Speed doesn't kill. Inappropriate speed does.

And yes someone being knocked over can quite easily be to blame (speed in this case can be irrelevant). You could be doing 10mph in a 30 zone and hit some one who wanders into the road (for whatever reason) and run them over; they may die. It doesn't stop them being at fault though.

Speed kills… simple as that. So, I agree with 20mph zones near schools and parks, plus other built-up residential areas, etc.

Fortunately, most good drivers drive to the conditions of the road. However, a driver needs to realise that every time they climb into their car they are then in control of a deadly weapon if used inappropriately. It is easy to make a car go, but takes a lot more effort to make it stop!!

A driver has a protective shell to help cater for the unexpected; pedestrians, cyclists and bikers generally do not!!

The other issue with speed limits is that they have to go to the lowest common denominator – the idiot!!

There are too many of them around with no regard to other road users or pedestrians. Indeed, the complete lack of etiquette on our roads is all too evident with the pace of life being for us to get from A to B as quickly as possible.

However, the issue here is about enforcement.

In simple terms, if you break any trafficking laws you only have yourself to blame if you get caught.

But here’s the rub…

Some roads are arguably suitable for driving at a higher speed. For example, I live near a golf course where there is a church opposite with a lay-by. The road is wide enough to take 3 cars side-by-side with all round clear views. However, this is designated as a 30mph zone whereas, in my opinion, it would not be inappropriate for this to be a 40mph as there are no schools or other residencies nearby.

However, PC Plink sits in the lay-by with his speed camera catching countless motorists. Now, while I deplore this action, I would applaud it if his location was near a school or playground etc.

That said – whether we think the determined speed limit is right or wrong – it is up to the driver to abide by it as set by the relevant council. It is usually there for a good reason. Even on a motorway doing 80, 70 could make all the difference to help prepare for the unexpected – be it a blow out, or any other unforeseeable event.

In short, for the speed limit set – abide by it.

Sorry for the length of this post, but if just one death is saved from a lower speed limit then it has to be worth it.

And statistcally the overwhelming ammount of accidents involve sober drivers! Seemingly they pose more of a threat than drunk drivers.

I agree that speed kills but so does idiosy. Can we please ban idiosy too.

No offence like, but the above makes you sound like a complete ****.

You sound like the type of person that revs your engine at set of red lights? (well, ones that you actually stop for!). You sound like the kind of person that will career across 3 lanes of motorway traffic in a single manouver. You sound like the kind of person that will cut someone up without hesitation, whether it be on a three lane junction with one turning left and the others going straight on, or even at a roundabout.

It's morons like you that make decent people like me hesitant about wanting to drive on our roads. And you know what's worse; you openly admit that you drive like that. "Oh, look at me, I drive at 90mph on the motorway. I'm breaking the law, but it doesn't matter as I've not killed anyone..........yet. I drive through red lights at 4am, even if nothing is coming in the other direction. I'm breaking the law, wow, I'm dead hard I am. Whoooooooo!".

Well, next time you're doing the above and you end up being horribly mangled in a car accident because someone IS coming the other way, or someone breaks and you don't have time to and you go in the back of them, don't come on here looking for sympathy because I doubt you'll get any.

And yes, I do feel strongly about stuff like that because people like you get right on my tits. But hey, I'm sure you're a sound guy when you're away from your car.

And bad spelling.

i thought that but on my predictive text it didn't correct me, W71 will have a field day now

I'm sorry thats how you feel i've come across mate, its not what i intended obviously. The point i was making was that its the inappropriate speeding/dangerous driving that are the real crimes, not the incidents i pointed out. The redlight thing should have been more specific, i was talking about somewhere like Crosfields roundabout, where you can see every exit, and at a time when there is really no one on the roads, if i am not 110% certain, then i would never take a risk. Anyone who knows me, would know thats not how i come across. If i'm guilty of anything, its some enthusiastic driving out in Wales or other remote B-roads, or track days, but thats because i am a considerate driver, with a performance car who enjoys driving, so i do it away from the public. The 90mph motorway point i was making, was to indicate that when conditions allow, it is perfectly safe to move at 90mph with the traffic, as long as everyone is leaving the required stopping distances etc. I'm not a tailgaiter and i will never cut anybody up. Looking back, i see how it could have been seen as bragging, but it wasn't, i was merely trying to get people to think about this mantra that speed kills. It does, but only when it is dangerous and inappropriate to do so.

Any chance we can discuss this without the blatant insults folks?

Apologies mate, just annoyed me.

THat's fine mate, no worries at all. I just put the above as it's those types of drivers that have caused me to have my accident last May and also a series of near misses that have made me very weary, not to mention nervous, about driving.



It did sound like bragging, hence the way I worded my post, but you've explained in more details what you meant so I understand what you should have put. I did go off on one, so I appreciate your calm and collected reply.

Not a problem mate, i realise that its a subject that splits people, and is can also be rather emotive.

wrong! i once got a ticket from the police, near the HJ, Not a warden, i fought and won the case as i was parked correctly!
so yes police do give tickets!

I am more aware than most that the Police give tickets out. What I was trying to say was that the persons currently giving tickets out around the HJ on a Sunday are council employed wardens. The power to do it was given to them some years ago in an attempt to release police officers for more pressing matters (and I'm not on about speeders before anyone says it).

It's about time they started enforcing the 20MPH limit around Orford. They need to do it on Sandy Lane near St Stephens as well.

And whilst they are at it, pull the morons that rev up and down sandy lane on their quad bikes :@ but that's another rant for another day.

I appreciate what you're saying, though I don't necessarily agree with it all, but you've been onto a loser since you implied that a young child is as equally culpable, if not more so, than the car driver in the event of an accident where the driver is speeding.

The pro speed drivers.

basic physics. Mass and speed > the greater the speed , the harder the impact of any collision.

The chances are, hitting someone at 20MPH there is less chance of killing someone than at 30mph and so on.

Moreover, as some folk are keen to blame pedestrians/kids - yes, adults and kids step out into the road without looking, but if you are not speeding you have more time to react and avoid a collision.

A pro speed argument
if going to Leeds and it's 50 miles away and i travel at 50mph it will take 1 hour. If i travel at 100 mph it will take 30 minutes.
So that's 30 minutes i'm not on the road lessening the chances of hitting someone/thing

In my experience, if you obey the speed limit in Warrington the chances are you will have some idiot within 5 yards of your rear bumper in a matter of seconds. That usually results in me getting completely aggro and definitely affects the quality of my driving.

I can definitely see how tailgating can escalate and result in “road rage” as I’ve been close to doing something stupid on occasions myself.

So you shouldn't be on the road either then?

I realise that may have been slightly inflammatory also, and i'm refraining from going further into this for fear of sounding MORE like an idiot.

needless to say, i wouldn't wish the situation on anyone.

simple..slam on let the idiot go into the back of you..you put in a claim..nice little holiday somewhere..luvvly jubbly

I think you may have just caused a rift in the space time continuum.

Hmmm, whilst I was vehemently against the whole parking-ticket saga we had on here, I am with the law on this one because that road is a death trap and has been for years so about time something was done.

Although, I do fully understand what Tommy is trying to say too and he is being lambasted for his opinion. There are people who have a valid UK licence in their possession who are a danger at 10mph, never mind 30mph, or 70mph, both to themselves and to others. Just bad drivers. There are also a good number of people who could use that road at 30mph and not cause an accident. What I want to know is, if people were speeding at 30 mph, what makes the authorities think putting it to 20mph would have any effect? If it was policed in the way suggested now at 30 there wouldn’t be a problem imo (or as much of a problem).

Fearnhead lane makes me chuckle though.. speed bumps from one end, right up to the crossroads before the school, then its a drag race past the school to the lights. Why lay speed bumps which have to be the single most annoying thing on the roads today, only to stop them in the most important area?

Re speed humps, bumps.. how do the emergency services cope over them? Serious question, as I often wonder – particularly ambulances.

Yes because the traffic police have everything to do with serious crime investigations, in fact they share all man power don't they.

Lame excuse - people complaining about speed cameras need to grow up, it makes me laugh that it's always the people who then protest that they don't speed as well: utter b******s, if you don't speed, then what do you have to complain about?