Do you obey the speed limit?

ella87

I have been driving for 3 years.
I obey the speed limit.I consider myself to be a safe driver.
I find when Im driving people tend to make their own speed limits constantly;
When driving through towns. (usually 50km)
driving on dual carriageways (100km)
driving on areas of road where part of the road slows (example from 100km-60km)
actually some people ignore the speed signs everywhere.

whats the problem?
are the signs not visible enough?
are people just too ignorant to obey the limit?

If you do speed your putting others lifes at risk.
Stop being a selfish person, be responsible.

Also people obviously have a problem understanding how a roundabout works....I have had lots of near misses because others were in the incorrect lane.
I read an article recently and it said 1 in 10 cars which pass through a roundabout use it correctly.

I just want to see other peoples thoughts on this.
Thanks!

Mimikyu

This post has been deleted.

silverharp

some of the speed limits are maddening. go out the N11 past UCD and its 60km, 4 lane road excellent visability, no pedestrians. Yet you can hoor around boreens with 90km signs.

Heroditas

silverharp wrote: »

some of the speed limits are maddening. go out the N11 past UCD and its 60km, 4 lane road excellent visability, no pedestrians.

This speed limit was set because of a few students who had been killed up by UCD due to reckless behaviour after a few pints. However, there haven't been deaths on that small stretch of road for a number of years now.

Ham'nd'egger

Heroditas wrote: »

This speed limit was set because of a few students who had been killed up by UCD due to reckless behaviour after a few pints. However, there haven't been deaths on that small stretch of road for a number of years now.

It's actually 60KMH due to it being a residential area.

NedNew2

ella87 wrote: »

actually some people ignore the speed signs everywhere.

whats the problem?
are the signs not visible enough?
are people just too ignorant to obey the limit?

If you do speed your putting others lifes at risk.
Stop being a selfish person, be responsible.

If there was a consistent and reasonable policy towards speed limits then they would be respected. One simple example is the Waterford Outer Ring Road, a dual carriageway with concrete divider and a speed limit of 60 km/h. Compare that with the Kilkenny Ring Road, a single carriageway with no central barrier, speed limit of 100 km/h.

Sometimes the idiots are not those who break the speed limit but those who set them.

L1011

ella87 wrote: »

If you do speed your putting others lifes at risk.
Stop being a selfish person, be responsible.

Stop believing everything Gay Byrne tells you.

I'm not selfish, and going above the (well below design speed) limit on an empty motorway puts nobody at risk, not even myself.

ella87

Gay Byrne isn't putting any words in my mouth.I'm just saying what I experience.Everybody has a responsiblity to do the speed limit, if there's nobody around fair enough it's your own life your putting at risk but if there are other users is what I'm saying.
I drive from Laois to Leitrim quite abit every week so this I'd what I see on the roads on my journey.
There is a 60km stretch of road on the way to tullamore.there are a number of turn offs on that road so I understand why the speed limit was brought down from 100-60. there is a straight White line on the road and people try over take me on it whilst trying to give me evil looks haha.I've seen the gardai on that road taking speed so I go the speed limit on that small stretch.

ella87

NedNew2 wrote: »

Sometimes the idiots are not those who break the speed limit but those who set them.

That's true some twisty tiny roads are 100km while other open safer roads are 80-60km
makes no sence.

L1011

ella87 wrote: »

Gay Byrne isn't putting any words in my mouth.I'm just saying what I experience.Everybody has a responsiblity to do the speed limit, if there's nobody around fair enough it's your own life your putting at risk but if there are other users is what I'm saying.

140km/h on an empty motorway is not putting my life at risk.

You ARE regurgitating "road safety" bumf you've been fed.

Victor

ella87 wrote: »

I consider myself to be a safe driver.

Potentially a dangerous idea.

NotInventedHere

I obey the speed limits everywhere except motorways, I usually do 140 - 150 on Motorways depending on conditions

ella87

MYOB wrote: »

140km/h on an empty motorway is not putting my life at risk.

You ARE regurgitating "road safety" bumf you've been fed.

Im not repeating anything.I saying what I think.If my opinion is the same as the RSAs on this so what.

you never said the speed you were going.I just put this up to see how many people actually obey the speed limit.
and to see how many people actually know how to use a roundabout because from my own observations feck all people do.
I repect what you said on an empty motorway its your choice.

MagicMarker

OP, if you're saying you've never broken a speed limit then quite frankly you're a liar.

snappieT

I go at the speed traffic is going at so as not to cause a backup or force people to overtake me. If that means breaking the limit, then fair enough.

In particular the part of the N1 from Whitehall to the M1 kills me. Straight road with grass margin, no pedestrians or turns, everyone drives at 80-100 (limit is 50).

NotInventedHere

Roundabout are simple if you follow the rule to give way to traffic on your right (even when you are on it).This is especially important in Irish situations as a lot of roundabouts are not straightforward 4 exits.

There is is a bastard in Glenageary at the Spar and one in Walkinstown as well with 2 lanes in and one lane exits that you have to keep you wits about you.

congo_90

I speed where I feel safe to do so. with 3 legal years experience and no issues so far I speed a little above limits where and when I feel safe to do so. I average 130kmh on m50 during the day and 150kmh at night. I slow only where garda are known to be or when I feel the risk eg traffic is high. sometimes I drive under the limit at night when not holding people up.
speed doesn't kill. not handling speed does. I know my cars limits and more importantly my own and never exceed them

LookBehindYou

I never exceed the speed of my Guardian Angel, and i do obey the proper use of lanes and signals.

SeanW

OP: I drive very responsibly. I've been driving for 4 years without so much as a parking fine.

I also routinely disregard speed limits. Why? Very simple, in many places they are too low, and the road, as well as driving conditions, can clearly manage higher speeds. Safely

Mind you I obey most limits: 100kph on the N roads? I stay will within them, as I do the 120kph on Motorways. Also I rarely, if ever, break 50kph in what is clearly an urban area.

What limits I do NOT respect are (primarily) 50kph limits that are either:

1. In the middle of nowhere and have little apparent reason.
2. In an area with a good road free flowing traffic, excellent visibility and a clear view of hazards (or, more likely, the lack thereof). The main culprit in this category is where urban limits are extended too far outside the built up area.

Just because you stick up a 50kph (or 30 in some places!) sign, doesn't automatically mean anyone who goes beyond that is driving dangerously. That's just RSA newspeak.

On a semi-related note, one thing I'd like to see a lot more of is variable speed limit signs. Like around schools: just before the beginning and just after the end of the school day, during lunch etc a school on a good road should have a 30kph speed limit because of the potential presence of a lot of children, whereas at other times, like 6PM, the speed limits should go to 50, 60 or even 80kph.

Cookie_Monster

Do you obey the speed limit?

Rarely to be honest.

gurramok

Example of a stupid speed limit is that there is a brand new perfectly straight road nearly a mile long between 2 roundabouts in an industrial wasteland(back of Finglas/Blanch in the countryside) where the limit is 50kph. It ain't a road in an industrial estate before the high horse brigade jump in, the industrial estates exits/entrances are off the roundabouts, its a vital route of the back road network.

There are no residents on this road which has wide footpaths along with cycle lanes on the footpaths and you'd be lucky to see a pedestrian, its a classic example of where do they dream this speed limit from?

Polar101

Maybe I'm stupid, but I always thought the rules of the road were there so that everyone has the same rules and knows what rules the other drivers should be following - if you've got people who think "sure I can drive 160kph on this road cos I'm a better than average driver" or "I know a better way to use roundabouts", then surely nothing good can come out of it?

Lando Griffin

I was driving in heavy but flowing traffic the other morning on a two lane carriage way limit 100kmph and this one pulled out into the overtaking lane in front of me doing 60kmph. Had to jam on brakes and nearly got ended. Then other traffic started undertaking her and myself, if there was a crash would you think it was down to driving fast or lack of speed and driving awareness. I had to undertake her myself as my left slip lane was coming, gave her a piece of my mind the silly mare.

Stark

gurramok wrote: »

Example of a stupid speed limit is that there is a brand new perfectly straight road nearly a mile long between 2 roundabouts in an industrial wasteland(back of Finglas/Blanch in the countryside) where the limit is 50kph. It ain't a road in an industrial estate before the high horse brigade jump in, the industrial estates exits/entrances are off the roundabouts, its a vital route of the back road network.

There are no residents on this road which has wide footpaths along with cycle lanes on the footpaths and you'd be lucky to see a pedestrian, its a classic example of where do they dream this speed limit from?

That one is infuriating alright. It was 80km/hr before they upgraded it to separate the pedestrians from the traffic and put in cycle lanes and stuff. And like you said, the entrances are at roundabouts to calm the traffic where vehicles are pulling in and out of entrances.

The road going the other direction from Cappagh to Snugborough Road is of similar spec and zoning but has a 60km/hr limit. Funnily enough, people drive more slowly on the road with the higher limit. Presumably because it's possible to stick to the 60 without going insane, but no-one thinks about sticking to the 50 limit so it's a case of "in for a penny, in for a pound".

Max Power1

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Rarely to be honest.

This tbh.

Limits of 30 kph in town and 50 kmh on dual carraigeways are ridiculous.

Perfectly safe to go at 130-140 kph on the motorways (I get people flying past me when im travelling at 140 kph)

gurramok

Stark wrote: »

That one is infuriating alright. It was 80km/hr before they upgraded it to separate the pedestrians from the traffic and put in cycle lanes and stuff. And like you said, the entrances are at roundabouts to calm the traffic where vehicles are pulling in and out of entrances.

Oddballs alright. The roundabouts are traffic calmers anyway so no need for a very low speed limit. Should be 80 not 50.

Stark wrote: »

The road going the other direction from Cappagh to Snugborough Road is of similar spec and zoning but has a 60km/hr limit. Funnily enough, people drive more slowly on the road with the higher limit. Presumably because it's possible to stick to the 60 without going insane, but no-one thinks about sticking to the 50 limit so it's a case of "in for a penny, in for a pound".

Now this is another stupid one. Think it was originally 80 and they changed it to 60. Should be 80 also, a perfectly good road. One wonders how the councils do their research on appropriate limits!

corktina

"rules are made for the obediance of fools and the guidance of wise men" (and women)

so my answer? I rarely drive at the speed limit. When it is safe to do so I exceed it by a modest amount, when it is not safe to do so, I drive slower,according to the conditions.



your speedo is probably incorrect OP so you are most likely driving 10% under the limit

( BTW.... I have no points and only one ticket in 37 years driving....)

invinciblePRSTV

Great thread, reveals a lot about the me feiner Irish psyche. Same people i'm sure who complain about L Drivers, young drivers, old people and the like on the road are the ones who selectively choose the speed limits they wish to obey, hypocrites the lot of ye. You either follow the ROTR or you don't, there's no middle ground here ffs.

Cookie_Monster

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Rarely to be honest.

what I meant to say is always, hence why I've zero points :D:D

Empire o de Sun

Speeding, humm,

the thing people forget is that they think they can comfortably go above the limits but there are a number or reasons for low limits.

One is Quality of Life. The fast vehicles travel the louder the background noise is. Also it is more pleasant to walk around a town/city with a 30 km/h limit.

Others are to save lives.

Perception of speed is a problem. When you are traveling fast and slow down, it feels like you aren't moving, even though you could be doing 80 or 50 km/h.

Some important things to remember

Traveling at

30 km/h => 8.3 m/s
50 km/h => 13.9 m/s
60 km/h => 16.7 m/s
80 km/h => 22.2 m/s
100 km/h => 27.8 m/s
120 km/h => 33.3 m/s

( m/s = metres per second )

With this you can then see how far you would travel before you have reacted to a change in the road conditions.

Stark

Empire o de Sun wrote: »

Speeding, humm,

the thing people forget is that they think they can comfortably go above the limits but there are a number or reasons for low limits.

One is Quality of Life. The fast vehicles travel the louder the background noise is. Also it is more pleasant to walk around a town/city with a 30 km/h limit.

I think that's a fair point to make, and unlike others, I do stick rigidly to the 50km/hr limit in areas that are in anyway residential or frequented by pedestrians. It's just ridiculous when you're miles from any human activity barring other traffic travelling in the same direction as you.

Cookie_Monster

I don't pretend that this is any sort of justification, nor is it fully covering all the multiple factors but:

Speed limit and braking distances are all based upon way out of date cars. some old ford from the 60/70's iirc

modern cars are much more easily and safely able to travel at higher speed and brake over much shorter distances. Suspension and tyre tech has also moved way on making handling much improved too.

While in urban areas this shouldn't really matter due to general limit, on 100 and 120 limit roads it means limits are outdated and far to low. Motorways should be 140-150 with a lower limit of 80-100 at this stage.

I tend to go at what I consider to be a safe speed for the road, traffic (including pedestrians & bikes) and weather conditions, sometimes that's above the posted limit sometimes below.

At the moment I'm trying to save fuel (cost of petrol is high!) so I often go at 90-100 where its safe to do so, I go faster if there is any danger of becoming a "rolling roadblock!".

Cookie_Monster

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

I don't pretend that this is any sort of justification, nor is it fully covering all the multiple factors but:

Speed limit and braking distances are all based upon way out of date cars. some old ford from the 60/70's iirc

This one I believe. most modern cars can stop in half the distance, reaction times are the same of course.

Amtmann

Slow drivers are deadly. Case in point: Leaving Fermoy yesterday heading northbound I got stuck behind this moronic, stereotypical woman driver who would not go above 50km/h on the R639, headed toward M8 junction 14. Not only was she slow, but she was also out very far, and thus was impossible to overtake. So I stayed behind her. I began to worry when she indicated to join the M8 at junction 14 northbound, went down the on-ramp and DID NOT accelerate. At this point she was leading a procession of six vehicles, all bunched on the on-ramp doing 50km/h and rapidly approaching the main carriageway. It was 5.30, and traffic was coming hard and fast northbound off the Fermoy Bypass heading for Dublin. We were in danger, so I began to flash my lights at her and even waved her on with my hand out my window. When she ran out of merging lane, she didn't join the main carriageway, but proceeded to drive at 50km/h in the emergency lane, oblivious to the major hazard she had just stupidly caused. She was more dangerous than anyone who does 150 km/h was.

**Timbuk2**

If anyone is able to drive fast, it's knowing when to drive slow. Driving at 140km/h on a motorway isn't dangerous as long as the driver is alert and can react and stop in the distance he/she can see to be clear.

I would always go at urban speed limits though. There are far too many hazards to go over it - children running between cars, car doors opening, people crossing the road without looking. Also, driving at the speed limit gives people more of a chance to pull out of side roads (if a car is going fast they have to wait for longer as they wouldn't be able to pull out in front of it) and makes it safer for pedestrians to cross.

Always a stickler for obeying limits in the 50 kph zones, anywhere residential etc.
Roads where it's 80 and reaaaallly should be 100-120... not so much :pac: I try but it's damn hard! Especially when everyone is speeding by you... don't want to hold back the flow of traffic like.

Probably speed a bit on the motorway too, 130-140

corktina

surely anyone who finds they are being passed out all the time or who regularly has a clear road ahead and a "tail" behind them should realise they are driving too slow? I exempt some drivers from this who are inexperianced or less able medically , but many of the slow (and therefore sometimes dangerous) drivers I pass are reasonably fit-looking youngish people. I dont condemn anyone for going slowly, but they should have the courtesy to move over for faster traffic.

corktina

corktina wrote: »

surely anyone who finds they are being passed out all the time or who regularly has a clear road ahead and a "tail" behind them should realise they are driving too slow?

I would agree except driving on an 80 road at 100 is more than fast enough for me, and it still can result in a bit of a tailback. I've been both at the front and part of the way down the line.
I have no idea what speed some of these people would be going at if they were given free rein...

Stark

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

I would always go at urban speed limits though. There are far too many hazards to go over it - children running between cars, car doors opening, people crossing the road without looking. Also, driving at the speed limit gives people more of a chance to pull out of side roads (if a car is going fast they have to wait for longer as they wouldn't be able to pull out in front of it) and makes it safer for pedestrians to cross.

Nearly crashed into someone who pulled out of a side road yesterday morning as it happens. I was doing 50km/hr (residential area) but it was raining so I was only barely able to stop in the distance they expected me to be able to stop in. Of course they shouldn't have expected me to brake in the first place, not to mention shouldn't have paused for a few moments before gradually accelerating after pulling out...

Cookie_Monster

corktina wrote: »

I dont condemn anyone for going slowly, but they should have the courtesy to move over for faster traffic.

on some occasions when driving down the country I flick into holiday mode and drive pretty slowly also . but if there is any opportunity to use the hard shoulder to make passing easier for someone I always will, or even pull in on smaller roads.

A lot of people have done the same for me, especially on roads like the Sallygap which I love driving.

bigar

I never obey the speed limit and would not even know what they are on the roads I travel. That does not mean I drive like a madman but I drive the speed the road condition allow me to do.

corktina

bigar wrote: »

I never obey the speed limit and would not even know what they are on the roads I travel. That does not mean I drive like a madman but I drive the speed the road condition allow me to do.

i wouldnt support this...you should still be observing road signs, even if you only use them as a guide.

bigar

corktina wrote: »

i wouldnt support this...you should still be observing road signs, even if you only use them as a guide.

I know, especially in the few times the Guards pulled me over and the first question they ask is "Do you know how fast you can go here". I can never answer

Empire o de Sun

I drive in Germany, where on some (not all) Autobahns there is no limit. At first it was way different to driving on a motorway in Ireland.

I don't see them ever bringing it in in Ireland. But generally people mostly drive at about 130 to 150 km/h, about 25% of people drive faster, with some doing more than 200 km/h. But when doing long journeys at speeds above 100 km/h your fuel consumption goes up loads. So people doing 200 km/h are using a ridiculous amount of fuel.

When changing lane to overtake, you had to be very aware that cars coming up on your rear view mirror could be doing 200 km/h or more. They quickly catch up with you.

Generally I do 130 if I'm going somewhere far, but if I'm in a rush or just going down the road, I'll do up to 180 km/h. When you drive at that speed and then slow down to 120 km/h (at some major intersections there are speed limits) it feels like you are not moving.

Stonewolf

Furet wrote: »

Slow drivers are deadly. Case in point: Leaving Fermoy yesterday heading northbound I got stuck behind this moronic, stereotypical woman driver who would not go above 50km/h on the R639, headed toward M8 junction 14. Not only was she slow, but she was also out very far, and thus was impossible to overtake. So I stayed behind her. I began to worry when she indicated to join the M8 at junction 14 northbound, went down the on-ramp and DID NOT accelerate. At this point she was leading a procession of six vehicles, all bunched on the on-ramp doing 50km/h and rapidly approaching the main carriageway. It was 5.30, and traffic was coming hard and fast northbound off the Fermoy Bypass heading for Dublin. We were in danger, so I began to flash my lights at her and even waved her on with my hand out my window. When she ran out of merging lane, she didn't join the main carriageway, but proceeded to drive at 50km/h in the emergency lane, oblivious to the major hazard she had just stupidly caused. She was more dangerous than anyone who does 150 km/h was.

This drives me absolutely insane, I've taken lately to slowing down even further to build up a gap and then hammering it to the merge just to ensure my own safety.

I think half the problem here is again poor choice of speed limits where we have the limit signs at the wrong end of the slip, then again some people still do it on slips that don't.

mikemac

I meet lots of drivers who don't drive at speed, they probably think they are very safe

Example, you meet them in 80kph zone and they trundle along at 60kph and stay out far so nobody can overtake them. Eventually a train of cars are following them.
Ok 60kph is your speed but pull in when safe to do so

Anyway, you do get past and later you are driving through a village.
Slow down to 30kph as there is a school and that's the limit.

And that muppet catches up to you, still at a steady 60kph through the village

They are asleep at the wheel!!!
They don't look at areas and match their speed to it. No, just a steady speed all the time every time and tut, tut at anyone who overtakes them, calls them reckless

Tech3

I obey the speed limit not because I agree with the limits themselves but to avoid any penalty points or fines. Driving the N4 Lucan bypass lately at 80km/hr was tough to take though!!!

Stonewolf

tech2 wrote: »

I obey the speed limit not because I agree with the limits themselves but to avoid any penalty points or fines. Driving the N4 Lucan bypass lately at 80km/hr was tough to take though!!!

It used to be that you came off the motorway inbound, went around the corner and there was a gatso box (not sure if it was every functional) in the bushes. The end of the M4 was signposted with two tiny little speed signs, they're a bit bigger now but the end of the motorway is still nowhere near well enough signed.

ella87

Captain Morgan wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I mean like going stupid speeds through built up areas and going in well excess of the speed limit on other roads.
I use the speed limit as a guide.I dont freak out & hit the breaks if I go abit over 100 on a road thats 100....:rolleyes:

ella87

MagicMarker wrote: »

OP, if you're saying you've never broken a speed limit then quite frankly you're a liar.

I never said Ive never broken the speed limit.I think everybody has at some point and if I have it wouldnt have been a careless speed Ive gone.