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Original poster

To wonder how so many people are comfortable breaking the speed limit?

513 replies

AngeloMysterioso · 16/08/2024 10:50

Is it just me? I’m pretty vigilant about sticking to the speed limit but more and more I’ve noticed recently that I’ll be doing 70 or just below on a dual carriageway or the motorway and someone will go flying past. God forbid I be driving at the limit on the outside lane, even if I’m going faster than everyone in the middle lane it’s only a matter of time before some knob is either flashing their headlights at me or driving up my arse (or both) while I wait for a big enough gap to move across so they can shoot off before doing the same to the next car in front.

It tends to be most often 4x4 drivers or Mercedes/BMW/Jaguar etc types. Maybe they just don’t think they should have to see the back of a 16 year old Fiesta!

OP posts:
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sadabouti · 19/08/2024 21:17

@SerendipityJane don't know what the best tech is, but just meant that this is an area where the state should take the choice away. Use tech to apply the speed restriction wherever a person happens to be. Lower all national speed limits by 10 miles an hour. Less pollution, fewer accidents/deaths, energy efficiency and faster journey times as fewer jams and punch points forming around junctions. This would then impact car design in positive ways too.

InkyPinkyPonky24 · 19/08/2024 20:46

@CantHoldMeDown So basically by admitting you break the law, and are proud to do so, you are in effect engaging in criminal behaviour! That's not really something to be proud of.

Uglyandgrumpy · 19/08/2024 20:00

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Morris and his wife Esther went to the state fair every year, and every year Morris would say, "Esther, I'd like to ride in that helicopter". Esther always replied, "I know Morris, but that helicopter ride is 50 dollars and 50 dollars is 50 dollars".
One year Esther and Morris went to the fair, and Morris said, "Esther, I'm 85 years old. If I don't ride that helicopter, I might never get another chance." Esther replied, "Morris that helicopter is 50 dollars and 50 dollars is 50 dollars".
The pilot overheard the couple and said, "Folks I'll make you a deal. I'll take the both of you for a ride. If you can stay quiet for the entire ride and not say a word I won't charge you! But if you say one word, it's 50 dollars." Morris and Esther agreed and up they went.
The pilot did all kinds of fancy maneuvers, but not a word was heard. He did his daredevil tricks over and over again, but still not a word. When they landed, the pilot turned to Morris and said, "By golly, I did everything I could to get you to yell out, but you didn't. I'm impressed!"
Morris replied, "Well, to tell you the truth, I almost said something when Esther fell out, but you know -- 50 dollars is 50 dollars."

BernardBlacksBreakfastWine · 19/08/2024 19:57

Jeez. This thread’s a real eye-opener.

So many arrogant drivers who will argue all day about why the rules don’t apply to them!

Also so many who can’t read OP’s post!

She described a situation in which she, in the outside lane, is overtaking slower traffic in the other two lanes, and posters have gone off in all sorts of mad directions in order to find fault with her.

It isn’t difficult to comprehend; we’ve all been there. There are two lorries vying with each other, taking up the first two lanes for miles, so you very reasonably go into the third lane to overtake. You’re going at about 70mph. Some clown in a fast car comes up behind at 90mph, flashing and beeping. That’s literally what OP is describing.

ErrolTheDragon · 19/08/2024 19:40

Americans don't have this fixation with lane assignments. Certainly not on interstates.

And significantly more traffic related deaths, there's probably many factors.

CantHoldMeDown · 19/08/2024 19:34

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Uglyandgrumpy · 19/08/2024 19:32

SerendipityJane · 19/08/2024 19:10

Americans don't have this fixation with lane assignments. Certainly not on interstates.

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In russia they shoot protesters

Babyboomtastic · 19/08/2024 19:21

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You choose the risks for your life, sure. That doesn't give you the right to risk other people's lives.

That you are this comfortable with coals too ignore the law to me shows that your have very poor judgement. Exactly the sort of person we don't want speeding on our roads.

CantHoldMeDown · 19/08/2024 19:12

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CantHoldMeDown · 19/08/2024 19:12

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SerendipityJane · 19/08/2024 19:10

Uglyandgrumpy · 19/08/2024 18:28

Just imagine if every single driver stuck to 70 religiously on the motorway 😇 wouldn't the whole world be a happier place 😀 . Then we could all drive in any lane and no one would ever be unhappy ever again.

Americans don't have this fixation with lane assignments. Certainly not on interstates.

Uglyandgrumpy · 19/08/2024 18:44

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Brian can fly

Original poster
AngeloMysterioso · 19/08/2024 18:41

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That’s your opinion, and given your apparent inability to drive without breaking the law I’d say you’re just as bad a driver as they are.

OP posts:
CantHoldMeDown · 19/08/2024 18:34

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CantHoldMeDown · 19/08/2024 18:34

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Uglyandgrumpy · 19/08/2024 18:28

Just imagine if every single driver stuck to 70 religiously on the motorway 😇 wouldn't the whole world be a happier place 😀 . Then we could all drive in any lane and no one would ever be unhappy ever again.

Original poster
AngeloMysterioso · 19/08/2024 18:23

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The irony that you’re constantly reporting other people for poor driving whilst readily admitting to breaking the law all the time because it doesn’t apply to you…

OP posts:
SerendipityJane · 19/08/2024 18:12

sadabouti · 19/08/2024 18:09

Nonsense. The basis of every speed awareness course is the statistical data showing how the risk of death increases rapidly in an accident once over 40mph.

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Or insurance actuarial tables ...

SerendipityJane · 19/08/2024 18:11

sadabouti · 19/08/2024 18:07

I've come to the conclusion that cars should be fitted with gps speed restricters that prevent all speeding. It's interesting how many people imply in their posts that it's okay to speed in the "fast" lane provided you are overtaking...

You need to be careful with GPS speed limiters.

That said, aren't all new cars now being fitted with limiters ? Not sure if they are required to be on at all times.

sadabouti · 19/08/2024 18:09

User7171 · 19/08/2024 17:03

<70 isn't inherently safe and 70+ isn't inherently dangerous.

The way you're talking is as if anyone exceeding 70 is raging maniac who's going to kill someone at any moment, whereas you're the epitome of a safe driver because you never exceed the limit.

Driving to the conditions - both traffic and environment - is safer than blindly following the arbitrary numbers on a post.

Nonsense. The basis of every speed awareness course is the statistical data showing how the risk of death increases rapidly in an accident once over 40mph.

sadabouti · 19/08/2024 18:07

I've come to the conclusion that cars should be fitted with gps speed restricters that prevent all speeding. It's interesting how many people imply in their posts that it's okay to speed in the "fast" lane provided you are overtaking...

CantHoldMeDown · 19/08/2024 17:50

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Mischance · 19/08/2024 17:46

The arbitrary numbers on a post just happen to be the law! We cannot choose to ignore them!

ErrolTheDragon · 19/08/2024 17:42

Driving to the conditions - both traffic and environment - is safer than blindly following the arbitrary numbers on a post.

Of course.

And doing so within the defined limits is nearly always going to be safer than deciding it's ok for you to exceed them. There may occasionally be circumstances where a burst of speed will avert an accident and you shouldn't be checking your speedo rather than keeping your eyes on what's going on, but that's very much the exception.

CantHoldMeDown · 19/08/2024 17:23

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