Think of the difference between the two messages, "Twenty's Plenty" and "Speed Kills".
Which are you more likely to respond to?
Scotland got this one right.
HJ
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As 31 in a 30 is a speeding offence I exceed the limit everytime I go out. You only have to be a few yards late getting down to the lower limit as you pass the sign, or a bit early with the gas on the way out and you are doing the same thing. So I reckon the ratio for 99% of drivers is umpteen thousand to one.
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I saw the "Twenty's Plenty" signs the other week for the first time. I think they got the message right too. Speed sign was green instead of with red too.
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I think we need to differentiate between the "odd few mph over" which I think we all do occaisionally, and the "serial idiot" 20+ mph over the limit.
Edited by Old Navy on 04/02/2009 at 11:10
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>"Twenty's Plenty" ...
There's scope for invention here: Thirty's Dirty - Forty's Norty - Fifty's Shifty .. Any advance?
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Quote:...""I've been caught speeding just once in 20 years of driving. Just proves what a load of rubbish the 'Speed Kills' message is.""
Nonsense. If you drive too fast you are:
1) More likely to have an accident through losing control or being unable to aviod a hazardous situation.
2) If you have an accident the consequences are likley to be more severe.
Your reaction time doesn't get quicker because you're driving faster and braking distances are longer bacause of the greater kinetic energy which goes up as a square of your speed.
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You have but a few moments on telly to get a message across. "Speed kills" whilst over simplifying it, it is at least snappy and maybe lodges in the brain somewhere.
The advert with the child - in the road who gets un-hurt is shocking and IMO effective. Not in the least bit patronising.Seriously.
The speed camera people could probably tie most people in knots when it comes to explaining the reasons for accidents - they will have access to the finest accident investigative minds out there.
So in my mind, let them get on with it (the camera people).
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how about eighty's great eh
or in Scotland ninety's fine tae
but then
hunnerd's scunnered
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A ton is fun, 120's plenty.
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In my view , people who speed and are caught are driving without due care and attention.
I of course have regularly exceeded# speed limits in my 44 years of driving - at times and places wher it is appropriate although the risks are higher now of being caught so I am more cautious (or is it age?:-)
So far I have been lucky. Nil points.
(crosses fingers and toes)
# mainly 70 limits and never above 90. In towns? only by mistake.
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In the Falkirk area where I live/work, I get a pang of satisfaction when I see the mobile detector vans out in the mornings - almost always at the same spots nears schools between 8 and 9, if full view of the traffic.
Hell mend you if you are stupid enough to be doing 35+ during the school run, and I do get the feeling that drivers are more careful of their speed since the Police have been using these vans in the last couple of years.
The ones on the M9 fly-overs are another matter but at least they are usually near high speed on/off-ramps!
Everyone should remember that the Police act with the consent of the people - once they are asked to do things that don't seem to have an obvious benefit for society, they and the Law lose respect - eg. the speed cameras on safe, open stretches of road.
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Lygonos - as ever it suits everyone to blame the police for speed cameras. Fixed camera sites are not chosen by the police and the whole issue is a matter of Government policy. Regardless, if we don't speed, we won't pay. I'll don my tin hat and repeat myself: If we disagree with the speed camera, then we must be disagreeing with the speed limit itself, since a law and a limit are self explanatory. Why is it that so many people seem to think they can apply their own limit, by whatever amount, over and above that prescribed by law? Perhaps it's time to petition MP's to raise various limits, then we can all add our own 'little bit' beyond the new limit. Guess where this ends up....
We don't have degrees of burglary, or of theft or of numerous other offences; we accept the law as it is. I know the response will be that these are criminal offences, and on a completely different plane of behaviour. Really? Arguably the potential outcome of speeding is worse. Likelihood of that outcome occurring is a different matter, but the potential sill exists. I definitely won't injure myself or another with a little low level fraud.
I also think we lose sense of reason over the punishment for speeding. 3 points and £60 is a far lower penalty than one would have received in court prior to the fixed penalty system. What's more, we can have 3 of those before disqualification becomes an issue. So, a graduated system with plenty of warning built-in. Yes, I speed. Yes, I think I can apply some thought and judgement to it. I can see well ahead and guess the most likely places for enforcement. I'm afraid I have little sympathy for those caught and I promise I won't moan when I'm caught. Honestly, I ask you all, 3 points and £60? Not that much of a slap on the wrist, is it??
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Like woodster says, particularly the bit about not moaning if I get caught.
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We all speed, and on occassions I have driven at a licence losing set of figures, but in the cold light of day speeding fines are a tax on stupidity.
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I do not speed in urban limits, and usually don't exceed 65 on unrestricted single-carriageway A-roads.
However on open dual-carriageways and motorways I will cruise at my desired speed, consistent with road / visibility / traffic / cameras etc.
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The only limits I consciously try to stick to are 30's. Otherwise I drive to my perception of the conditions and surroundings, which does often involve breaching the limits.
Usually cruise at an indicated 85 or so on motorways if the traffic and road conditions allow.
Rarely go over 100 mph as unlike the footballers and celebrities who get caught doing so, I can't afford a top lawyer, or to hire a chauffeur if the lawyer fails to do their job.
I have done 165 mph on the public road. Once. A long time ago.
Never had a single point on my license (that's torn it)!
Cheers
DP
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I read the tittle of this thread and knew where it was going to go and contributors would have there own view of what speed limit applies to them and was not going to add anything, however, before you pick up 3 points consider this. Due to the high cost of provision and maintenance of fixed cameras they are normally associated with black spots and known speed areas. Truvelo camera's operate face on and you can not detect them as they use sensors in the road so do not transmit anything. Redspeed camera's are much smaller and are mounted higher up for security reasons and are connected by coms links but the sites are made public. However with more and more Scamera Vans then speeding anywhere is a risk to your licence as they do not have to park up at known sites or at accident black spots, ad to this that they can, but usually don't, ping you at 1000m and it takes 0.3 of a second, nicked. Then there are specs camera collecting your average speed and forget about swopping lanes to avoid detection, that's been dealt with. The newer generation of vans although operate through the rear or side aperture now have a video camera facing in the opposite direction to catch motorbike rear number plates. Then there are road side hand held laser devices like the Prolaser, and LTI light and a few old Falcon type radar guns. If you think you are safe at 77 ( 10% plus 2 in the ACPO code of practice ) on a motorway think again. Cumbria prosecuted at 75 from a motorway bridge last year and I've seen several prosecutions at 33 in a 30. Remember 10% plus 2 is a guideline. Speeding is in fact an absolute offence, you are either speeding or not 30.1 is speeding. Last your there was a case where a Gatso captured a car doing 46 in a 40, it went to court as the driver, how had in fact stood on the brakes you could see them in the photo, presented the fact that the secondary evidence, i.e. the road markings, proved he was not doing 46 but 42 so within the ACPO guidlines. Guilty as charges, 3 points £60 fine court fees and Victim Surcharge. Regards Peter
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sofaspud - Driving too fast is not the same as speeding! Speeding is a legal definition for breaking the posted limit. Driving too fast means not paying attention to the conditions.
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