What is it with peoples obsession with speeding?

heybaby

As the title says, I cannot comprehend people's obsession with trying to get from A to B in the fastest possible time when its universally known that speed kills. Why are drivers so incredibly irresponsible as to ignore speed limits, be they on a city street or on a motorway, and please dont give me the usual statistical evidence that motorways are safer, that I am aware of. Can people the next time they get into their cars think about the potential devastation they may cause by breaking the speed limit, the law and the hearts of someones loved one just because they wanted to save themselves a couple of minutes on the way home from work.

Hagar

Speed doesn't kill, it's the sudden stop that does it.

Cyrus

you seem like quite the expert on how speeding kills

id imagine bad driving is a far bigger cause of road traffic accidents than speeding, you know people hogging the overtaking lane because they are doing the speed limit and they arent budging for anyone, that kind of carry on, causing people to perform more rash or dangerous maneouveres.

Pete4779

heybaby wrote: »

Can people the next time they get into their cars think about the potential devastation they may cause by breaking the speed limit, the law and the hearts of someones loved one just because they wanted to save themselves a couple of minutes on the way home from work.

driving at 119kph: "I iz the safezt driver evar, look at me in the overtaking lane all the wayz 2 Abbeyleix"

driving at 121kph: "I iz a danger to society, scaring old granniez, and BREAKING DA LAW BREAKING DA LAW"

Zube

heybaby wrote: »

As the title says, I cannot comprehend people's obsession with trying to get from A to B in the fastest possible time when its universally known that speed kills.

I agree, we should limit all cars to 10 kmph, then there would be no more deaths on the road, except from old age trying to get anywhere.:rolleyes:

Drummerboy08

Yes, people do speed. I'll admit i do it every once in a while. As some other people pointed out, it isnt usually speed that kills. You can be killed in a car travelling at 30mph as well as being killed in a car travelling at 60mph.

I'd imagine that what does more damage is

- People not knowing how to drive on motorways, in and out of lanes etc (basic lack of experience/knowledge)

- Alcohol

- Being tired behind the wheel (does ten times more damage imo)

Just remember - if you witness someone speeding, report it to the Gardai and dont take matters into your own hands. If i want to overtake you doing 130kmph in a 120 zone then let me.

L1011

I'm going to jump to conclusions and assume the OP is posting this as they got flashed for sitting in the outside lane of a motorway today.... you don't happen to drive a black Focus by any chance?

McSpud

Everyone breaks the speed limit & any one who says differently either does not drive or is lying.

While I will usually be at or above the speed limit on main roads I do try to watch my speed in urban areas & driving through towns. Too many people take no care in urban areas where there are pedestrians & other dangers.

heybaby

heybaby wrote: »

As the title says, I cannot comprehend people's obsession with trying to get from A to B in the fastest possible time when its universally known that speed kills. Why are drivers so incredibly irresponsible as to ignore speed limits, be they on a city street or on a motorway, and please dont give me the usual statistical evidence that motorways are safer, that I am aware of. Can people the next time they get into their cars think about the potential devastation they may cause by breaking the speed limit, the law and the hearts of someones loved one just because they wanted to save themselves a couple of minutes on the way home from work.

I would like to know what peoples obsession is with speed limits. They are just a number that was picked by someone years ago when cars were much less advanced and probably not safe to drive at that speed in the first place. Now cars have moved on and are safe to drive above these out dated limits.

If say the national speed limit was 120km/h from day one then the anti-speeding bandwagon would see this as safe and anything over it as dangerous, if they were set at 80km/h then they would say anything above this is dangerous and so on(if you understand what I'm saying... its just a big bandwagon.

I have no problem admitting that I break speed limits regularly, 100kph is like sitting still on a lot of roads in this country and there are some terribly stupid 50km/h and 80km/h zones around the country.

Speed does not kill, stupid driving kills. If someone is driving too fast for a situation and has a crash, speed didnt cause the crash, stupidity caused it.

colm_mcm

speed is fun, getting somewhere a little quicker is convenient.

pelisor2000

LEARN FROM GERMANS...30 IN THE CITY NO LIMIT ON THE MOTORWAY

colm_mcm

pelisor2000 wrote: »

LEARN FROM GERMANS...30 IN THE CITY NO LIMIT ON THE MOTORWAY

This isn't what the Germans do...

pelisor2000

Very close with what i said.... not everywhere..

dabbler2004

Why don't people do the posted limit? I've seen it all week driving to Waterford with plenty of built up areas along the way; 50kph = 60/65kph, 80 = 100, 100 = 120 and 120 = 140 and I'm being conservative with the figures. And yes I am that annoyance to most of you cause I'm the one doing the posted limit, not out of spite or to aggrevate the situation but because it's the law.

Also if the lady driving the 07 W 2*** is reading this I don't think 85kph on a national road in fog is too slow nor did it warrant you trying to overtake on a rise leading into a blind corner :mad:Flap your hands at something else :mad:

pelisor2000

the best drive???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQSrLbHsyNY

L1011

dabbler2004 wrote: »

Why don't people do the posted limit?

Because the roads are empty and built to a higher standard. I cruise at 140 on motorways (actual not indicated) because I know the chances of being caught are tiny - and the chances of being fastest car are small enough too.

I didn't pass a single car for 6km on the M6 today - not anyone to be a danger to.

pburns

Breaking some arbitary figure chosen as a speed limit for a particular road is not necessarily dangerous and your abhorrance at breaking 'THE LAW' sounds a bit rigid. Even some old ladies I know and my painfully slow old uncle have been done for breaking the speed limit! If you really are observing speed limits 100% of the time I'd go so far as to say you are probably a hazard to the natural flow of traffic and possibly more dangerous than some of the people you are castigating.

I'm not saying you should drive as fast as you like. Some of the boy racers around my way in souped-up Hondas are doing insane speeds. You just sound a bit too comfortable looking down from the high moral ground...

Hogzy

Im so sick of these, "Why do people always speed" threads, As long as there are roads people will speed!

More people die of smoking and Starvation than speeding so just shut up!!!

unkel

MYOB wrote: »

I didn't pass a single car for 6km on the M6 today - not anyone to be a danger to.

Exceeding the speed limit but not passing a single car. On a motorway. That indeed equals to not being a danger to anyone else in my humble view. No matter what speed you were doing.

pelisor2000

i have to say...i hate to have a micra or a yaris driving in the front of my car..nothing else bother me.......

Cathy666

heybaby wrote: »

As the title says, I cannot comprehend people's obsession with trying to get from A to B in the fastest possible time when its universally known that speed kills. Why are drivers so incredibly irresponsible as to ignore speed limits, be they on a city street or on a motorway, and please dont give me the usual statistical evidence that motorways are safer, that I am aware of. Can people the next time they get into their cars think about the potential devastation they may cause by breaking the speed limit, the law and the hearts of someones loved one just because they wanted to save themselves a couple of minutes on the way home from work.

Are you one of these people who drives at 90-100km/h in the overtaking lane on a motorway? :rolleyes:

dabbler2004

pburns wrote: »

Breaking some arbitary figure chosen as a speed limit for a particular road is not necessarily dangerous and your abhorrance at breaking 'THE LAW' sounds a bit rigid. Even some old ladies I know and my painfully slow old uncle have been done for breaking the speed limit! If you really are observing speed limits 100% of the time I'd go so far as to say you are probably a hazard to the natural flow of traffic and possibly more dangerous than some of the people you are castigating.

I'm not saying you should drive as fast as you like. Some of the boy racers around my way in souped-up Hondas are doing insane speeds. You just sound a bit too comfortable looking down from the high moral ground...

The natural flow should be the people behind me keeping a safe distance from my car, if I'm doing 50 in a 50 zone then no point in them trying to do 60 or 70; they're the hazards.
Yes I agree that some roads are more suited to a higher speed than the one posted but I don't think the Gardai would acknowledge that whilst writing out a ticket and giving points. I don't abhor breaking the law just don't see the point or the need in doing so to satisfy those that do.
High moral ground maybe but that's the way I feel.....overtake me and leave me for dust but do it in a way that doesn't put me or any other road user in danger.

Zube

dabbler2004 wrote: »

overtake me and leave me for dust but do it in a way that doesn't put me or any other road user in danger.

Okey dokey.

artielange

"Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?"
- George Carlin

Our man in Havana

Pete4779 wrote: »

driving at 119kph: "I iz the safezt driver evar, look at me in the overtaking lane all the wayz 2 Abbeyleix"

Drive at 119 on any of the roads near Abbeyleix and you will end up in a coffin in short order.

heybaby

unkel wrote: »

Exceeding the speed limit but not passing a single car. On a motorway. That indeed equals to not being a danger to anyone else in my humble view. No matter what speed you were doing.

OP here, not a danger to anyone else? What about being a danger to yourself? If I was in the position of having a 6 mile stretch of motorway clear in front of me, I would drive on the innner most lane (not the hard shoulder) and a speed of between 110kph and 120kph, nothing more and nothing less. No I have never been stopped for driving in the overtaking lane because I tend to be a good driver and only use it to overtake, oh and I even manage to overtake without exceeding the speed limit, how many of you boyracers can say that? Look I posted originally simply to get even one of you people to think the next time you get into your car. The responses were various posters have unashamedly gloated about 'cruising at 140kph' etc havent surprised me. The one reply, about people who stick to the speed limit upsetting the natural flow of traffic is quite frankly nonsense and underlines the irrational thinking of a bad driver, of which the roads are littered. It is possible to conform to the law on speed limits, and I am not a liar when I say I do. I do not have that burning desire to get to my destination in the most convenient or quickest time possible.. and yes I am a driver. Slow down...

Hogzy

heybaby wrote: »

oh and I even manage to overtake without exceeding the speed limit, how many of you boyracers can say that?

Oh my god your SUPER!!!!!!!:D

Anan1

heybaby - How long does it take to stop a 95 Ibiza 1.0 from 120km/h? You're driving a 14-year-old car with neither ABS nor ESP, and most likely on cheapo 165mm tyres. I think i'd be as safe in my car at 160km/h+, and that's both disregarding passive safety and assuming you also have 20 years experience and an IAM license. I should think some people here would be safer at 200.

Bobo78

heybaby wrote: »

OP here, not a danger to anyone else? What about being a danger to yourself? If I was in the position of having a 6 mile stretch of motorway clear in front of me, I would drive on the innner most lane (not the hard shoulder) and a speed of between 110kph and 120kph, nothing more and nothing less. No I have never been stopped for driving in the overtaking lane because I tend to be a good driver and only use it to overtake, oh and I even manage to overtake without exceeding the speed limit, how many of you boyracers can say that? Look I posted originally simply to get even one of you people to think the next time you get into your car. The responses were various posters have unashamedly gloated about 'cruising at 140kph' etc havent surprised me. The one reply, about people who stick to the speed limit upsetting the natural flow of traffic is quite frankly nonsense and underlines the irrational thinking of a bad driver, of which the roads are littered. It is possible to conform to the law on speed limits, and I am not a liar when I say I do. I do not have that burning desire to get to my destination in the most convenient or quickest time possible.. and yes I am a driver. Slow down...

You r probably driving a Toyota? Yeah??:D

Robbo

Another thread on the same thing but with added bus lane driving.

jochenstacker

Went to Germany, was given a 130 bhp Fiat and let loose on the Autobahn.
60-70% limited to 120-130 km/h, then happened upon the A7 where there was a 200 km/h (or thereabouts) stretch with no limits.
I did the distance in under an hour, the car never went below 200 km/h and the fastest speed achieved was 230 km/h, blasting past the Polizei.
It was the single most AWESOME experience of my life and I can only recommend it to anyone to try this out. Even more fun than shooting anything from a big machine gun to an Uzi in the army (you simply HAVE to do this before you die).
Speed is relative and while most potholed boreens the Irish call A-roads would barely allow you to drive 80 km/h (nevermind 100), some of the dual carriageways are very good indeed and would easily sustain speeds of 130-140 km/h in absolute safety, if the Irish knew how to drive in the first place. And that may well be the problem here.
While I have to say standards improved over the last years, there are always those guys around 60-95 years of age creeping around at 40-60 km/h, making it a nuisance for everyone else.
They should be put of the road first, since they didn't do a test to start with and by now are half blind, half deaf and totally insane.
But the Irsh decided to just do some research by Google, came upon a report written by a bloke in Britian who wears a cardigan and sandals and copied and pasted it into their websites and brochures and simply bleat this mealy mouthed piece of crap over and over.

Johnboy Mac

heybaby wrote: »

its universally known that speed kills.

devastation they may cause by breaking the speed limit

First off speed per sa does not kill, poor driving kills! German autobahns & roads are daily proof. So your universal knowlege is totally incorrect!

You have implied that the speed limits are set correctly, who set them Gay Byrne, the police, the gombeen men in the local council they know all about it? Some of the speed limits are actually too high on certain roads, so your incorrect again!

Get real please, it's people like you that don't know the facts and end coming on here being so rightous it's actually just showing your ignorance.

As for trying to get from A to B as quickly as possible, well people have to travel for work and have little choice other than using a car.

I'd hate to be stuck behind you trying to drive down the country.

Hogzy

There are signs in Sweden (I think its Sweden) that say "Frustration Kills, Let them Pass"

Trying to find a picture of them now!!!

fugazied

There are different kinds of speeding. I don't mind the guy doing 115km in the 100km zone. But the dickhead doing 85km+ in the 60km zone should lose his license, it's not cool, it's dangerous.

60km zones are usually places with schools, houses, the elderly, they are not racetracks. People die because of these dickheads who think it's ok to speed in residential areas

Hogzy

fugazied wrote: »

There are different kinds of speeding. I don't mind the guy doing 115km in the 100km zone. But the dickhead doing 85km+ in the 60km zone should lose his license, it's not cool, it's dangerous.

60km zones are usually places with schools, houses, the elderly, they are not racetracks. People die because of these dickheads who think it's ok to speed in residential areas

Dnt you mean 50Kmh zones?:rolleyes:

ArphaRima

I cannot comprehend people's obsession with trying to get from A to B in the fastest possible time

Human endeavour, baby.


Apart from that you probably just dont get it. Your car probably feels like its about to go back in time when its at 86mph. It might. Let me guess it's not quite new, its 1.6L or lower (I'm guessing 1.1L) and you arent driving that long.
Get into a modern, well designed large-engined saloon (200bhp+) on an open road. Yes, the ones that pass you every day. You'll see how 80mph in that is more stable/comfortable/sensible than 40mph in yours.

Traumadoc

Speed is a way of getting naturally high, by the release of noradrenaline and adrenaline. These hormones are responsible for the "buzz".
You get the same feeling on a rollercoaster or from taking "speed'" ( methamphetamine, a drug that increases the concentration of adrenaline in the body).

Many of the traits of speeding motorists are seen in methamphetamine addicts - aggressive behavior, low frustration tolerances etc.

Padraig Mor

heybaby wrote: »

OP here, not a danger to anyone else? What about being a danger to yourself? If I was in the position of having a 6 mile stretch of motorway clear in front of me, I would drive on the innner most lane (not the hard shoulder) and a speed of between 110kph and 120kph, nothing more and nothing less. No I have never been stopped for driving in the overtaking lane because I tend to be a good driver and only use it to overtake, oh and I even manage to overtake without exceeding the speed limit, how many of you boyracers can say that? Look I posted originally simply to get even one of you people to think the next time you get into your car. The responses were various posters have unashamedly gloated about 'cruising at 140kph' etc havent surprised me. The one reply, about people who stick to the speed limit upsetting the natural flow of traffic is quite frankly nonsense and underlines the irrational thinking of a bad driver, of which the roads are littered. It is possible to conform to the law on speed limits, and I am not a liar when I say I do. I do not have that burning desire to get to my destination in the most convenient or quickest time possible.. and yes I am a driver. Slow down...

The simple fact of the matter is that, despite the propaganda, all the available evidence suggests that driving in excess of the speed limit is a very rare CAUSE (a very different thing to contributing factor) of accidents. In the UK IIRC, 4% of road deaths are attributed to driving over the limit. In Ireland the single most common type of fatal accident involves one car on the wrong side of the road hitting another head on. Re 'cruising at 140 k/h' - I do this on high quality dual carriageways and motorways too (when safe to do so, naturally) - these roads have a design speed of 160 k/h, i.e. they are engineered such that driving at 160 k/h should be safe.

In Ireland, we have far more pressing road safety issues to be worried about - the complete inability of the average Irish motorist to comprehend the most basic rules of the road being the most pressing. Most European countries drive at average speeds well in excess of Ireland, but with lower fatalities. These countries also tend to have comprehensive driver training systems. Can you spot the link?

Oh, and my rapidly greying hair surely indicates that my boyracer days are long behind me....

Zube

Padraig Mor wrote: »

In Ireland, we have far more pressing road safety issues to be worried about - the complete inability of the average Irish motorist to comprehend the most basic rules of the road being the most pressing.

I don't think so. ROR mickery accounts for a lot of fender benders and broken lights, but for real death, there are a few more important issues:

Drink Driving: We have about one conviction per pub per year. This is a joke: even with the reduced acceptability of drunk driving these days, we all know there's more of it than we see prosecuted, and the number of deaths in single vehicle crashes at "driving home from the pub/club" times at the weekend is a strong signal.

Dangerous overtaking: several times a year there are multiple deaths from a head-on where one car is overtaking over a crest/round a bend/through a junction. From the number of these morons I see on the open road every day, I'm surprised there aren't more.

Tired Drivers: especially truck drivers. A few times a year, a truck driver loses it and ploughs into traffic.

If Gaybo would stop fretting about speeding, and focus on police checkpoints outside pubs/clubs at night, arresting dangerous drivers before they crash, and increased monitoring of lorry drivers, we'd be better served.

Snakeblood

Zube wrote: »

increased monitoring of lorry drivers, we'd be better served.

We'd probably <censored, off topic and pointless>

congo_90

Hogzy wrote: »

Dnt you mean 50Kmh zones?:rolleyes:

Some areas actually are 60km/h in around residential areas. There are roads around Lucan/ Clondalkin with this speed limit and the garda are usually there to enforce it!

As for speeding on a motor way, I speed by maybe +10. If I see another car coming up my rear i'll move out of the over taking lane as soon as reasonably possible and let them pass. Most motorists seem to notice this and sometimes thank me by means of hazard lights but no need to as it's the law

Happy motoring

Owen

What amazes me is that there's around 300-400 people killed on our roads each year and we breakdown as a nation each time it happens. It's all over the newspapers, TV, radio for each occurance. I was in Poland at Christmas and 85 people died on the roads in one weekend. No one batted an eyelid.

Honestly, it's not speeding, it's not catastrophic vehicle faults, 99% of road deaths are down to two things. Driver error being one, but most importantly, poor road visibility. You hardly ever hear of someone being killed on the M7, because it's a well lit road, even at night time, and you know where the corners are going to be. I would hazard a guess that the lions share of our road fatalities are on the smaller 'b' roads at night, which have such shocking visibility at night, that not only is there no cats eyes, more often than not, there's no painted road lines either. Case in point, here's a road without catseyes :



And here's one that has :



I can't imagine someone misjudging the second one. I know people are going to say 'But sure if you doing the appropriate speed, you'd never be caught out, slow down'. But the point is that if someone is doing the recommended speed for a road such as this - 80kph - and suddently there's a sharp corner with no visibility and if they're not the best driver in the world, they're going to have either a scare, or an accident.

The best way to reduce road deaths in this country is to stop wasting money on slow down campaigns, and to install catseyes on every single corner on every single road in this country. It's a one off fee - there's no maintenance once they're installed, they reduce night time driver fatigue, and also save a few lives in the process.

congo_90

Well said Ned78.
some roads around where I live recently got resurfaced and are now much safer because of it or even the temporary cats on the N4 between liffey valley and the fox hunter? perfect for tracking your lane! much less can be said for sections of the M50

bottom line: cats eyes ftw

voxpop

good point Ned78 - i always thought that the idea of putting a suggested cornering speed sign on tight bends was a good idea. Nothing worse than heading into a sweeping bend and half way round twigging that you are going a tad to fast.

Pedro K

ned78 wrote: »

What amazes me is that there's around 300-400 people killed on our roads each year and we breakdown as a nation each time it happens. It's all over the newspapers, TV, radio for each occurance. I was in Poland at Christmas and 85 people died on the roads in one weekend. No one batted an eyelid.

Honestly, it's not speeding, it's not catastrophic vehicle faults, 99% of road deaths are down to two things. Driver error being one, but most importantly, poor road visibility. You hardly ever hear of someone being killed on the M7, because it's a well lit road, even at night time, and you know where the corners are going to be. I would hazard a guess that the lions share of our road fatalities are on the smaller 'b' roads at night, which have such shocking visibility at night, that not only is there no cats eyes, more often than not, there's no painted road lines either. Case in point, here's a road without catseyes :


I can't imagine someone misjudging the second one. I know people are going to say 'But sure if you doing the appropriate speed, you'd never be caught out, slow down'. But the point is that if someone is doing the recommended speed for a road such as this - 80kph - and suddently there's a sharp corner with no visibility and if they're not the best driver in the world, they're going to have either a scare, or an accident.

The best way to reduce road deaths in this country is to stop wasting money on slow down campaigns, and to install catseyes on every single corner on every single road in this country. It's a one off fee - there's no maintenance once they're installed, they reduce night time driver fatigue, and also save a few lives in the process.

+1.

It's unreal to think that on some of these dodgy little country roads you can legally do 100kph, When on better sections, of better roads you are restricted to a speed of below that.

Cyrus

ned78 wrote: »

What amazes me is that there's around 300-400 people killed on our roads each year and we breakdown as a nation each time it happens. It's all over the newspapers, TV, radio for each occurance. I was in Poland at Christmas and 85 people died on the roads in one weekend. No one batted an eyelid.

Honestly, it's not speeding, it's not catastrophic vehicle faults, 99% of road deaths are down to two things. Driver error being one, but most importantly, poor road visibility. You hardly ever hear of someone being killed on the M7, because it's a well lit road, even at night time, and you know where the corners are going to be. I would hazard a guess that the lions share of our road fatalities are on the smaller 'b' roads at night, which have such shocking visibility at night, that not only is there no cats eyes, more often than not, there's no painted road lines either. Case in point, here's a road without catseyes :



And here's one that has :



I can't imagine someone misjudging the second one. I know people are going to say 'But sure if you doing the appropriate speed, you'd never be caught out, slow down'. But the point is that if someone is doing the recommended speed for a road such as this - 80kph - and suddently there's a sharp corner with no visibility and if they're not the best driver in the world, they're going to have either a scare, or an accident.

The best way to reduce road deaths in this country is to stop wasting money on slow down campaigns, and to install catseyes on every single corner on every single road in this country. It's a one off fee - there's no maintenance once they're installed, they reduce night time driver fatigue, and also save a few lives in the process.

the other thing ned is how much all the cars with only one friggin headlight will illuminate the road ahead of them :rolleyes:

Johnboy Mac

Padraig Mor wrote: »

Oh, and my rapidly greying hair surely indicates that my boyracer days are long behind me....

:D:D

you & me both!

Owen

Cyrus wrote: »

the other thing ned is how much all the cars with only one friggin headlight will illuminate the road ahead of them :rolleyes:

Well, that's another positive point for the argument for catseyes. Even with one headlight, or weaker headlights (Motorbikes for example), drivers will have much more reference points on the road to figure out where they are, and where they're going.

cnocbui

heybaby wrote: »

OP here,

Hi

Look I posted originally simply to get even one of you people to think the next time you get into your car.

Don't you think you are being slightly self-righteous in thinking that only you are capable of thought in relation to driving?

Let's do some real thinking then. There are places that collect comprehensive statistics on road accidents and their causes, the UK being one of them. Does the objective data back up the near universally held notion that speed kills, as embodied in the idea that exceeding the speed limit is dangerous?

Actually, it doesn't:

MOTORING groups have questioned the value of speed cameras after police figures revealed that only one in 20 collisions last year was caused by a driver breaking the speed limit. The most common cause of accidents was failing to look properly, a factor in 32 per cent of crashes, followed by failing to judge another vehicle’s speed (18 per cent) and driving carelessly or recklessly (16 per cent). The figures, published by the Department for Transport, contradicted claims by speed camera supporters that speed is a factor in one third of collisions.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/article654412.ece


For drivers over 26, exceeding the speed limit was a cause of only 2% of accidents:

Driver............ 17-19 17-25 26+

Exceeded
the speed limit 8%... 6%.. 2%

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmtran/355/7032102.htm


Motorways are by far the safest roads with the least number of fatal accidents, yet they have the highest speed limits, and as we all know, many people exceed the speed limits on such roads.

And then we have the German Autobahns, where there are no speed limits. The road accident statistics for these roads do not support the notion that speed - in and of itself - kills:

A 2005 study by the German Federal Interior Ministry (Bundesministerium des Innern) indicated that Autobahn sections with unrestricted speed have the same accident record as sections with speed limits.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autobahn

Slow down...

Why? This is a mindless mantra. If you were to 'really' do some thinking, you would come to some really startling conclusions as what should be done to improve road safety. Here's just a few for fun.

All passengers in cars should wear a gag.

4x4 vehicles should only be sold to people with a provable need for them, given that when they are involved in a collision with a normal vehicle, the occupants of said vehicle are 5-7 times more likely to be killed. They should be treated in the same way firearms are.

The tractor lane - aka hard shoulder - should be scrapped, in favour of using the freed space for overtaking lanes, alternating on each side of the road. This alone would do more to reduce road fatalities than probably anything else.

cnocbui

ned78 wrote: »

I agree with all you said. Thanks for the above photo, it beautifully illustrates one of my pet peeves. What are those road markings telling us?

'Here is a nice bend in the road fellas, why don't you overtake, sure there might be something coming the other way, but think of the rush when you see it. Oh, and you had better take this opportunity, because we have put solid white lines down the 8km stretch of dead straight road that follows this bend, because there are a couple of tiny side roads intersecting that get used by 5 vehicles a day'

Traumadoc

Do the broken white lines in the photo indicate it is legal to overtake???