To wonder who all these people are, speeding?

[justonanote]

Or more to the point, how they think they can get away with it, or clearly do all the time?

I do a lot of motorway driving and I see so many cars doing over 80!

See also dual carriageways near me. People do 80+!

I'll be in a lane sometimes doing 70 and I have cars behind flashing at me to speed up

My question is do people not get done very much for speeding? I wouldn't really think to speed anyway but surely the strong possibility of a fine or more is a deterrent? Do people just not care?

If you're not prepared to drive over 70 @ivykaty44 then why are you in any other lane than the inside lane? You're barely going to be going any faster than most lorries.

And in the example you've given (leaving aside why you'd move into the outside lane to overtake a lorry that you're probably travelling a couple of miles faster than at most) it makes no sense, that lorry will move straight back into the inside lane as soon as it's passed the slower moving vehicle, so even if you did feel it necessary to overtake, you'd be able to return to the middle lane fairly quickly.

Of course you have to leave an appropriate amount of room, I've not said otherwise but you're only meant to be in the outside lane to overtake. So once you've overtaken that lorry, you should be looking to move back at the first opportunity...not pootling along in the outside lane at dead on 70mph when there will be vehicles in the middle lane doing the same speed!

That is how collisions occur. Not because someone drives at 75mph!

Someone doing 80 doesn’t piss me off it’s to be expected really, what annoys me is people driving 30mph in a 60mph limit that is also dangerous and can cause an accident soooo many slow drivers like this.

Also get out of the over taking lane of your going 70 you know people use it as the fast lane wether you like it or not you will end up causing an accident.

If you know the road, you often know where the police and cameras sit.

I'll admit to often driving too fast, but never been caught, and don't drive aggressively.

I do wonder if you're possibly in the right hand lane for people to flash you though?

There isn't really any such thing as a safe speed limit. It's all dependent on a range of variables - road surface, weather, other road users.

I am trained to drive emergency response vehicles. I can easily control a vehicle at speeds in excess of 100mph, and many people can control a car at 80mph on the motorway. But control of your own vehicle is only part of the picture.

What training teaches you in addition to vehicle control is the awareness of hazards and how to negotiate them (e.g other drivers not seeing you because they're not checking mirrors regularly enough to either realise you're there in the first place or that you'll drive into the back of them if they pull out because you're covering ground so quickly).

It's poor observation that results in most collisions, not speed per se, although speed greatly reduces the time the driver has to a) notice and b) respond appropriately. It also greatly increases the severity of collisions, particularly when the driver hasn't matched the speed to the conditions.

An A road in good condition on a bright but not too sunny day with no traffic and a national speed limit of 60mph is very different to the same road on a very wet evening in the winter at rush hour. It's all about driving appropriately for the conditions.

All that said, someone who consistently drives well under the speed limit without good reason (e.g. bad weather) would probably concern me also. Why are they driving that slowly? Some are driving that slowly because they are unable to anticipate the driving conditions and so drop their speed to try to compensate for it. This will certainly reduce the severity of a collision but such a driver may be more likely to cause a collision in the first place. Caution is good but anxiety can make for a panicked reaction when hazards unexpectedly appear.

If you're not prepared to drive over 70 @ivykaty44 then why are you in any other lane than the inside lane? You're barely going to be going any faster than most lorries.

because I want to overtake, as I am travelling faster than the vehicles in the inside and middle lane. That is what the other two lanes are for, overtaking and just because I don't want to break the law doesn't mean I have to sit in the inside lane at all times.

Also get out of the over taking lane of your going 70 you know people use it as the fast lane wether you like it or not you will end up causing an accident.

its an overtaking lane and if drivers want to overtake at 70mph, they are legally allowed

its not the driver overtaking at 70mph that is causing the crash, its the driver breaking the speed limit - several on this thread try continually to blame the drivers who are driving within the law rather than look at this breaking the laws, its like victim blaming

My most hated is people overtaking, but only at 2mph over the car they are overtaking so it takes them bloody ages.
What a waste of time.

@ivykaty44

Also get out of the over taking lane of your going 70 you know people use it as the fast lane wether you like it or not you will end up causing an accident.

its an overtaking lane and if drivers want to overtake at 70mph, they are legally allowed

its not the driver overtaking at 70mph that is causing the crash, its the driver breaking the speed limit - several on this thread try continually to blame the drivers who are driving within the law rather than look at this breaking the laws, its like victim blaming

Well said😀

@ISpyCobraKai mine is middle lane hoggers, they cause far more problems than a driver overtaking within the speed restrictions

@ivykaty44

Not sure what makes you think that there are other driving rules I ignore with gay abandon. I’m actually a bit of a stickler for the rest including being in the right lane, indicating at roundabouts, parking considerately, giving way etc.

but you didn't like it when the other driver took your wing mirror off due to not following the rules and giving you priority

you seem to think you get to choose the rules you follow and can break the law but when other do this its not ok

It was a completely different situation. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’ve never damaged anyone’s car by speeding. Their rule breaking damaged mine.

@Resilience

There isn't really any such thing as a safe speed limit. It's all dependent on a range of variables - road surface, weather, other road users.

I am trained to drive emergency response vehicles. I can easily control a vehicle at speeds in excess of 100mph, and many people can control a car at 80mph on the motorway. But control of your own vehicle is only part of the picture.

What training teaches you in addition to vehicle control is the awareness of hazards and how to negotiate them (e.g other drivers not seeing you because they're not checking mirrors regularly enough to either realise you're there in the first place or that you'll drive into the back of them if they pull out because you're covering ground so quickly).

It's poor observation that results in most collisions, not speed per se, although speed greatly reduces the time the driver has to a) notice and b) respond appropriately. It also greatly increases the severity of collisions, particularly when the driver hasn't matched the speed to the conditions.

An A road in good condition on a bright but not too sunny day with no traffic and a national speed limit of 60mph is very different to the same road on a very wet evening in the winter at rush hour. It's all about driving appropriately for the conditions.

All that said, someone who consistently drives well under the speed limit without good reason (e.g. bad weather) would probably concern me also. Why are they driving that slowly? Some are driving that slowly because they are unable to anticipate the driving conditions and so drop their speed to try to compensate for it. This will certainly reduce the severity of a collision but such a driver may be more likely to cause a collision in the first place. Caution is good but anxiety can make for a panicked reaction when hazards unexpectedly appear.

👏

@ivykaty44 has no reason not to be in the middle lane to overtake. Even if she does 61 she's going to be going faster than a lorry, there are speed limiters and retarders fitted that mean a lorry can't just do 70 on a whim - she's also absolutely right not to jump straight back in, car drivers not leaving enough room in front of HGVs is dangerous and infuriating.

I’m sure there is a suitable A road for those wishing to do 60mph…..

It was a completely different situation

I’ve never damaged anyone’s car by speeding. Their rule breaking damaged mine.

oh we all get it, its different as they shouldn't be breaking the rules should they... Just because you haven't hurt someone yet with your speeding, doesn't mean you will not in the future. Will that be ok if you do? 5 people die every day on our roads, but its not just the people that die its 20000 that are injured through speed related crashes with life changing injuries for some of them. How will you justify your law breaking if you crashed and changed someones life forever? If say you prevented them ever having children, life confined to a wheel chair?

@ivykaty44

It was a completely different situation

I’ve never damaged anyone’s car by speeding. Their rule breaking damaged mine.

oh we all get it, its different as they shouldn't be breaking the rules should they... Just because you haven't hurt someone yet with your speeding, doesn't mean you will not in the future. Will that be ok if you do? 5 people die every day on our roads, but its not just the people that die its 20000 that are injured through speed related crashes with life changing injuries for some of them. How will you justify your law breaking if you crashed and changed someones life forever? If say you prevented them ever having children, life confined to a wheel chair?

Please quote the sources for those stats.

Again, I am in the car on my own in the early hours of the morning, and might see 10 other cars over 200 miles. I’m more likely to put someone in a wheelchair by bumping into them as a pedestrian on a pavement.

Please quote the sources for those stats.

Again, I am in the car on my own in the early hours of the morning, and might see 10 other cars over 200 miles. I’m more likely to put someone in a wheelchair by bumping into them as a pedestrian on a pavement.

strangely you don't want to answer the question of justification, just that its never going to happen to you

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/922717/reported-road-casualties-annual-report-2019.pdf

we have some of the safest roads in Europe, but that doesn't mean we can't further reduce deaths. Drink driving used to be common place and not considered unsociable, oneway hopefully speeding could be held in the same regard as drink driving

Taking into account type of road, traffic levels and weather conditions, reaction times is as important as absolute speed. Driving at 80 mph on a motorway in dry conditions with good visibility and low traffic is a lot safer than driving at say 60 mph within the speed limit on a congested wet A road and in the dark. Variable speed limits are a good idea but not practical for all roads and unfortunately some drivers see the speed limit as the recommended speed regardless of other factors.

Also to be blunt whether you are travelling at 90, 80 or 70 mph on a motorway and have a crash is not going to make much difference on the outcome. Whereas traveling and 35moh plus in a 30 mph zone will make a massive difference if you hit a pedestrian.

@Resilience.

Excellent post and spot on. I've only done my IAM, which isn't a patch on emergency services but have also been taught by an ex police grade 1 driver. Her ability was astonishing TBH so chapeau!

IMO it should be compulsory to do IAM or ROSPA after 5 years of passing and to redo every 5 years after. My observation isn't tip top but I often see shocking stuff on the roads.

I learned Motorway driving on the M8, through Glasgow.
Someone on here once called it Wacky races! They weren't wrong.
You absolutely have to follow the traffic whilst knowing what's going on around you.
It's a baptism of fire but if you can manage that Motorway, you can manage any!

@1dayatatime

Taking into account type of road, traffic levels and weather conditions, reaction times is as important as absolute speed. Driving at 80 mph on a motorway in dry conditions with good visibility and low traffic is a lot safer than driving at say 60 mph within the speed limit on a congested wet A road and in the dark. Variable speed limits are a good idea but not practical for all roads and unfortunately some drivers see the speed limit as the recommended speed regardless of other factors.

Also to be blunt whether you are travelling at 90, 80 or 70 mph on a motorway and have a crash is not going to make much difference on the outcome. Whereas traveling and 35moh plus in a 30 mph zone will make a massive difference if you hit a pedestrian.

I think this is a very sensible post.

Also to be blunt whether you are travelling at 90, 80 or 70 mph on a motorway and have a crash is not going to make much difference on the outcome

Travelling at 70mph you have more time to react & avoid crashing, at 90mph you are more likely to crash. It’s surely about prevention rather than the aftermath of a crash

If you're not prepared to drive over 70 @ivykaty44 then why are you in any other lane than the inside lane? You're barely going to be going any faster than most lorries

WTF ??? Can't believe someone who boasts of their driving prowess can write this!

Lorries might well do 60 ish on the flat but show them even a modest hill and they are down to 40 very quickly.

Aside, i'd really like to know where people find all these empty M/Ways to be able to do 80 or 90 mph? or are they constantly accelerating/braking lol!

@ivykaty44

Please quote the sources for those stats.

Again, I am in the car on my own in the early hours of the morning, and might see 10 other cars over 200 miles. I’m more likely to put someone in a wheelchair by bumping into them as a pedestrian on a pavement.

strangely you don't want to answer the question of justification, just that its never going to happen to you

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/922717/reported-road-casualties-annual-report-2019.pdf

we have some of the safest roads in Europe, but that doesn't mean we can't further reduce deaths. Drink driving used to be common place and not considered unsociable, oneway hopefully speeding could be held in the same regard as drink driving

Look at those graphs! Big reductions in accidents/fatalities despite a lot more traffic. Seems like a win to me.

Interesting comments about factors which are altering the data - can’t see the words excess speed in there, can you?

Given the demographics shown it would be more effective to keep the over 65s indoors than out and about on roads and pavements. Would be a significant decrease in fatalities then.

Interesting comments about factors which are altering the data - can’t see the words excess speed in there, can you?

TL;DR is that convictions for speeding are a predictor and proxy for careless, reckless and dangerous driving as well as being clear indicators of driving without due care and attention.

I gleaned that from a (what felt like) 6 hours talk from actuaries when I worked on a telematics project. It was in answer to "is there any point in these things ?"