FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[McLaren]

You have to remember all these speed limits were made many moonms ago.Since then brakeing,handling and car safety have improved no end.They really should allow some roads to have higher speed limits.

Take Germany I think it is when you have two speed limits one for clear days and one for wet/icey conditions.Common sense like this would never happen in the UK.

On a scary note in Cyprus their DVLA building burnt down some years back.Cyprus being Cyprus and the cypriat way of life they had no back up so they resolved the matter by sending everyone over the age of 17 a driving licence ,if they had passed or not. .So if you ever go there thats why their driving is so bad

[darwin dali]

You have to remember all these speed limits were made many moonms ago.Since then brakeing,handling and car safety have improved no end.They really should allow some roads to have higher speed limits.

Take Germany I think it is when you have two speed limits one for clear days and one for wet/icey conditions.Common sense like this would never happen in the UK.

On a scary note in Cyprus their DVLA building burnt down some years back.Cyprus being Cyprus and the cypriat way of life they had no back up so they resolved the matter by sending everyone over the age of 17 a driving licence ,if they had passed or not. .So if you ever go there thats why their driving is so bad

It's not all about safety. Speed limits are also imposed to save fuel - a regular car uses almost exponentially more fuel once you get above 60mph.

[darwin dali]

My tuppence worth; I too hate drivers that pull out of a side street on an ordinary road then proceed to drive slowly (usually under the speed limit). In fact in theUK, an individual would actually fail their driving test for doing such a thing, as if you perform ANY action on the road that causes a following car behind you to have to break heavily (which is considered to be evasive action) then you're in the wrong. It's the one scenario that if a driver from behind hits you it's actually YOUR fault for insurance purposes.

I also don't agree that driving in excess of the speed limit on a clear, non-residential road is unsafe. People always say that fast drivers are dangerous, but that just doesn't hold true. Fast drivers that DO crash will likely cause more damage, that's true certainly but in my mind there are 6 categories of drivers:

1. Slow good drivers
2. Slow Bad drivers
3. Normal good drivers
4. Normal bad drivers
5. Fast good drivers
6. Fast bad drivers

In my opinion whilst fast bad drivers are likely to injure or kill more - the worst of the lot by a country mile are the slow bad drivers. Characteristically these drivers are indecisive, and that is what makes them dangerous.

A scenario I've seen on more than one occasion from slow bad drivers is sitting at a busy-ish junction and you can physically see their thought process - will I go, won't I go, yes... no.... yes go for it followed by the inevitable crash or near miss with either oncoming traffic or side on traffic. Those that pull out of junctions when there isn't space or time to do so then proceed to drive at 20mph fall into the same category.

I don't care what ANYBODY says, they are the worst and most unsafe drivers by far.

All I'm saying is really old people, you know, the kind that you fear they keel over a minute from now. They have no place in traffic!

[darwin dali]

First thing I like to say in reply Tex; yes I do have a lead foot; but that doesn't need I speed excessively, I follow the flow of traffic generally, if most people are doing 80mph on a 70mph stretch of road, I will travel at 80mph, does that me an unsafe driver, no it does not... and for your information I don't drive like that with my family in the car.

Off ramps here in Kansas have a speed limit of 35mph; on ramps however have a highway speed limit for safer merging. I do not agree that accelerating from a stand still onto a highway with traffic travelling at 65mph is safe; I frankly do not trust other drivers to be paying attention; with the amount of people I see using mobile phones, adjusting their make-up or changing the radio station being totally oblivious to what is going on around them is astonishing; often drifting into other lanes. I do not do anything than drive when I am behind the wheel; the radio stations never changes and I never answer my phone when driving, if it's important they'll leave a message.

So I am at the end of the on ramp; nowhere to go but into fast moving traffic from a standstill and other cars are going around me from the on ramp... how is that a safe situation? I refuse to be put in that situation especially in a car that takes 12 seconds to get to 60mph on a good day if the gear box changes up when it should do!

I also do not agree with having to move over for cars pulling out of side roads; and often it is not possible as another car is alongside, on a 40mph road there really isn't a "slow lane", the responsibility is for the driver merging into traffic to make sure they have a safe gap to pull out and accelerate, I am not talking highways, I am talking about normal streets. If I have to take any sort of last minute avoidance action that is more likely to cause me to crash. I am talking about drivers pulling out and going slow when I am 25 to 50ft away from them when they pull out! I am more than willing to slow a little bit for people to merge into traffic but it's unacceptable that I have to brake heavily from 40mph to 15 - 20mph, It's really annoys me because often I do have my kids in the car...

And no I did not mean 'slip-stream', in the UK; on and off-ramps are called slip roads... sorry for not using US terminology.

That's what the horn is for IMO: honk as loud as your Ford Focus allows (not too much I know) and for quite a while to send a message. Once they get more of these messages whenever they pull such a stunt, they hopefully realize what kind of idiots they are and change their ways for the better (or take driving lessons again).

[darwin dali]

Also, a little tip to those in the UK - it's not always against the law to exceed the speed limit. It's perfectly legal to speed when performing an overtake so long as you pull back into the inside lane and drop back down to the speed limit once the move has been completed. Many people don't realise this and fall foul of ridiculously arbitrary speed cameras / traps and pay their fine out of ignorance of the fact they may have been doing nothing wrong.

Yep that is very true.

What is your opinion on Speed Cameras? There are too many littered in the Strathclyde area in my opinion. Even that stupid wee fiddly 50mph stretch between Prestwick airport and Kilmarnock

Speed cameras in my opinion could perform a useful function if placed at accident blackspots, but the simple fact of the matter is that they're not. They're placed often in long stretches of non-residential road that people may speed but will NEVER have an accident in doing so, meaning that they are only put up to boost police coffers. Safety device my backside.

I know exactly the stretch you're talking about for the average speed cameras too - the M74 - I was down that stretch just two weeks ago when I was going to run the Ayr 10K. Again, in my opinion something is dangerous when it forces you to look for any lengthy period of time at anything other than the road in front of you. Now I have a SatNav that beeps rather annoyingly at you if you exceed the limit in an average speed camera zone, so I'm ok, but most people don't. Most people will for that 15 mile stretch or so be constantly looking at their dashboard to make sure they're staying within the limit. not safe, and utterly needless.

That's all besides the common practice of people slamming on the brakes unexpectedly to following traffic when they see a speed camera.

Dashboard? I never look down - got cruise control and head-up display

[myownalias]

I also do not agree with having to move over for cars pulling out of side roads; and often it is not possible as another car is alongside, on a 40mph road there really isn't a "slow lane", the responsibility is for the driver merging into traffic to make sure they have a safe gap to pull out and accelerate, I am not talking highways, I am talking about normal streets. If I have to take any sort of last minute avoidance action that is more likely to cause me to crash. I am talking about drivers pulling out and going slow when I am 25 to 50ft away from them when they pull out! I am more than willing to slow a little bit for people to merge into traffic but it's unacceptable that I have to brake heavily from 40mph to 15 - 20mph, It's really annoys me because often I do have my kids in the car...

That's what the horn is for IMO: honk as loud as your Ford Focus allows (not too much I know) and for quite a while to send a message. Once they get more of these messages whenever they pull such a stunt, they hopefully realize what kind of idiots they are and change their ways for the better (or take driving lessons again).

I've never been much of a horn user; especially here in the US where they are likely to get out of their car and shoot you!!!

Tex, I really don't care that much to call 911 over someone acting like an idiot on the road... if I did that I would constantly be dialing 911. I am consistently being overtaken by local police cars on surface streets, if I am doing 40mph and being passed within a few seconds; how fast is the police car going? I do not see how the police can arrest/ticket someone for driving above the speed limit when they can't practice what they preach!

The only exception is if they are on an emergency call; with lights and/or sirens going!

[texasmr2]

I've never been much of a horn user; especially here in the US where they are likely to get out of their car and shoot you!!!

you do have to be careful in Texas, good call.

Tex, I really don't care that much to call 911 over someone acting like an idiot on the road... if I did that I would constantly be dialing 911.

So very true.

I am consistently being overtaken by local police cars on surface streets, if I am doing 40mph and being passed within a few seconds; how fast is the police car going? I do not see how the police can arrest/ticket someone for driving above the speed limit when they can't practice what they preach!
The only exception is if they are on an emergency call; with lights and/or sirens going!

I have always had an issue with that aswell but unfortunately I must add that 'on-duty' patroling police officers are exempt from traffic laws such as speeding (Texas Penal Code, Sec 545.365). The problem with that is there have been way too many accidents and lives lost caused by police officers exceeding the speed limit just because they can. About 6 months ago when I did a 'ride along' with a dept and a fellow cadet he did nothing but speed the entire shift, I was not impressed to say the least.

I completely agree with 99% of your concerns except the speeding.

Be safe that is all I ask ,
tex

[myownalias]

I have always had an issue with that aswell but unfortunately I must add that 'on-duty' patroling police officers are exempt from traffic laws such as speeding (Texas Penal Code, Sec 545.365). The problem with that is there have been way too many accidents and lives lost caused by police officers exceeding the speed limit just because they can. About 6 months ago when I did a 'ride along' with a dept and a fellow cadet he did nothing but speed the entire shift, I was not impressed to say the least.

I'm always safe, keep my distance from the car in front and not excessively speed... never play with gadgets while driving, in car and portable, the last one is a personal annoyance; drivers doing just about everything except concentrating on the act of driving.

I do find it rather disturbing that police officers in Texas are effectively above the law... Police officers should be subject to the law they are charged with enforcing in my opinion, no excuses unless on an emergency call with clear lights and/or sirens to warn other road users.!

[texasmr2]

I do find it rather disturbing that police officers in Texas are effectively above the law... Police officers should be subject to the law they are charged with enforcing in my opinion, no excuses unless on an emergency call with clear lights and/or sirens to warn other road users.!

I agree yet there is one agency you will never find speeding just because they can, DPS State Troopers. I will never be one of those officers abusing the laws they are hired to enforce.

[suitcase]

So the point of this point other than to rant; how do my fellow forumites feel about drivers in their state/country, any horror stories?

Well, I live near New Jersey and Maryland, soooo... they come here all the time because we have tax-free shopping. What I have found is that NJ drivers don't have manners. MD drivers aren't as bad, and of course these are stereotypes and I'm sure many drivers from both of these states are excellent and safe drivers. But they definitely have a bad record.

[darwin dali]

So the point of this point other than to rant; how do my fellow forumites feel about drivers in their state/country, any horror stories?

Well, I live near New Jersey and Maryland, soooo... they come here all the time because we have tax-free shopping. What I have found is that NJ drivers don't have manners. MD drivers aren't as bad, and of course these are stereotypes and I'm sure many drivers from both of these states are excellent and safe drivers. But they definitely have a bad record.

NJ, the state where you are not allowed to make left turns What's up with that? Having to use a loop around lane to make a left turn? I think it's to protect New Joisians because they ARE such bad drivers

[myownalias]

NJ, the state where you are not allowed to make left turns What's up with that? Having to use a loop around lane to make a left turn?

How bizarre; I thought that was a joke so I Googled it and it's true... I'd rather idle for a few minutes to cross traffic than drive around in circles all day!!!

Although apparently it does save the environment as less gas is used; it's true Mythbusters tested it!

[texasmr2]

Probably so as it must be very difficult and dangerous trying to make a left turn while doing the guido fist pump .

[darwin dali]

NJ, the state where you are not allowed to make left turns What's up with that? Having to use a loop around lane to make a left turn?

How bizarre; I thought that was a joke so I Googled it and it's true... I'd rather idle for a few minutes to cross traffic than drive around in circles all day!!!

Although apparently it does save the environment as less gas is used; it's true Mythbusters tested it!

They still stand still and idle as they don't have the right of way or have to wait until they get a green light.

[myownalias]

NJ, the state where you are not allowed to make left turns What's up with that? Having to use a loop around lane to make a left turn?

How bizarre; I thought that was a joke so I Googled it and it's true... I'd rather idle for a few minutes to cross traffic than drive around in circles all day!!!

Although apparently it does save the environment as less gas is used; it's true Mythbusters tested it!

They still stand still and idle as they don't have the right of way or have to wait until they get a green light.

Yes but the theory is that you don't have to wait as long hence saving fuel, I still find the turning right on red an odd concept as that isn't the case in most of Europe!