Speed Limits

[jd_1984]

Can anybody honestly say that they stick to the speed limit all the time?
We all know the risks and we all know the punishments for getting caught, but after commuting to a city centre for the last 9 years my conclusion is that very few of us keep it at 30mph,50mph etc.....

I myself get a heavy right foot sometimes yet I consider myself to be a careful driver. This morning there were virtually no cars on the road at 6.30am so I felt perfectly comfortable cruising at 10-15mph over the limit all the way in. I am not saying that I am right, in the eyes of the law I am totally wrong. Yet I was overtaken a couple of times!!

[Dee Sa]

I ty my best jd because I begrudge paying fines, I could be doing something else with that money.

[tonyav]

I usually go with the flow of traffic at whatever speed that maybe.

[paddywak]

I'm afraid I've grown into one of those drivers I used to hate, as I very rarely exceed the speed limits, in fact on several stretches of road where I know average speed cameras are in operation I use the speed limiter so I can't go over the limit.

[BlueToffee]

I agree with you paddywak, I too used to get very frustrated behind drivers doing 30 in a 30 zone, that is when I was working, and usually behind time for an appointment.

Different matter now I'm retired, very rarely in a hurry to get anywhere, only thing that still frustrates me though, sitting behind an HGV that you can't see in front of, grrrr!

[paddywak]

The worst thing with HGV's is when you're on a duel carriageway and you've got one doing about 50mph and another trying to overtake him at 50.5mph

[erin-x]

I tend to be a bit speedy now and then......

Nearly every street in my area has got one of those flashing speedometer things and that puts me off. Even doing 31mph it starts flashing red!! =|

[sunny-dave]

It's OK to be a 'stick to the limit' person - very laudable - but can you at least make sure that you are actually doing 30/50/70.

Most (all?) car speedos under-read by at least 10% - I've got a gps speedo and it clocks my Mazda at 26/45/63 when the car speedo says 30/50/70 - I'd get (very correctly) flashed to b*ggery if I held everyone up by travelling at those speeds.

I also agree with jd's comment about there no longer being any sensible attempt to enforce appropriate limits for the conditions. I routinely slow to 15mph when passing one particular school entrance in daytime - it is very dangerous at any higher speed - yet people steam past at 30mph because that is the limit. But at midnight on a clear, dry night I could be busted at 35mph - where is the sense in that?

[abstibus]

I still want to know why one of those flashing things told me I was driving at 38 mph when I was stationary at traffic lights.

[shoota]

That was your score out of 40 Annemollie....

[SlackAlice]

I have no problems with speed limits but as Sunny Dave says, make sure you check out the accuracy of your speedometer. Bought new car last year, checked it against GPS and found it was over reading by 5%, my previous car over read by 10%
Generally I keep to the speed limits but you must realise that it is a maximum limit, not necessarily a safe speed.

[paddywak]

I agree Dave and when I say I try to stick to the speed limit I too tend to use my GPS, and if I use the speed limiter I factor in that 10%. Re the speed limits near schools the one near us is on a very busy road used by HGV's and buses and recently the speed limit has been reduced to 20mph at school times complete with flashing lights, most drivers ignore the lights and carry on as before. It's an accident waiting to happen but you never see the law trying to enforce the new speed limits

[Paulsy]

This is an interesting thread for me. I live on a main road just along from a Primary School with a 20mph limit. Today I looked out the window and saw a toddler under 2 who had wandered out of a house standing behind a transit van ready to step off the pavement when a big taxi van type vehicle flew past on that side. I screamed out "OH MY GOD" and went out to get him, by which time someone else had got there and his mother showed up. At the speed that taxi was going that would have been a fatality I believe.

[jd_1984]

Paulsy, that is a reminder to us all about speeding. Yet, my point was it is something that is very common and even the most sensible of us do exceed speed limits from time to time.
They have just adjusted the by-pass near to where I live speed limit from National speed limit to 60mph with some 50mph sections. Bearing in mind it was national speed limit for decades. But almost every motorist continues to go up to and even exceeding 70mph

[ummmm]

Many people think the national speed limit is 70.

[Answerprancer]

"It's OK to be a 'stick to the limit' person"
...yes, but can you keep well over to the left please :-)

[jd_1984]

It is on a dual carriage way is it not? 60mph on single carriageway.

[lcg]

yes....i cycle everywhere!