[dimtimjim]

Ok, this is really annoying me in todays news. A call to reduce speed limits, again. Why? This is completely unnecessary. What needs to be done, is stricter enforcement of the current 30mph limit in key target areas; SPECS systems are the most effective and are yet only really used for motorway roadworks. All roads near to schools should have a SPECS system in place.

And..... Why do we never hear anything about driving standards and how to improve them? I am amazed that it is still possible to get a licence to drive in this country without the need to do even 1 mile on our motorway system. And once you have got that licence, there is no furtehr regulation on mantaining standards.

Maybe its me, and the fact I drive 200 miles a day up and down the frikkin M1, but some of the driving standards I see are scarily bad. The things I see people doing. Paperwork? Fine. Laptop? No problem. On the Phone? Still a massive ammount doing it. Rolling a ciggy? Check.

I am (un)lucky enough to have witnessed a massive pile up first hand. A lorry in the middle lane suddenly decided to move back to lane 1, even though there were cars already in that lane. I had to brake and swerve to not be involved in the subsequent pinball mayhem as cars flew all over the place. But once you've seen first hand how easily these 'safe' cars we drive fold and crumple with a 40 tonne shove, you understand that driving along at 80mph, paying no attention what so ever is an insane act. Driving standards in this country are terrible and should be addressed.

Speed doesn't kill, inapropriate use of speed does.

Sorry, a subject close to my heart, rant over.

[Yudster]

I have no objection to 20mph in built up areas, but realistically when people aren't even observing the 30mph, why does anyone think it will make a difference?

We've had a lot of really wet weather here recently, and on a couple of occasions I have been driving on the A12 (a dodgy road at the best of times). Visibility has been almost non-existent, and you can feel the lack of grip with every bump and lump on the road. So, I slow down, try to keep a big gap between me and the car in front, just take it a bit easy and concentrate. What completely astonishes and terrifies me is that so many other vehicles are screaming past at 80mph, changing lanes with impunity, nipping inbetween cars - I can't see a damn thing so I know perfectly well neither can they. My car is sliding around all over the place (and yes, my tyres are new) so I know for a fact so are theirs - are these people MAD??!

[MK Chris]

I have no objection to people complaining about standards of driving - I was nearly in a collision myself last week when someone pulled out right in front of me while I was on a dual carriageway doing 55mph (and was being overtaken, so couldn't pull out) - and I do think that driving tests are inadequate in terms of driving conditions, but they do tend to take you on busy A roads, which is the same principle as a motorway really, just without the extra lane normally. I think it's more important to include night driving and adverse weather conditions (though obviously you can't control the weather, so that's a difficult one.)

Also - cars crumple for a reason - safety. Modern cars are designed to take the impact so that the people in it, as much as possible, don't.

[DevilsDuck]

I think the 20mph speed limit in built up areas is a good idea, if people to 35 in a 30 now, then they will do 25 in a 20 (ish).

Its true, speed kills

[dimtimjim]

Ok, as Yuddles said, why reduce the limits to 20 if people are already ignoring the 30 limit, its pointless. Hence my comment of stricter enforcement of the 30 limit.

And Toph, I know what you are saying, yes modern cars have a crumple zone built in, for direct head on impacts. My example was a side swipe from a 40 tonne lorry, no crumple zone exists for such a collision. The folding metal I saw was of doors, A pillars, roofs - none of which have a crumple zone. I cannot stress enough the 'pinball' effect this one lorry driver caused. As tyres lost traction when cars rotated, then regained grip firing the car off in a new random direction, straight towards other moving vehicles, passing kinetic energy into those cars, and so on..... A colision between one lorry and two cars quickly escalated to include 4 other cars not involved in the original colision. Note: Mr lorry driver came off fine.

Speed does kill, when used inappropriately. 150mph is perfectly safe, if used correctly.

If it were up to me, I'd have teams of undercover enforcers whos sole job was to police driving standards on our major highways. Fines for not abiding by the laws of the road, which would of course pay for the enforcers, and maybe bring in a bit of revenue to the treasury. Then use the '3 offences' rule at which point you get points put on licence. If poeple were being fined £50 a pop for sitting in middle lane of motorway daydreaming (for example - although there are many more road crimes), it might make them think twice next time. Maybe.

[DevilsDuck]

The point being is, reduce it to 20 and they will do 25, they wont do 35!

I guess thats why they call you DIMtimjim!

[dimtimjim]

Indeed they do..... Although only as I named myself that!! (its not on my birth certificate!)

[dimtimjim]

Ha ha!! Believe, from where i'm sitting, MOST people on the motorway are learners!!

Although I get ya meaning, and I agree.....

[Sidders]

I don't think having learners on the motorway would ever be a good idea. I think the pass plus scheme should be enforced so that the test becomes a two parter as such rather than just a voluntary thing. It definitely helped me for when I had to drive on them and make me feel a little calmer.

Surely it's better to have a supervised learner on a motorway than a kid who's just passed their test having never driven on a motorway before?

[bmstinton93]

I'm learning atm and I think that learners should drive on the motorway and I also believe that learners are very badly treated by insurance companies as many will even refuse to insure me and the ones that do will do so at a ridiculous price which is mad because a supervised learner is going to be a lot more safe than someone who has just passed their test and starts acting really *.

[Yudster]

....AND breathe......!

[MK Chris]

I'm learning atm and I think that learners should drive on the motorway and I also believe that learners are very badly treated by insurance companies as many will even refuse to insure me and the ones that do will do so at a ridiculous price which is mad because a supervised learner is going to be a lot more safe than someone who has just passed their test and starts acting really *.

Yes but you don't have to go out with an instructor - you could, if you wanted, go out 'supervised' by your very irresposible mates who are nonetheless relatively experienced drivers.

[dimtimjim]

I'm learning atm and I think that learners should drive on the motorway and I also believe that learners are very badly treated by insurance companies as many will even refuse to insure me and the ones that do will do so at a ridiculous price which is mad because a supervised learner is going to be a lot more safe than someone who has just passed their test and starts acting really *.

Sorry dude, but the state of insurance for young male drivers is as it is through experience, not unfound prejudice. Statistically 85% of young male drivers will be involved in a 'fault incident' within the first 12 months of driving. Ergo the premiums now changed. To be fair, I had to pay over £1000 for the first 7 years of my driving life (18-25), even when insuring a £300 car.... And things have only got worse since! Average premium now for young male driver is £2000.

[Boboff]

Speed don't kill people, Rappers do....

Young male drivers are arses in the main, one lad killed himself on Christmas day a year ago in the village racing up the hill.

As for Motorways, we live 70 miles from the nearest one, which means if you made it so you had to, it would be unrealistic, and why bother as no one hardly uses them. Now lessons on driving in Cornish banked hedges overgrown with plants in the middle of the Summer where they put passing places every 2 miles would be good, as well as teaching women and men in Vans how to reverse to get to the passing place 10 yards behind them, rather than making you reverse the 1.975 miles to the passing place behind you, that would be good too.

All in all you are better off staying in Bed, much safer, and warmer.

[DevilsDuck]

as well as teaching women and men in Vans how to reverse to get to the passing place 10 yards behind them, rather than making you reverse the 1.975 miles to the passing place behind you, that would be good to.

Tell me about it!

Its easy to reverse, you dont have to do it at speed

The other day a woman ended up at 90 degrees to the hedge trying to reverse into a passing place. I got out and asked her if she wanted me to do it and she might have said a few rude words in reply.

But she go there eventually

[dimtimjim]

Honestly, listen to you two going on about 'passing places'..... You should move to somewhere they have invented two lane roads!!





Only joking boys, the SW rocks.

[DevilsDuck]

you still have women drivers and white van men though!

[Yudster]

We have many teeny lanes hereabouts too. You just have to be aware of what's happening. Its not rocket science. We also have a lot of expensively blonde women driving Range Rovers who really should be in VW Polos because goodness knows they can't manage anything larger. I never understand that, if you can't cope with driving, manoevering and parking a big car, why the * do you HAVE one?!

[Boboff]

if you can't cope with driving, manoevering and parking a big car, why the * do you HAVE one?!

Because, they can......

[Yudster]

You're right of course. I'm sure that the reason they have these vehicles is to introduce some much needed stress into their otherwise stress-free lives.

[DevilsDuck]

Might has right

[dimtimjim]

Isn't it a first rate example of 'keeping up with the Jones'? Most of these off road 4x4's have never, and will never be taken off road, it is a statement of wealth. And range rovers especially, people claim they are 'safer for the kids'. Bollocks! Have you ever witnessed a RR trying to do an emergency stop?! If you don't roll it, you have only God to thank (again - witnessed first hand). If you want a bit more space in ya motor, but want to show off the size of your wallet, buy an estate; all the German manufacturers do a £50,000+ estate model, but which won't signal you out to every other road user instantly as a wanker!

[Yudster]

I have a Citroen C5 Estate which I don't like, although everyone else I know who has one loves theirs. Mine's been nothing but trouble. But it has the space we need for a family of five and three enormous squash kit bags. And the brakes are fine!

[dimtimjim]

And I was expecting the Essex lass to drive a white XR3i drop-top. Well done for bucking the trend!

[AndyJ]

With my old job I had 2 Estate cars, first a Focus Estate and then a Astra estate, both brilliant cars. Went very well and huge amount of space! basically a van when I put the seats down. I was after another estate with this job but there wasn't one in the list of cars, although the Mondeo is still a massive car!
People that own 4x4 and never even see a bit of mud annoy the hell out of me. What's the point of having it and never using it!
When we had all that snow at the start of this year, I saw a couple of people that didn't use the car in 4 wheel drive! Total Muppet's!