jods

It occurred to me this morning that, as a careful driver, I have 9 years protected no-claims with all the benefits that affords me. For example - a slight knock a few years back - sorted by the insurance with no comeback on me.

I have several bank accounts - a couple of joint accounts in the UK and one in the US - Sometimes I muck things up and go overdrawn, not often at all, and if I give the bank a call about the fines they may have imposed I invariably have had the money refunded (2 occasions in the last 4 years at different banks)

I work hard at the job I do and my boss knows that I put my, increasing, weight behind every job I take on. Sometimes I have missed a deadline - but I am cut some slack cos 95% of the time I have my eye on the ball.

It is called give and take and makes for a happy relationship in all areas of life.


All but one...

Yes - You got it,

Speeding.

I can drive thousands and thousands of miles safely and within the speed limit, most of the time, yet in a moment of distraction can drift a few mph over a spurious speed limit and "BANG" £60 FINE and 3 POINTS end of discussion.

It cannot be said that driving faster than the speed limit equates to dangerous driving because IF that were true then every emergency vehicle that drove above 70 mph would be guilty of dangerous driving.

It is time for two things to happen - IMHO

1. Increase the speed limit on major A roads and motorways to 80 and 100 respectively (Actual speed - not indicated)
2. Give benefit to drivers with x(three or four) years with no endorsements so that if they get caught in an SP30 situation they get a warning (Yellow card - if you like) - if they get a 2nd endorsement within 12 months then they get a £100 fine and 3 points

seems to me that that might win some friends amongst the majority of law abiding drivers - punish the doughnuts out there who persistently speed and also raise more revenue for the tax man.



DISCUSS

Fuzz

Cat amongst the pidgeons (as long as it doesnt catch the flu)

Why do the speed limits need to be increased at all.
Just because the cars can go faster nowadays?
Just because you feel the need to get to the next job quicker?

Why does the world need to spin so bloody fast anyway (in all walks of life).
What happened to "It's done when it's done"

Andy

picasso

same thing happened to me, had a totally clean license from 1979 & never had an accident or insurance claim - touch wood - yet 2 weeks ago overtook a line of slow moving traffic on a dual carriageway only to find camera van parked on the central reservation clocked at 37 in a 30. £60 fine + 3 points.

with respect to your ideas point 1 would not make much difference - have you tried driving at 70 on the motorway, no one drives to the speed limit anymore, even the cops will let you get away with upto about 80 and only pull you if the deem your style of driving is dangerous or way above 80.

point 2 could have some mileage in it (excuse the pun) maybe a warning for upto 10 mph above the limit, depending on the location, immediate fine + 3 points for above this. then as you say if caught again within 12 months maybe £120 fine + 6 points, an accumulation of the 2 offences.

sgcooby

Cant see the speeding situation changing for the better ( in the motorists eyes ) as it is such a good revenue collector. As long as all political parties are for it in some sense or another then why should they change their policies?? Its like petrol taxation. We all need petrol and will continue to buy it so thats why they tax the hell out of it. We all need to drive and will continue to do so no matter what the implications are from getting caught speeding. No win situation from our point of view. Looks like we will have to put up with it unfotunately.

gaz c

after driving for 15 years now ive not once been pulled over by the boys in blue or flashed at by them yellow things at the side of the road. ive had no claims or convictions at all.

but that doesn't mean i don't break the speed limit every now and then. its hard not to when you drive a scooby.

i think the yellow card idea is a good one. (and fare)?

speed increase on A roads. most people do this anyway. ive been on the motorway doing 75 to 80 and some cars pass me like i'm standing still.

gaz c

jods

"Cos I live in England, Mon. Nat in Jamaica!, aight"

justanotherperson

At one point, not so long aga the AA was trying to get the speed on a motorway up to 80mph.

The fact is,that nowadays cars have improved that much they can break xx amount of meters of befor, the car from when the Highway code was first bought out, but the police/law/government seem reluctantley, to up the speed limts of the motorway, where all trafic,this sidfe of the barier, is at the very least going in the same direction,albeit not quite at the same speed.

jods

Alan Partridge voice mode ON:

"I'm sorry - that was just a noise"

Alan Partridge voice mode OFF:

speye91

just take ur punishment..do the crime do the time.. if u had kids would u like ur kid to get hit by a car travelling above 30...dont think so.
Kids are more likley to survive a 30mph impact as is anything living.I have been done for speeding in a 30 zone and it was my fault no one else pressed the accelorator paid the fine took the points.
just think it could b ur kid getting hit by a car above the limit (30) just by a few miles or so .......yes limits should be increased on duel or motorways as there is less pedestrions about . Plus better technology in cars now. Im no angel i speed but never in a 30 or 40 ... some may not agree but that is my say

mick
ps sorry about the spelling

Chelspeed

The original post was about A roads and motorways not 30 mph limits, very different.

> ps sorry about the spelling

I should bloody think you should be.

speye91

a roads have 30 mph limits

speye91

sorry 1 mistake ....wot are u an english teacher with patches on ur arms

hostagewrx

get rid of the speed cameras, get more traffic cops to get the slow inconsiderate dangerous drivers on the road and bring back common sense, im a cop and i only prosecute the dangerous, might stop the odd blatant speeder and give them a telling off,

camera's out
common sense road policing in

bet i get slated now!

frayz

iTrader: (7)

Man, thats bang on!!

Shame no toffee faced MP's are slightly interested in your voice or your opinion.

Trouble is we all have to feed the government cash machine so that means anything resembling a good idea gets shunned.

We used to be Great Brittain............. Nows its just W@nk!!

picasso

speye91 - the 30 zone i was caught speeding in is a "no pedestrians allowed" area. there are no causeways on that stretch of road. i agree that speeding in heavilly populated areas such as outside schools is a definate no no.

cw42

iTrader: (1)

The fact of the matter is: speeding doesn't kill, an unrealistic driving test, **** poor driving ability, poor road design, no limit on what car you can drive versus your experience, little or no road policeing and rude/inconsiderate road users are what kills. The speed of a motorist on drugs/alcohol is nearly always lower than the limit, but they're much more likely to have a crash. The ability of some spotty youth who's just passed his test, and is now tearing around in daddies porker, is way below the standard of the youth who's taken his motorbike test, but who is more likely to kill themselves or others? The 4x4 on the school run, need I say more? The aged population, driving on roads that have changed beyond all recognition in the last 20 years, with just a simple test, if any, when they were younger back in the 40's, 50's and 60's. And finally, although I'm sure there are more, immigrants! A lifetime driving the streets of (insert country of origin here), with no formal training whatsoever, then onto the streets of the UK!
chris.

Floyd

iTrader: (9)

Too late. It's got worse They will be raising fines and dishing out bans for 2 speeding offences now.

Have a nice day - not!

F

speedking

The points system does exactly what you are proposing. An extreme alternative would be an instant ban and crushing of your vehicle at the first offence. Now the points system doesn't seem so bad does it? When you get to 9 points you will be focussed on speed, an effective deterrent while not preventing you from driving.

"I can drive thousands and thousands of miles safely and within excess of the speed limit" It is over 15 years since I was involved in an accident, and over 5 years since my only speeding conviction 53 / 30. How come?, because I am careful, observant, selective about pressing the loud pedal, and polite when pulled over. 100% agree that speeding is not inherently dangerous, but while HMG concentrates on that you have to play the game.

I know several people wit the same approach as me, but I do not recommend stating the above as a defence in court The major problem is that speed limits cater for the lowest common denominator. A better solution would be to have an advanced test allowing say a 15mph increase above non-urban speed limits. Maybe difficult to enforce. How about this is compulsory for cars with in excess of 200bhp, and revoked in the event of 2 speeding offences.

What I am afraid will happen is that as the revenue reduces they tighten the rules to maintain the revenue stream. This would appear to be the case with the proposal that it will be two strikes and you're out

GazTheHat

I think that the motorway speed limit should be increased, like most of europe. 80-85 would be fine. Most people would not be confident enough driving over that anyway. The rest of the roads should stay as is. If you're on the motorway, you've generally got a longer journey, so up the limit and let them get there quicker, legally.

Paul3446

Agree with Floyd, front page of the paper today, if you get caught doing 45 in a 30, you'll get 6 points, get caught again and you're banned.

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

My thoughts.

Keep the standars test, with the standard rules

But..

Advanced driving tests, (very hard) with high speed testing etc, thus entitling you to a different set of rules, eg 90 MPH on certain motorways. Also minimum age to take advanced test 25

bbigman2000

All I know is the cops round here are a bunch of ******* im on 10 points now after 2 measely speeding fines.

first one A road 11pm at night middle of summer no traffic on road, in my 360bhp EVO !!!! 4 points 79 in a 60mph zone

second one again sunday night, it was dry but dark.

In my last wrx 6 points 94mph in a 60mph zone A road.

It took the cops 8 miles to catch up the first time, and I wasnt doing more than 80mph once !! idiots they used concealed tactics in my area (moray)

so much for prevention being better than cure !!

scooby546

iTrader: (1)

Agree with that - although if were to be an increasing number of 'advanced' 90mph road users on the motorways then the other less experienced drivers also need to have some awareness training built into the standard test to anticipate those faster objects on the roads...

Also agree with maintaining lower speed limits (i.e. 30mph) in towns and built up areas, basically where the danger zones are, and increasing the limits, be it by means of an advanced licence or change to the speed limits (unlikely due to the environmental concerns) on hi spec rural roads and major trunk routes.

The normal insurance these days wil allow anyone with enough spare cash to drive whatever they want to, regardless of age & experience, as mentioned a few posts above - I also agree that there should be limits relating to experience that govern the ability to pilot vehicles that have a certain spec. However as modern cars become more and more capable this may not be an effective way of restricting the number of 'high risk drivers' out there.

I think that driving can be immensely enjoyable, and it is a shame that we are subject to all of these seemingly draconian rules and regulations that look like they will eventually suck the life out of driving enthusiasts, but while there are accidents and incidents we must continue to abide by the rules or face the consequences - as someone mentioned above 'play the game'. Generally given the rise in the number of vehicles on the roads, I think that it is gradually becoming a safer place to be - however this may be improved further by the government providing special funded track days so that everyone can let off steam safely

Any thoughts?

Pete

Dspeed

The government do not care about speeding, If we all killed ourselfs and they still got paid they would be even more happy. The Truth is that the planet is facing an energy crisis. The govenment has been aware of this since the 1980's.
Both speeding offences and the idea of vehicle related global warming have been brought in to detere vehicle use as opposed to tell us the truth and face the panic.

mikepaul

The reason why we can't increase speed limits is because, sorry to disappoint not BMW drivers, but people who drive company cars (some of which are BMW drivers), drive as if they own the road.

I must admit the most arrogant people i've meet in the banking/IT trade are salesmen and marketing folk (both men and women), who think their jumped up manager title enables they to ignore the law and drive in a dangerous manner of the public roads cutting other drivers up with no regard for others.

I have the money but would not buy a car brand associated with arrogant idiots who provide the police with the evidence : "see how these idiots drive, that's why we need to police speed limits, at 70mph they are dangerous at 80 these idiots would endanger the life of other road users.

Now that Adolf Brown will soon be PM, I'm sure things will get worse as he applies full throttle to the Tax escalator and a driving ban comes which two strikes in a year.


The real solution is to scrap cameras on all but accident black spots and get more police patrol cars (do they exists any more !!!!!!!) on the roads, unmarked please.

ARM-Scooby

werent speed limits set in line with the stopping distances that are set in the highway code?

You can beat them in any modern day car, clarkson did it and a few other motoring programs. Sort of suggests that speeds could go up, as long as people are made to keep decent distances between one another, some thing the police should have a look at, along with people that sit in middle lanes never returning to the right lane!!!

I like the varying speed limits in France, depending on the weather/ I dont mind the lower speed limits around schools and other areas that require them.

We all know its about the cash, and that the powers that be need to give you points, just so they dont dont look like they are after cash!!!

I think its a matter of people making the speeding situation an important enough point that the goverment cant ignore the views of the voters, and look at things in a way that is suitable. Someone put labour in a position to do this!!! In France the government have to keep the people happy or they all drop everything and bring the country to a stand still, Italy are similar, but yet we all in the UK just moan!

mikepaul

I will vote next time, I promise.

Cheers,

EVOLUTION

putting it simply, the government and police forces cant afford to take the hit in lost revenue any more.

No mater what way we look at it, they will get the money from us one way or another. Swings and Roundabouts, thats all it is.

im not saying i dissagree with you here, because alot of the points here i agree with.....

But, Speeding is something we all have a control over. We know the law, we know the speed, accidently or not, if you go over it, you takes your chance with the law.

What pisses me off even more are 2 things.....

Poeple who fraud insurance claims mainly being WHIPLASH and uninsured drivers. I have no control over this, yet it seems as i have to foot the bill for it. Along with all other people who insure there cars.


Thats what really makes me sick,


slightly off topic, but one that needs addressed either way


John

jaminrat

you won't get slated by me , i agree with you .need to let it go back into the hands of the officer rather than a scumbag in a sneaky well hidden van , or a scamera .
agree with the opening comment too

Jamescsti

So the fact that you were driving a 360bhp EVO makes it ok to speed does it?
In the first case you were 19mph over the limit,
In the second case you were 34mph over the limit!

Don't get me wrong I speed as well, but it's not like you had a lapse of concentration and slipped over the limit.
No sympathy for you i'm afraid, if you do the crime do the time!