Speeder's get 3 months

dewsbury · 01-11-2009 11:23PM

Okay, so I am a great driver.. always have been.

20 years driving with not a single accident.

I occassionally drive at 160kph when safe to do so.

The problem is that somebody else may make a mistake. Perhaps they are a crap driver... Perhaps they will move into my lane with no indication. Perhaps they have been drinking. Accident happens! Big accident with blood, pain and death.

As I say I am a great driver - the accident was not my fault ...I am a good driver with a perfect record ...I am the innocent victim ..
...but maybe...
just maybe.... if I was driving at 100 kph then I could have averted the faulty driver.

Still, I know I am a great driver and the accident was not my fault.

Regards,
wheelchair Joe

Johnny Utah · 01-11-2009 11:25PM

Here's a few more police chases worth watching:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dfq2FAZWoA

Ghostrider:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShacMAn_HK8

ninty9er · 01-11-2009 11:33PM

NewDubliner wrote: »

One thing has not changed much - the quality of driving.

Of course there's no legislating for the quality of driving on an Autobahn either. Anyone on this board holding a full licence could potter along the A8 Munich-Stuttgart and pull out in front of some weel trained German doing 240km/h in the left lane, it's about as hypothetical as the same happening on the M7.

bladebrew · 01-11-2009 11:39PM

that thread took some reading!,
i do not think these people deserved time in prison as other posters have said the judge said it was dangerous driving when they technically didnt cause anyone harm,people seem to have a fondness for the fiat coupe! but if it crashed at 200km/h there would be nothing left of the car,a car cannot be designed to hit (for example) a bridge support at this speed,
and as some people have a tendancy to drive at 45mph in parts of the motorway i certainly would not feel safe doing 120mph in the lane beside them!
i can understand how this speed is acceptable on an autobahn as the driving test is a lot more rigorous and people are expecting it but in ireland its suicide,
as much as i sound like an old man (im not) the limits are there for a reason

L1011 · 01-11-2009 11:46PM

bladebrew wrote: »

i can understand how this speed is acceptable on an autobahn as the driving test is a lot more rigorous and people are expecting it but in ireland its suicide

as ninety9er just said above, there is no requirement to have done the German driving test to drive on an autobahn; and in fact there would be rather a lot of traffic using them to cross to Poland where driving standards often make Ireland look like paradise.

People should never be expecting traffic to be doing the same speeds as they are, no matter what the limits on a road are.

Omcd · 01-11-2009 11:52PM

MYOB wrote: »

Find me a pothole on a motorway in Ireland.

The German autobahn network has many features which would be outright banned on motorways here - mostly short merges on junctions - on both the 130km/h and unlimited sections; as well as generally using jointed concrete surfaces.

So you're assuming everyone who drives on a motorway only drives on a motorway. My mileage is half clattering over broken up back country laneways masquarading as roads, and half motorway. Dont tell me I'm the only one ! Jeez, I never realised that.. The back roads take their toll so much so that I am needing to have tracking and balancing done generally about every two months to stop the thing shaking itself to bits at speed on the motorway :rolleyes: The motorways take their toll too in their own way, but thats a different story.

Germans can cope with the short merges, as there is a lot of trans continental truck traffic that generally fills up the right lane and keeps the speed down in that lane to about 80 kph or slower. The thing about the autobahns is the driver discpline, meaning that there is good lane seperation between traffic going at vastly different speeds, you have the unlimited folks way out left and the the slow trucks way over right, every one stays where they should be (unless they're Irish !) so theres less need to change lanes and go all over the place in order to maintain the speed you're happy with. In Ireland, things are vastly different. The N7 between Dublin and Naas has short merges. It's not a motorway, but many people think it should be. I dont, because of the short merges, because here, instead of merging into a stream of trucks going about 80k, you are more likely to be trying to merge into a flow of idiots blasting along at up to 150/160 kmh in the left lane as they are undertaking similiar idiots hogging the middle lane at 80 km/h neither of which are where they should be in a disciplined road system.

Did think it strange though in Germany they had rough concrete sections on the unlimited sections, but it seems to work for them. Might give more grip at high speed in wet conditions ?

TheNog · 01-11-2009 11:52PM

the bolt wrote: »

fair enough,though i know people driving as long as that who i wouldnt sit in a car with.can you explain the visible defects you check for,what about the ones that arent visible?

Tyres, lights, oil and any visible damage to the car. These are all visible though so any internal damage that cannot be seen is usually audible so the car is either driven carefully back to the station or of the driver thinks it is too dangerous to be driven, it is then recovered.

The car I drive is serviced every 10k so thats about every 2 1/2 to 3 months but most non visual defects are noticed very soon after the car has been damaged.

ninty9er wrote: »

You might think that, but don't expect everyone else to. I'm perfectly capable of drawing my own conclusions!

Well my opinions are pretty much the same as set out in law. I also dont expect everyone to agree with me or the road traffic acts otherwise this thread would be long dead and buried.

I just cant for the life of me see how ye can defend these drivers actions. We know the road is good and we know the Fiat is good, but what about the driver of the Fiat or the actions of other drivers on the motorway?

I think any judge wishing to call 203km/h in a Fiat Coupe 20VT dangerous driving should be required to undergo that experience before deciding!

In a controlled environment such as a race track then no problem. On a public road, no way.

bladebrew · 01-11-2009 11:55PM

MYOB wrote: »

as ninety9er just said above, there is no requirement to have done the German driving test to drive on an autobahn; and in fact there would be rather a lot of traffic using them to cross to Poland where driving standards often make Ireland look like paradise.

People should never be expecting traffic to be doing the same speeds as they are, no matter what the limits on a road are.

but there is a lot more germans on a german motorway than anyone else! (i assume) indeed polish driving is insane:eek:,

i agree but to expect someone to see you coming up behind them at 200km/h and move in is asking to much,eg,my saxo can maybe do 95mph but in 5th gear at motorway speeds if you put the pedal down nothing happens!! so if im overtaking a truck and doing 75mph and i see someone in my mirror doing 120mph on the way up the fast lane there isnt anything i can do!

Omcd · 01-11-2009 11:59PM

MYOB wrote: »

as ninety9er just said above, there is no requirement to have done the German driving test to drive on an autobahn; and in fact there would be rather a lot of traffic using them to cross to Poland where driving standards often make Ireland look like paradise.

People should never be expecting traffic to be doing the same speeds as they are, no matter what the limits on a road are.

There a good few of these f€ckers to seen every day crawling along at 80kmh in the middle lane of the N7 Naas road.

Stark · 02-11-2009 12:09AM

There are valid arguments against driving fast on the motorway. That's why we have speed limits. But the law says the penalty for breaking the speed limits is points and a fine, maybe disqualification from driving but not prison sentences. The issue here isn't whether or not they broke the law, it's the judge assigning made-up consequences to them breaking the law.

TheNog · 02-11-2009 12:13AM

Stark wrote: »

There are valid arguments against driving fast on the motorway. That's why we have speed limits. But the law says the penalty for breaking the speed limits is points and a fine, maybe disqualification from driving but not prison sentences. The issue here isn't whether or not they broke the law, it's the judge assigning made-up consequences to them breaking the law.

Not entirely true. Dangerous driving does make provisions of a six month prison sentence, fine and/or disqualification. A judge can choose any one of them or all three as in these cases.

L1011 · 02-11-2009 12:17AM

bladebrew wrote: »

i agree but to expect someone to see you coming up behind them at 200km/h and move in is asking to much,eg,my saxo can maybe do 95mph but in 5th gear at motorway speeds if you put the pedal down nothing happens!! so if im overtaking a truck and doing 75mph and i see someone in my mirror doing 120mph on the way up the fast lane there isnt anything i can do!

If you're already overtaking said truck the person doing 200km/h will have been able to see you for some distance - the danger comes from wobbling out in front of them because the road 'looked clear' when they're going to cover the space you assumed you had from a single quick look in the mirrors rather quickly.

L1011 · 02-11-2009 12:21AM

Omcd wrote: »

So you're assuming everyone who drives on a motorway only drives on a motorway.

No, I'm assuming that nobody is going to attempt 203km/h on a narrow single carriageway. And comparing like with like, as it was an Autobahn to Ireland comparison being made. Germany has narrow single carriageways too...

Omcd wrote: »

t's not a motorway, but many people think it should be. I dont, because of the short merges

There are many, many more things preventing that section of the N7 becoming motorway than the short merges - which are probably the easiest fixed also! There are 4 petrol stations, a number of houses, a junction on a sliproad, some farms, two pubs, a florists....

Omcd wrote: »

Did think it strange though in Germany they had rough concrete sections on the unlimited sections, but it seems to work for them. Might give more grip at high speed in wet conditions ?

Jointed concrete roads require a lot less maintainence, the surface is more likely to last 40 years than 15. I believe thats the main if not the sole reason they use it. Even here the Naas DC wasn't resurfaced once between being laid as concrete and being widened and relaid as asphalt I think?

Turner · 02-11-2009 12:27AM

Stark wrote: »

There are valid arguments against driving fast on the motorway. That's why we have speed limits. But the law says the penalty for breaking the speed limits is points and a fine, maybe disqualification from driving but not prison sentences. The issue here isn't whether or not they broke the law, it's the judge assigning made-up consequences to them breaking the law.

He was not convicted of speeding.

He was convicted of dangerous driving.This takes into account the speed he was travelling, the road conditions, the weather and the amount of other road users on the road.

The maximum penalty for this where death is not involved is a fine of up to €5000 and up to 6 months imprisonment.

He got off lightly if you ask me.

You do know you can get 12 months imprisonment for having no insurance!

Would there be the same shock if i started a thread about the countless numbers of people i have seen in the district courts given 12 months sentences for having no insurance. Be it their 3rd or 25th time being caught without it.

MarkN · 02-11-2009 01:04AM

Couple of things - nobody here is really saying being caught doing that speed in this country is the best thing possible but the complete Hitlers coming out with "he got off lightly" are really bordering on insane. Someone's life could effectively be RUINED by going to prison, will you think about it for one bloody minute?? A PRISON sentence with rapists, murderers and paedophiles all because you stretched a cars legs and COULD'VE but DIDN'T harm anyone else. If you caused injury then fine the sentence is justified and I'd be the first to say that but Jesus Christ lads will you cop on for a minute, someone going to prison when they drove at 120mph give or take is just so wrong on so many levels. I know for one my career would be over certainly for the short to medium term if I were put in prison. Have a sped? Many times. Am I a criminal that deserves locking up? Will you get real. Good luck to all the defendants in their appeals, I hope they get away with points and a fine and let it be a lesson to them.

Kidchameleon · 02-11-2009 01:16AM

MarkN wrote: »

Am I a criminal that deserves locking up?

Yes, you clearly admit to breaking the law:

MarkN wrote: »

Have a sped? Many times.

You can kill someone speeding

MarkN · 02-11-2009 01:17AM

Speeding isn't a criminal conviction offence. If you're going to play that game at least get your facts right.

Kidchameleon · 02-11-2009 01:21AM

MarkN wrote: »

Speeding isn't a criminal conviction offence. If you're going to play that game at least get your facts right.

erm, yes it is

MarkN · 02-11-2009 01:23AM

So you get two penalty points and a fine and you also have a criminal record now do you? Stop trolling on a good debate will you for God's sake.

Kidchameleon · 02-11-2009 01:26AM

did the people mentioned in the op get fined, locked up, loose licences for speeding?

MarkN · 02-11-2009 01:27AM

I can't believe 14 pages of this thread have existed and you come along and don't even know what its about? They were convicted of DANGEROUS DRIVING not speeding.

Kidchameleon · 02-11-2009 01:30AM

how is speeding not dangerous driving?

MarkN · 02-11-2009 01:33AM

Cause it's not. If you go a few pages back you'll find out exactly what is dangerous driving (its section 51 of the road traffic act IIRC). Doing 60 km/hr in a 50 km/hr is not dangerous driving but you might argue that it's speeding.

Turner · 02-11-2009 01:44AM

Its Section 53 of the Road Traffic Act and yes it does carry a prison sentence.

Speed is only one part of it. You need other factors to get convicted. Eg Road surface, weather, other road users, manner of driving.

We havent heard about those at all in the news report.

L1011 · 02-11-2009 01:47AM

Kidchameleon wrote: »

You can kill someone speeding

You can kill someone going under the speed limit, also. Redundant statement of the year award goes to....

Our man in Havana · 02-11-2009 01:52AM

Chief--- wrote: »

Its Section 53 of the Road Traffic Act and yes it does carry a prison sentence.

Speed is only one part of it. You need other factors to get convicted. Eg Road surface, weather, other road users, manner of driving.

We havent heard about those at all in the news report.

Where roughly is the cut off point where the offence moves from being a Section 47 to Section 53?

MarkN · 02-11-2009 01:54AM

Would the guards actually contributing to this thread agree that DD is a hard charge to prove/convict and simply driving fast in a straight line might not be strong enough to have the charge applied?

Turner · 02-11-2009 01:55AM

Bond-007 wrote: »

Where roughly is the cut off point where the offence moves from being a Section 47 to Section 53?

On the evidence of the Garda. On describing the driving.

The DPP would decide if a charge should be brought.

Its up to the judge to convict and hand down a sentence.

Kidchameleon · 02-11-2009 01:57AM

MYOB wrote: »

You can kill someone going under the speed limit, also. Redundant statement of the year award goes to....

I dont recall saying the you couldant kill someone driving on or below the limit

Turner · 02-11-2009 01:59AM

MarkN wrote: »

Would the guards actually contributing to this thread agree that DD is a hard charge to prove/convict and simply driving fast in a straight line might not be strong enough to have the charge applied?

The only dangerous driving i have encountered have been traffic pursuits. Most got 12 months imprisonment.

As for driving on a motorway

Driving past cars (doing from 40mph -75mph in the left hand lane) at 120mph in the overtaking lane speaks for itself.

Its very dangerous driving.

All it takes is one car to move into the overtaking lane (without checking their mirror) and at that speed a crash would be inevitable.

Speeder's get 3 months

Comments