100 replies to this topic

[Ben_O]

That sheppey crossing is shocking.

 

I remember when they were building it and thinking, that looks a bit wafty.

 

You only have to do a Google image search for 'Sheppey crossing' and most of the search results are off crashes.

 

Like Carlos says, you need to be very cautious and this rule should apply to all roads. I saw a tv advert recently that shows a transparent car speeding round a lane and too fast round a corner and straight into an oncoming tractor.

[Zach P-D]

Yes, I agree that driving too fast down lanes is totally stupid
Because things like this happen...

That was 2 minutes from our house, dad came out of a Junction and some idiot was doing 60 down a single track lane. There wasn't enough time and he spun the Suzuki a full 180, moved it 4 meters and then went through a hedge another 5 meters away. Because he was going about 20mph too fast, else he would have been able to stop as it was bone dry. 

Thankfull because the Zuk was lifted all the damage was by my old man's ankles and the door only came in a few cm. I'd hate to think about how it could have been in my Mini (which he was planning on) or the works van (2 tons of equipment in the back, driver of the car would probably have to be cut out.)

[HarrysMini]

This is what happens if you do 35 down a damp lane with rubbish tyres and no ABS and a delivery van comes the other way in the middle of the road going too fast as well.

 

 

I would advise anyone about to pass their test and start driving on the roads properly for the first time to really get to know you and your car's limits (in a relatively safe environment, of course). 

[Shep76S]

Does anyone remember the 100 car pile up last year in Kent?

 

It's the same bridge.

 

Locals blamed the speed limit, the lack of lighting (it was day light) the fact the bridge was too high.

 

That crash was caused by one thing, poor driving

it was a foggy day as well, one of many in that area during Autumn/Winter

[Carlos W]

 

Does anyone remember the 100 car pile up last year in Kent?

 

It's the same bridge.

 

Locals blamed the speed limit, the lack of lighting (it was day light) the fact the bridge was too high.

 

That crash was caused by one thing, poor driving

it was a foggy day as well, one of many in that area during Autumn/Winter

 

It was extremely foggy. I remember the day well.

 

It's all about driving to the conditions

[greenwheels]

Reading through this thread there area few references to doing 80mph or more - not only is it illegal but it's illegal for a reason. Read this https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits  and the link to penalties.

 

Regarding comments about people who drive slowly, as far as you driving behind them are concerned, they are doing it for a reason, respect that and consider it a 'road condition'. Stay well back and  wait the opportunity to overtake sensibly. Believe me it is not worth taking a risk for the sake of a few seconds arriving at the end of you journey.

 

If you think that if you are innocent of causing and accident if you are doing 50 in a 30 limit and you hit someone who steps out then God help you. Idiots who break the speed limit are guilty by definition.

 

Roads nowadays are far to crowded. I feel sorry for new drivers because the Golden Age of Fun Driving on Public Roads is over. There  are to many overpowered cars driven by people who think they can drive as fast as they like and are unwittingly relying on the good driving of sensible drivers.

 

And one other thing - you don't start 'learning  to drive' until you pass your test.

[Shep76S]

 

 

Does anyone remember the 100 car pile up last year in Kent?

 

It's the same bridge.

 

Locals blamed the speed limit, the lack of lighting (it was day light) the fact the bridge was too high.

 

That crash was caused by one thing, poor driving

it was a foggy day as well, one of many in that area during Autumn/Winter

 

It was extremely foggy. I remember the day well.

 

It's all about driving to the conditions

 

I was trying to explain the foggy conditions to someone new to the area and that it happens probably half a dozen times a year. He insisted it was a one off. He must be right, I've only lived in this area for 40 years.

And yes, most people were driving too fast and driving into the fog blind.

[samsfern]

Completed that aviva drive app thing in the phone, got a score of 2 out of 10 didn't get any of the 'smooth accelerator', 'fuel friendly' or 'brake master' badges either

[Zach P-D]

Reading through this thread there area few references to doing 80mph or more - not only is it illegal but it's illegal for a reason. Read this https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits  and the link to penalties.

 

Regarding comments about people who drive slowly, as far as you driving behind them are concerned, they are doing it for a reason, respect that and consider it a 'road condition'. Stay well back and  wait the opportunity to overtake sensibly. Believe me it is not worth taking a risk for the sake of a few seconds arriving at the end of you journey.

 

If you think that if you are innocent of causing and accident if you are doing 50 in a 30 limit and you hit someone who steps out then God help you. Idiots who break the speed limit are guilty by definition.

 

Roads nowadays are far to crowded. I feel sorry for new drivers because the Golden Age of Fun Driving on Public Roads is over. There  are to many overpowered cars driven by people who think they can drive as fast as they like and are unwittingly relying on the good driving of sensible drivers.

 

And one other thing - you don't start 'learning  to drive' until you pass your test.

This
I was on a proper lesson today and some idiot in an Audi was right on my arse and was itching to overtake me, ended up doing so on a blind bend..  then caught up to him at traffic lights...
 

[Cooperman]

May I repeat, after 54 years of driving all over the world in virtually every condition & type of road (except across a desert on the sand):

 

Speed, in terms of actual numbers, means little, it is the speed relative to the road and conditions which determines how safe or not it actually is.

[adam_93rio]

Interesting. Maybe I should have pointed out that I live in Scotland. Up here, most people do actually drive to the speed limits on motorways / dual carriageways, in other words on my daily commute on the M8, there are three lanes. Inside lane doing around 60, middle lane 65-70, outer lane maybe 80, but usually just overtaking.  We holiday in England, so I have experience of driving down there (A1 / M1, M6 etc) and I would say that you would struggle to do less than the speed limit there - though I find the A1 / M1 to be nuts and not very safe at all. Everyone foot down, lots of lane changing, lots of last minute braking.
 
I guess I just find the mini more comfortable and enjoyable when cruising a little slower. My normal daily (old 306 td) I drive at the limit or slightly above everywhere. 
 
Agreed that too slow is dangerous, but I would dispute that if I was to head out onto the motorway in my mini and blast up it at 85mph - thus hassling the majority of drivers in the fast lane to get out my way and change lane - that this would be safer than sitting in the inside lane doing the same speed as everyone else and not requiring to change lane.

There is one speed limit for cars on the motorway. The speed limit is 70mph in every lane. You're supposed to stick to the inside lane and use the other lanes for overtaking slower vehicles.

People sitting at 60 in the inside lane for no genuine reason causes a potential danger to other road users having to pull out to over take, where they shouldn't have to

[Cooperman]

 

Interesting. Maybe I should have pointed out that I live in Scotland. Up here, most people do actually drive to the speed limits on motorways / dual carriageways, in other words on my daily commute on the M8, there are three lanes. Inside lane doing around 60, middle lane 65-70, outer lane maybe 80, but usually just overtaking.  We holiday in England, so I have experience of driving down there (A1 / M1, M6 etc) and I would say that you would struggle to do less than the speed limit there - though I find the A1 / M1 to be nuts and not very safe at all. Everyone foot down, lots of lane changing, lots of last minute braking.
 
I guess I just find the mini more comfortable and enjoyable when cruising a little slower. My normal daily (old 306 td) I drive at the limit or slightly above everywhere. 
 
Agreed that too slow is dangerous, but I would dispute that if I was to head out onto the motorway in my mini and blast up it at 85mph - thus hassling the majority of drivers in the fast lane to get out my way and change lane - that this would be safer than sitting in the inside lane doing the same speed as everyone else and not requiring to change lane.

There is one speed limit for cars on the motorway. The speed limit is 70mph in every lane. You're supposed to stick to the inside lane and use the other lanes for overtaking slower vehicles.

People sitting at 60 in the inside lane for no genuine reason causes a potential danger to other road users having to pull out to over take, where they shouldn't have to

 

In my experience the inside lane is usually full of big HGV's doing their regulated 56 mph. If I want to do 60 (unusual in my case) I reserve the right to do so and will sit with the trucks, using the middle lane when necessary to overtake.

However, I am usually in the middle lane or overtaking in the outside lane at 80+, or more at night on what I know are camera-free roads in my daily road car.

[milkybar.kid]

round my way there is some really nice roads for a mini, wont say the speed limit but the lead in me boot says pedal to the metal, but on normal roads I will stick to the limit, maybe, sometimes, mhhhhhhhhh

[Tubby1987]

I had a telematics tracker fitted by my insurance on my previous car, I got 25% of my insurance back after a year as I fell into the top 20% of safe drivers And I never religiously stuck to every speed limit (ie. if the flow of traffic was doing 35 in a 30 in rush hour I followed suit)

Edited by Tubby1987, 12 November 2014 - 09:34 PM.

[robminibcy]

I will tend to sit just above limits (so probably bang on with the speedo allowance. On my daily commute I rarely exceed 65 even on duel carriage ways in the pursuit of 60+ mpg (tdi golf not mini!!) normal driving i will tend to push on a bit but not silly speeds through towns ect. Whilst I do agree speed limits are for a reason and do tend to stick close to them I personally have found that when I am pushing on a bit I am concentrating far harder than cruising at or below limits and have had far more close calls or thoughts of what might have happened than when I have when committing criminal offences by exceeding the limit!! I think cooperman os spot on when he says the limit is just a number. Driving at 30 half asleep and thinking about the days work is far more dangerous than licking on a bit with all thoughts on the road.

Edited by robminibcy, 12 November 2014 - 09:48 PM.