New graded speeding penalties

[Tom]

The kid did not know his limits, took a silly risk and is now dead.

Smee was saying that brakes are now better and he knows his limits etc so why should he have to stick to the speed limit.

 

[Roberto]

If you read the thread you will see that we were discussing how young drivers invariably cannot control powerful cars, or over estimate their limited driving skills.
Although I am not questioning this poor mans abilities, it is a sadly all too frequent occurence, where a young driver dies when driving his newly acquired, powerful car.

That was the point I was tying to make.

 

[Pete]

Re: life vs.....well life

Roberto, I totally agree with parts 2 & 3 of your 12.45 post yesterday. However, in my humble opinion you are WAY off the mark with no 3. Drivers are so busy watching all the pretty pink, yellow, green and white markings; signs saying 'Do this' or 'Don't do that'; looking at traffic lights, etc. that they no longer think for themselves. They slavishly follow every instruction their masters give them. Where do they have time (even at 20mph) to observe and digest that little something that says to you 'Watch it!' After driving a petrol tanker for 40 years, I am heartily sick of jumped up t**ts in local and national government telling us what to do and where and when to do it, and so I am glad to be retired now.(Rant over. Feel better!)
BTW, take a look at Paul Smith's Safespeed website if you haven't already.
Pete

 

[Roberto]

Re: life vs.....well life

I see where you're coming from Pete.

What I was getting at was improving peoples basic skills. Vision and looking beyond the car in front is something that is obviously lacking in many drivers basic skills. Anticipating what some **** might do up ahead gives you an edge on the reaction time. I understand that kids might be getting clouded with "watch this, do that, be careful of this", but driving is a hard skill to master and I'm sure with your 40 years of trucking, you'd be the first to admit that. I used to go out on deliveries with my drivers in a previous job, and it really opened my eyes. Lorry drivers and motorcyclists seem to be the most skilled and competent drivers on the road. Is it any wonder, after they both have to go through rigourous testing and qualification.

There is no way of stopping a young 17 year old lad, who's just passed his test, where mummy and daddy have bought him, let's say, a Golf GTI, and his testosterone is pumping through him, going out, stereo pumping, windows down, trying to pull the local 13 year old girls, and then slamming head on into a bus/tree/pedestrian.
But if you restrict what they can drive, put them through stringent testing that maybe even goes on after the test has been passed (Oh, I can feel the responses coming on that idea already !! LOL), say after 1 year, and make urban road ways more difficult to speed down by physically restricting the vehicles using bumps, narrowing etc., then, it might just get better, and guys like the young lad here in Norfolk, would still be with us today.

Rob

 

[rsmallwo]

speed kills

speed (in excess) kills

mind, so do lots of other things in life (in excess)

 

[Roberto]

Re: speed kills

Fair point

Rob

 

[Danny]

Re: speed kills

I see some of your points but dont feel that they should put a limit on young drivers and engine size, i got my 1.8 bravo at 17, first car and have been driving now over 2 years and never come close to having a accident. the only reason i got a 1.8 was not because of the power but i went to a garage where i had seen a 1.4 bravo advertised and it had gone they had a 1.8 there and i said to my dad she was gorgeous but couldnt afford her, my dad said we will see. so i paid off what i could afford and my dad took the rest out for me on finance, now i think if you have to work your ass of for something like i have had to then you have alot more respect for what you do have. my 1.8 is quick and i like to modify it, but not race around i have a loud stereo and my car looks **** hot, that gives me reson to drive around at the speed limit as i like to show off.my dad tells me that i have earned my respect on the road to a certain extent and id like to think that i have too. im sure that not all of us young drivers with powerful cars drive like twats.

 

[DeanoBravo]

Re: speed kills

I've gotta (maybe rather irresponsibly) point out that speed alone doesn't kill - it's the tree that someone hit's that will kill you. (or any other number of relatively immovable objects)

But in all fairness, speed restrictions are there for a purpose. It amazes me how even some people drive with poor weather conditions - not realising that cars don't stick to the floor as well in the wet as they do in the dry!

And lets not forget, even the speed limit is there to do the speed stated WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO!!!

So as many race car drivers can tell you, it's not speed that kills - but the application of speed must be in the approriate places!

Now this is coming from a driver of an hgt (relatively powerful) who has had it at his first car! Does me being a new driver warrent me not being able to own an hgt?

Dean

PS - these comments are not directed towards anyone - only airing a view!

 

[Anonymous]

Re: speed kills

agreed sort of... but ur a one off if u know wat i mean... ppl these days past there test and think there rally drivers.. i was the same. not gonna lie. i had a corsa the first thing i did was thrash it to bits (good memorys)... but it was only a 1.2 if it was a 2 ltr iwould of killed my self i know it.. cos i would not of driven it any different i would of just gone faster.... because i was unexperianced and didnt know... now i feel i got experiance... not to much but enough to know.. i.e braking distance, i can observe the road head and make more accurate judgemnets of wats happening, amongst other thing...

at the end of the day u can teach some 1 to drive but u cant teach experiance... its something u learn... over time... giving an unexperianced drive a smaller engine car will reduce the risk of him killing himself...

this is my opinion

Smee

 

[DeanoBravo]

Re: speed kills

Well to be honest, i really don't think the hgt is that quick. I need more power.

A ferrari overtook me the other day and i WAS NOT happy! lol! Only joking guys!

I don't feel the hgt is particularly powerful, but does make a lovely noise (as i keep saying) - which is the reason i wanted one!

Dean

 

[Pete]

Re: speed kills

Smee, I've been driving for 47 years (legally) and a few before that, and believe me I STILL learn something new every day. Never be afraid to admit you're still learning, as I think it's something to be proud of, not ashamed.
Pete