shitty tinted windows and a tin can stuck on the exhaust.
Middle lane hogs.
Selfish gits who block the road to go to the cash machine/get fags/whatever. Putting your hazards on doesn't make it OK.
But I dont drive fast, It scares me driving fast, I dont want to get any points. and i dont want to end up dead.

i hate middle lane drivers (98% of the time women!)and people who dont pay attention!

Ah well. That road's infested with them, I asked 'cos I thought if you had got a tug from a copper he might have showed some discretion seeing as it was late at night and the road was quiet, and let you off with a talking to. Problem with those blasted cameras is, there's no leeway.

This is the answer: CLICKY

You run a garage, and you don't know the Highway Code?

I know. Common sense policing is dead.

While I'm on me soapbox:

Tossers in BMWs, Audis and chavmobiles who think use of indicators is optional.
Idiots who park on zig-zags, especially outside schools.
Women in big feck-off 4x4 SUVs which they only use for the school run.
People who turn right at roundabouts from the left lane.

The thing that gets me most nowadays is . . . on a NSL road 2 lanes and a HGV thinks it's a good idea to overtake another HGV, so lane 1 HGV is doing 54mph and lane 2 HGV is doing 54.5 mph and takes about 2 days to get past, then at next junction leaves NSL road.

I agree.

Do you think if the HGV 1 stayed behind HGV 2 for the journey then HGV 1 would save fuel due to lack of wind resistance?

If they're limited to certain speeds, do those drivers literally cruise along with their foot to the floor doing the top speed they can?

I'd love to hear from an HGV driver.

As of 10 mins ago... people who look at you as they pull out in front of you...

Let's get this straight, I need a new NSF headlight and I DID try to collide but you were too quick, ya git.