JUST BECAUSE THERE IS A SPEED CAMERA ON 50MPH ROAD

[NotYoMomma]

Does NOT mean you should drop your speed to 35MPH!!!!

Ianbu!

HATE this, seriously why do 50, traffic moving nicely and then bang on the break just as you go past?!

Note I didn't nearly crash but we had to slow right down and of course it was muggins here who got stuck at the next set.of traffic lights of doom

GRrrr twitch

My mum always says "It's a limit, not a target," as she pootles along in her grannymobile. I can't cope with being a passenger in her car. I get very anxious because she likes to stick to 20mph in 30mph zones, 30mph in 40mph zones and so on. She also has to stop at every single roundabout; she won't check the traffic on approach and keep moving onto the roundabout if it's clear, she has to come to a standstill and then check. She brakes for every bend in the road, even on roads she travels every day and knows like the back of her hand. She thinks she's being supremely safe and sensible. I think she's going to cause an accident one day.

She thinks I'm a wannabe Stig show off because I prefer to reverse into parking spaces

Lazyjaney thank you!

LazyJaney, you seem to think that speed cameras are there to outwit drivers, like a game of hide and seek. That's not the case. Orange is right, the road is easy to read if you look at it. Stop thinking that the authorities are trying to catch you out by making things difficult. This is not the case and its not a case of "us against them" either.

If you read the Highway Code you'd understand the role of a speed camera better. Tbh, I've driven all over the country and haven't been confused by speed signs or found unclear signs in built up areas. You should get in touch with your council if you think your area is unclear with road signs.

My mum would be like yours shatners except mercifully she can't drive. Doesn't stop her being an expert though.

It saves time to assume that if, when driving her, someone else does something stupid causing you to take avoiding action, it will always be your fault.

I'm sorry but the lamp posts say it all. If not, and there was insufficient signage, then they will be your defense if a speeding ticket is issued. Otherwise there is little excuse for not knowing the speed limit on any road.

Shatners - perhaps your mum is correct? There are lots of places in the town that I live in where I travel at 20mph in a 30 areas. It's cos I fear that children could run out in to the road, or there are cars parked on either side of the road and it's very narrow so I'm concerned that someone is going to open a car door, etc etc.

We need to drive at a speed that is relevant to that particular street/road/area and the "speed limit" is the fastest we can possibly go only if conditions dictate.

Itsyonlime. You have nissed the point of the thread. We are talking about when conditions allow. And the point is you should ALWAYS know what the speed is unless you are driving without due care

No I haven't missed the point of the thread. I'm making a point to Shatners who finds it funny that her mum drives slower than the limit. I'm saying that perhaps her mother feels that is the fastest she can safely go in that area.

Can I add to the list of peeves 'people who reverse into my entirely properly parked car in a small car park and then have a go at me for being parked in the properly marked space they wanted to use to manoeuvre, before refusing to apologise or wait while I check for damage, and driving off'

I appreciate it has no real relevance to the thread, but I'm pissed off and wish to rant!

Kungfu. I would be FUMING!

I've definitely read some studies showing, that, wrongly sited, some cameras cause an increase in accidents, not a decrease.
And whilst I'd like to believe that all speed limits have been decided upon in a scientifically robust manner, it seems probable that some are inappropriately set. Near me a stretch of road goes from national speed limit to 40, 30 40 and then national speed limit again within the space of a few yards. the 30 stretch is just a few metres long. it isnt a residential area.
I'm pretty sure the signage is in error, some road marking limits seem to contradict the post signage. totally confusing.

It would be actively dangerous for someone to be focussing on meeting those limits within the distances they span.
a driver's choice is therefore

1. obey limits rigidly at expense of safe driving
2. use judgement and drive safely for road and conditions.

speed limits have their place, but I do not have an unwavering belief that what is on a sign is always appropriate for the area. I'd rather a succession of drivers driving safely at 40 and slowing down gradually on a dual carriageway than braking desperately to 30 to avoid the policeman hiding right next to the sign where the limit changes.

I think some limits are open to abuse by councils and police, and are knowingly abused.

Oh for goodness sake, as someone else said, the council and police do not fix the roads to try and "catch you out".

If you think the speed limit on various stretches of road are wrong, then you need to get in touch with your Highways Dept and let them know.

They are constantly engaged in a process of evaluating road markings, speed limits, maintenance etc. There is usually a reason for a speed limit being the way it is, but if there isn't (if the original reason has ceased to be valid for that road) then they will change it, subject to doing all the technical gubbins on it and ensuring that the change is in line with current traffic management and road safety guidance.

And if they don't, they will at least explain to you why not.

as she pootles along in her grannymobile. I can't cope with being a passenger in her car. I get very anxious because she likes to stick to 20mph in 30mph zones, 30mph in 40mph zones and so on. She also has to stop at every single roundabout; she won't check the traffic on approach and keep moving onto the roundabout if it's clear, she has to come to a standstill and then check. She brakes for every bend in the road, even on roads she travels every day and knows like the back of her hand. She thinks she's being supremely safe and sensible. I think she's going to cause an accident one day.

Fucking hell my blood pressure just rocketed just reading that! The roundabout thing drives me demented there are no other vehicles in sight, why the FUCK are you stopping!!!

This is the utterly inept driving that I'm talking about, and these people are dangerous because they are behaving unpredictably and not according to the rules of good driving. She's not being safe and sensible; safe and sensible drivers are always looking ahead as far as they can see at all times.

So many drivers are only looking at what is right in front of them, not what is ahead of and behind them. I was taught to always look as far ahead as possible, and if you can't see very far (ie coming into a corner), have your foot off the accelerator and over the brake.

I wouldn't ever tailgate someone who is at or near the speed limit (or considerably lower if conditions are bad). However if I'm looking to overtake someone, then I'll be quite close behind them, yes, waiting for a chance. On a stretch of road that isn't going to let me overtake, I'll drop back.

If someone is driving like an idiot doing 35/40mph in a 60 limit in clear conditions, braking on every corner and slowing down randomly, then yes sometimes I'll be right up their arse in exasperation and hope that I'll be able to get past them. I don't do it often though.

If someone persistently tailgates me when I'm doing the speed limit (happens often when I slow down to 40 or 30 when the limit changes down) then I'll touch my brakes so that my lights show. That usually gives them a hint.

I often drive at slower than the maximum limit because it feels safer, especially on winding, country roads that I am unfamiliar with. I cannot see where the road is going at 50 mph. Also, I may like to see some of what is around me, trees, fields, etc in the old-fashioned sense of "motoring". I am still driving at a reasonable rate. The fact that this seems to make some people SO irate (as shown on this thread) that they can barely contain their anger says more about them. It also shows to me how selfish and aggressive society has grown .

I think it is also really sad that people only obey speed limits because of cameras, not because they are driving too fast they may cause an accident. It is a very childish approach to their responsibilities to drive safely and think of others (if not themselves).

p.s. The speed limit is NOT a TARGET. It is a LIMIT on all roads except motorways! Motorways are a completely different kettle of fish, and I think people are constantly confused about this.

LOL, I've just had a memory of driving with my Aunt in the passenger seat.

I kid you not, I was doing 25mph in a 40 zone (because she reacted badly when I did 38) and she was frantic with alarm "calm down dear" "go easy now" etc.

I think some of you need to remember that sometimes, people are driving like idiots because they've got a lunatic aunt in the front seat behaving as if they're Ayrton Senna if they go above 20.

As we approached each roundabout, I would say: "which way am I going Auntie M?" and she would faff and faff and so I would simply cross the roundabout and then she'd say "you should have turned left!/ right!" and I would say cheerfully, "yes but you didn't tell me to. No problem, we'll turn round at the next roundabout" and she would say "slow down dear, you're driving so fast" as I went back up into third gear.

Oh god and she used to drive. But she was one of those wierdie drivers who never go on motorways and I have to say, I'm quite glad she's given up driving - she was a bloody terrible passenger and a hopeless navigator.

I hope never to have her in my car again.

I think you may be confused too ARealDame. I think I am fairly laid back, but if I came across you "motoring" in your old-fashioned way admiring the trees and fields, driving at what you considered a reasonable rate that wasn't at or very near the limit (in good conditions), it would drive me batty. Can you not see that it is dangerous?

Mind you, to put another slant on things: My Mum used to approach a particularly dangerous blind bend with an additional hump in the road and she tackled it by putting her foot down "to get out of the way quickly in case there was something coming". She had never had an accident in her life either, despite driving for over 60 years. I have no idea how she avoided them.

Also, I may like to see some of what is around me, trees, fields, etc in the old-fashioned sense of "motoring". I am still driving at a reasonable rate. The fact that this seems to make some people SO irate (as shown on this thread) that they can barely contain their anger says more about them. It also shows to me how selfish and aggressive society has grown...

I used to work as a companion/carer for a lovely elderly lady, and a lot of our time together was spent cruising around the countryside in my car, looking at stuff, the slower the better. But if someone came up behind me, I would either pull over it was safe do so, or I would speed up to near the speed limit until i could pull over and resume our crawl. Why? Because I recognise that most people aren't on the road for the joy of motoring, they are on it because they need to get somewhere. In the old days of motoring, the roads were half empty and people could cruise. These days, if you don't want to be selfish to society, you should be focusing on the road and driving safely, not on the trees and fields! Pootling along at 20mph under the speed limit on a clear road admiring the beautiful view, is fine if there's noone behind you, but a lack of awareness and consideration for the roadusers who need to get there is selfish and irresponsible, I'm afraid.

at Basil's aunt!

It's worth bearing in mind that speed limits are arbitrary numbers based on the lowest common denominator ie the poorest driver in the crapest car. Exceeding the speed limit is not in itself dangerous, there's no reason why a good driver in a high performance car can't safely exceed the limit in the right conditions. It's all about appropriate use of speed, that's certainly the way I was tought to drive.

No I haven't missed the point of the thread. I'm making a point to Shatners who finds it funny that her mum drives slower than the limit. I'm saying that perhaps her mother feels that is the fastest she can safely go in that area.

You've missed my point at least. I don't think my mum's driving is funny, I think it's potentially dangerous. Her opinions on speed limits and safe motoring are wrong and her style of driving makes it difficult for other motorists to drive safely. This isn't on one or two roads that she perceives to be hazardous, it's every road she has to drive on.

She's fine as a passenger, but is too cautious behind the wheel.

'speed limits are arbitrary numbers based on the lowest common denominator'

Not always. The 30mph limit in towns has not changed for about eighty years. It is 30 because that is the highest speed a human being can be hit and hope to survive. Even at 35mph survival limits are far, far worse.

In fairness that is true although I'm willing to bet that there are certain drivers in certain cars that can react and stop more quickly from 40 than others from 30 ( not quite relavent I know)

Actually it's a bit of a myth that stopping distances, braking times etc., are all to do with the performance of the car or the quick reactions of the driver.

They're actually based on physics, the principles of which have not changed since stopping distances, speed limits etc., were introduced.

There are differences depending on the weight of your car, braking mechanisms etc., but the differences are small and too many people assume that stopping distance, speed limits etc. can all basically be ignored because they're based on a 1950's idea of an efficient car which is heavily outperformed by modern ones. There is a little bit of variation, but not nearly as much as people think.

To the people saying "It's a LIMIT, not a TARGET" : in fact, according to the need to "make progress" in the driving test, if conditions permit, it is a target.

Anyway, if I were an incapable driver, scared by driving anywhere near the speed limit, I'd probably parrot that mantra too. It's a lot easier than admitting you're a bloody hazard, wouldn't pass a re-test, and should get off the road.