john banks

Thanks for all the ideas.

I think she mistook a 50 zone for a 70 zone and did 67 in a 50 on this occasion. She doesn't want to speed and is very worried.

The six points were accumulated soon after she started this job, one for 80 in a 70 on a dual carriageway. Since these she appears to have really changed her ways, in sticking to the speed limits rigidly without any flexibility it can result in her doing 30 in some temporary motorway restriction with other traffic doing 90. That is quite frightening... whereas those of us with none or just a few points can be more practical about it. Another difficult situation is on a motorway where the person you have been following slows because of a hill and you would need to pass if you are to maintain the speed limit, then there is a big difference between a legal speed and the speed of the traffic in the other lanes. If you're on nine points it is a bit dicey! She actually appears to drive really sensibly with no accidents, and speeds far less than I do. I just wonder how she keeps her eyes peeled though.

In terms of fighting it, I think the latest conclusion is that there is nothing you can really do against mobile laser "safety" vans.

In terms of jammers I would worry that she would get into serious hot water. It would be easy for me to say, "I told you so" as previously whenever we were in the car together I kept going on to her about the camera 100m in front of her that she hadn't "seen" and reacted to. That made me really popular keep telling her that when her license was clean at the beginning of the year.

I'm trying to be productive, but I still can't see of all the devices anything that will do what we need - just a simple beep when any limit is breached (not just at hotspots as mobile cameras seem everywhere). She would then lift off, she doesn't actually want to speed. Must be attention drifting, not observing properly, not in the habit etc.

She's trying to use the cruise control all the time now. I think she really needs another safety net until Feb 2008 when the first six points will not count towards a totting up ban that seems likely unless something changes.

Aquanaut

Don't take this the wrong way but what about an eye test?

Failing that Tomtom with the free camera database which can be set up to announce the speed limit when approaching a hotspot.

john banks

I did wonder about her vision - checked and OK. It seems to be observation. I make her sound like a daydreamer though, which she isn't!

The worry is that not all the hotspots are on there... everywhere needs to be a hotspot when you are on nine points.

dpb

jeeez 2 years - im in the same situation for 4 months...but perhaps dont rely SO heavily on car for living - i dont suppose a sideways promotion is a possiblity.???

Aquanaut

My missus is one of the Advanced Driver mob and one of the games they play is remembering the last three or more signs they have past by.

The observation thing does help. I'm not going to start shuffling the wheel, but I have listened to her with an open mind and the observation stuff has prevented some nasty stuff happening to me from the muppets out there.

I suppose it comes down to if you drive to get from A to B or you ENJOY the drive (any time any place any speed).

andy97

iTrader: (1)

There is plenty she can do especially against the mobile camera vans.

points to fight are

1 some of these camera vans are manned by civilians, not police officers. therefore are not empowered to form prior opinion before pressing the laser trigger

2. most of these vans use the Lti 20-20 laser and it so unreliable. The police /cps are extremely reluctant to release the videos. See this link http://www.pepipoo.com/NewForums2/viewtopic.php?t=8046 and look half way down the first page for a scanned copy of the newpaper article.

3 if she fights the allegation the CPS quite often make cockups in the paperwork which can lead to the case being dropped.

There is alot a person can do especially if they a nearing a totting up ban. Well worth it IMO

Andy

Anders_WR1

iTrader: (8)

John,

This web site mentions a 'Limitator feature — full warning sounded only if the user is exceeding the prevailing speed limit'.

http://www.radarexpress.com/origin_b2.html

john banks

Still only a warning at a blackspot/camera site from reading the manual.

It seems that the camera was actually a GATSO, but she never saw a flash. Probably will get a Road Angel and get her to use cruise control everywhere. Trouble is, there are several local roads that can be randomly mobile camera infested along their entire lengths (many miles). Would something like a Road Angel show this?

Thanks Andy, just been reading. Since in Scotland, it seems that a completed but unsigned S172 can sometimes do the trick.

MTR

Why should it matter?

John,
Please don't offence, but if your friends attitude to her situation is the same as yours she will be getting a ban sooner rather than later.
She (and you) MUST accept that she can NO LONGER SPEED ANYWHERE AT ANY TIME, until some or all her points have expired, assuming she wants to keep her licence/job.
She needs to start assuming that ALL the roads in the UK along ALL their lengths are one big speedtrap, ALL OF THE TIME.


Looking for a system that will warn her of cameras/speedtraps becomes totally unnecessary if she controls her speed.

Cheers
MTR

MTR

She can sit behind the slower vehicle, just the same as people driving less powerful vehcles have to do.

The displayed speed limit is the MAXIMUM speed allowed not an advisory speed to travel at, as pointed out to me more than once by a kind Policeman.

My friend tells me he uses the cruise ALL the time, he doesn't 'try' to use it all the time.
Theres a subtle difference.

Sorry for sounding self righteous, I'm not. I am like the rest of society, I will approach my risk taking with knowledge of the likely consequences.
If the consequence outweighs the benefit of taking the risk, I don't do it.
And I am not refering to speeding, but life in general.

But she really must want to lose her licence if this is the way she is approaching life given her current situation.

You are a medical person, and if you advised a patient that even ONE more repeat of a specific activity would kill them ie deep sea scuba diving, then would you then offer them advice on the best air regulators/dive computers to use, or would you just say STOP IT OR DIE!!!

A rather extreme analogy I accept, but read what you are asking on behalf of your friend.

Cheers
MTR

john banks

Thanks MTR. "She (and you) MUST accept that she can NO LONGER SPEED ANYWHERE AT ANY TIME" - entirely agreed, and that is the reason for this post. I think you misunderstand the purpose of the device - what we want is something that will help AT ANY TIME (ie NOT just in black/hotspots as that is too risky on 9 points) to give an overspeed alert, as well as using cruise control and more observation training.

I'm worried that we went through all this after her first 6 points (in a week in Feb). She knew she had to stick to the limit all the time and when I've been observing her she seems very disciplined. But something is wrong if she didn't see a GATSO or even knew it had flashed her. I suggested more training at the time, and looked for an overspeed device, told her to use cruise etc. As I say though it doesn't exactly help to say, "Told you so". She does seem to be taking it very seriously though.

Like you, I take calculated risks, but my license is not presently in danger as I've picked up 3 points in 8 years compared with 9 in 7 months for my wife.

Whilst you can sit behind slower traffic, if you are doing 30 on an open motorway and there if nothing in front of you or behind and the HGVs are piling past at 60mph in the middle lane it is a bit unpleasant. When you aren't on the verge of a ban you can be a bit more sensible, as it was it felt very dangerous on the M6 yesterday.

MTR

John,
On my first reply to this thread I suggested a change of car.
As I mentioned a friend owns an SLK Mercedes which apparently has a feature to set a predetermined limit on the car.
Perhaps other makes/models may also have this facility.
Would this sort of feature not help? or can she not swap cars.
Failing buying a vehicle as described I would suggest the next best thing would be a slow car, which doesn't speed quite so easily.

When I drive my wifes 1.3 Fiesta on the motorway its quite relaxing, as any alteration on the throttle pedal has a much subdued response, than when in my Impreza. Its so much easier to stick to 65-70mph in the Fiesta.
Up hills it struggles a bit, but I will not get points for that.

Maybe a sluggish car with cruise control would give her a better chance of keeping her licence, assuming of course she doesn't currently drive a sluggish low powered car.
I am thinking of non turbo diesels here by the way, as the current crop of turbo diesels pick up speed in the mid range a little too easily without realising it.

Good luck in the driver retraining programme.

Cheers
MTR

john banks

She can't swap the car until March 2008 so I think we'll need to implement the other changes.

MTR

As per your last reply a car change isn't an option, but for interest according to this web page Citroen/Peugeot have already fitted a system which might help.
http://www.developpement-durable.psa...niv3=4&id=1878

One of my neighbours had an insurance quote for his Cupra R and they wanted him to pay extra for a speed limiting device to be fitted, and they would reduce his premium if he agreed.
I will ask him if he has any info on th esystem they were suggesting.
Presumably its a retro fit to any vehicle.

Cheers
MTR

john banks

Sounds good. Info on that system of your neighbour's would be good. I saw a system on a TV programme from Cranfield University which beeped continuously when the speed limit was exceeded (used GPS and a speed limit database IIRC), but I don't think it is commercially available.

dpb

As i see it its not maintaining a particular speed its the JUNCTURE between the 2 .....in which case criuse is just fine but not going to solve the problem

MTR

John,
My neighbour didn't have the unit fitted, as he declined the quote, but from what he told me I think it only limited the top speed of the car to 75mph or so.
I have popped round, but he is out at the moment. I will try and speak to him over the next couple of days, and let you know what he says.

Cheers
MTR

Bob Rawle

John, you've mentioned b4 that your better half has a lead foot, Origin B2 doesn't do what you want but does warn of the dreaded fixed camera AND give the speed limit at the same time.

bob

Merv

iTrader: (12)

John,
Check page 10,not sure if this would help?

http://www.drive-smart.co.uk/Manual_V7.6_English.pdf

Merv

john banks

Thanks MTR, Bob, Merv. Merv I'll check with them on the specifics.

Apple

Is cruise control the best option or just a quick fix? If she's forever setting that, is she then dropping her concentration as she doesn't have to think about one bit of the "jigsaw?"

On my experience of cruise control, it's OK on roads that are quiet but isn't flexible enough by "doing what it says on the tin" for heavier traffic and areas of varying speeds (unless you constantly knock it on and off)

I guess this is more of a mental / attitude "problem" and she needs "re-programming" to bring her in line if she isn't going to pick up the last set of points and tip the scales. I could be harsh and say, do sod all and let her get banned, loose car / job etc and then see how things are and if she feels the need to speed on a pushbike / bus...

Advanced driving can be a bit pottering / driving like Miss Daisy but it's good at picking up observation levels, awareness of limits and it can make driving enjoyable at any (including legal) speeds. I rebelled against a few of the things on the course but as you take on board the ideas, it becomes second nature and driving is near stress-free - let all the other hot-headed idiots kill themselves whilst you use your techniques to get there "by making progress"

Frazer

Buy her a nice spec'd safe car but make sure its really slow, that way she will have to actually make a conserted effort to break the speed limit.

john banks

The first two lots of points were in a 1.6 Focus...

She has to use her company car for work.

Checked that Drive Smart device, like the others you have to manually set the limit each time it changes.

DaveW

John,

The speed limit device used by Mercedes is part of the cruise control system. Basically you set it to a limit of say 70mph and you can't go over that speed (foot flat to the floor and it accelerates to 70mph then sits there). So not much good in varying speed limits.

Don't some SATNAV systems tell you when you are entering a different speed limit zone? Or is it an option that can be enabled to speak the speed limit as it changes?

Dave.

MTR

John,
I have spoken to my neigbhour about the speed limiting device I previously mentioned, and it seems I was totally on the wrong track.
The system the insurance company wanted him to have fitted was a GPS based speed monitor, it DID NOT LIMIT THE CAR.
But they would fine you if you broke the speed limit by an agreed figure, and they would cancel your policy if they found you going significantly above the limit!!!
This is where I must have got the 75mph ish figure from.
It really was a Big Brother scenario, with no apparent benefit to him, but potentialy a lot to lose.
How they would have access to a digital road map of the UK with all the speed limits on it is a mystery because I didn't think that was in existance yet.
Sorry for the misinformation.

Back to square one I think.

Cheers
MTR

IanK Spec C

John,

Has your wife thought about preparing for her IAM test with a local group? That should help improve her observation and help her to be aware of the speed limit and her own speed. See www.iam.org.uk for more info.

She won't be able to take the test with that many points on her licence, however I'm sure the practise will do the trick.

Best regards,

Ian

john banks

She is reading the Driving Manual at present. Road Angel arrives tomorrow. Still a few days before she needs to return that NIP.