What speed do we limit things to?speed does not in itself kill.Inappropriate speed is where it starts.One mph can run over ones head and cause death.Education only educates those who are receptive.
We are human and a destructive gene is part of our nature sadly.Like guns cars do not kill people,people kill people.Steve..
Exactly this, any vehicle out there which is powered by a engine of one form or another is a potential killing machine, cars, tractors, lorries, bikes, quads etc etc etc etc. Its the human interface that turns them into a killing machine.
Peoples perception of being capable of driving any of the above is the limiting factor. It could have 11000bhp (Top Fuel Dragster or 38bhp 998cc mini,) but any of these vehicles driven into a body of people could have the same consequence.
There are so many different factors but realistically it boils down to ability or lack of ability that is the root cause. Now that ability can be impaired by Drugs, Alochol, physical or mental impairment caused by a medical issue.
Its very easy to jump on the bandwagon and say its the fault of the high powered vehicle, but as we have seen over the years from the time the motor vehicle was first invented tp present day vehicles its US, the human interface. We ultimately are the root cause.
to a point I would agree but there is a vast difference between a 998cc mini where you plant your foot and let's be honest not much really happens, certainly not all at once and certainly nothing you can't handle.. and a 500bhp monster where the slightest twitch of your right foot means sudden massive changes in the car's composition, handling, speed, etc
in fact one of the positive points about these small engined little cars like the mini / civic / fiesta is that you can nail the living sh$% out of them and have a good bit of fun feeling like you're maxing them out hard, screaming your way around a country lane for example, but in reality you're not going fast at all, it just feels like you are because the car is at its limit (see also, go-karts). I've often thought for example driving a ferrari or mclaren would be a real drag in the long term because you'd be at 20% most of the time and struggling to rein it in rather than just outright having fun. whereas something like a lotus elise or caterham would be equally agile but a lot more enjoyable
anyway.. I totally agree it's the driver that's the problem (if we ignore the occasional mechanical failure) and that's why people should really be trained and licensed for advanced driving for that sort of car, so they have a good solid understanding and practice with throttle control, prevailing road conditions, composition, lift-off oversteer, power oversteer etc . and more to the point why it's really stupid to just plant your foot down in a residential area where the speeds are chosen normally for pretty good reasons (although some of them are a nuisance I will admit..) but the rules are there for a reason. to protect us against the terminally stupid, case in point see above
Edited by stuart bowes, 24 August 2022 - 08:18 AM.
