🚀 go-pugleaf

Richard Peat ssurpeat@uk.ac.rdg writes:

> In article 13273@praxis.co.uk, martin@praxis.co.uk (Martin Croxford) writes:
> >"You should be nicked" for driving at an inappropriate speed. On
> >motorways this could be 100mph in most conditions, 70mph in heavy
> >rain/heavy traffic or 25mph in "normal" conditions. Outside a school
> >(assuming a 30mph limit) this could be 45mph at 3 in the morning, 35mph
> >in most other conditions or 20mph at 3.45pm when the kids are going home.
> 
> So, do you propose having massive limit signs that list all the various
> different limits under different coditions. Or maybe change all the limit
> signs for changing displays.

I don't propose "having massive limit signs" (tho "changing display"
signs are an interesting possibility). I am trying to make the point that the
speed limit signs are not necessarily an indication of the safest maximum
speed.  

> Anyway, why should the speed be any different at 3 in the morning. There
> are still people around, and at that time less aware anyway. Just because
> it's 3 in the morning, does not mean that hitting someone at 45mph will
> be any less dangerous does it? 

On some stretches of 30mph road 45mph is safe at certain times of the
day/night. If there are people about then 45mph might not be safe. If
there are no people then 45mph might be reasonable. Depends on
conditions. How do we know what speed is reasonable in a given set of
conditions ? Through education and experience. If in doubt, drive at the
speed limit. But what if the speed limit is too high ?

About three years ago, at around 2 in the morning, I was driving through
the outskirts of Godalming with some very drunk people in the car (I
hadn't been drinking - I'd gone to pick up some friends from a party). I
was stopped by the police in a 30mph zone, having been driving at
around 40-45mph. I got out of the car and promptly apologised for
exceeding the limit. The policeman's response was that I hadn't been
driving with excessive speed; he and his colleague were concerned that 
I was as drunk as my passengers (they had seen us get in the car) -
having established that I wasn't he apologised for delaying me and that
was it. 

In an ideal driving world drivers would be penalised for driving with
excess speed for the conditions, rather than just "speeding". Cameras
will faithfully record evry vehicle that breaks the speed limit - how much
better if the camera could faithfully record every vehicle that is
travelling with excessive speed.

Training all drivers to the level that police drivers are trained would do
more for road safety than rigorous application of the law. 
--
Martin Croxford
martin@praxis.co.uk
These are my opinions