Surprised we've not had any discussion on this - it was all over the radio the other day

[url="http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=84106&command=displayContent&sourceNode=83936&contentPK=5600239"]Guy stopped doing 156 mph on the A90[/url]

- guy was already banned, but had a new M3
- no insurance
- 156 on an A road - maximum speed 70

its not in this article., but he was also caught going more than 100 mph in a 40 zone.


Don't doubt for a second that this guy deserves prison - you'll not hear any arguments about this from me.


But - what gets me is that the media coverage I heard was playing this like he was jailed for [b]speeding[/b].

Sorry - but this is not speeding - its plain dangerous driving.


Heres hoping he enjoys his time in federal-pound-me-in-the-a$$ prison

This was (fairly) big news up here (after that so called Scottish Election).

I know that road, and I don't think I would want to go anywhere near that speed and I think it was at night too!

hey.....you mean the BMW E46 M3 that's limited to 155mph got done at 156.7mph ? I guess he removed the limit then !!!

Anyhow......I agree, it was fast. I agree he shouldn't have been driving.....no insurance, and banned. and I ESPECIALLY agree that the guy should get bloomin shafted in prison for doing 100 in a 40.

HOWEVER.......I think the over-exaggeration about the 156mph on an A-road is a bit OTT

If done in the right places, in the right cars, it is not anymore dangerous than an old lady doing 40 on the inside lane of the M25.

The times I oppose high speed is when it endangers somebody else (i.e. the 100 in a 40, or doing 156mph on a [b]busy[/b] M-way)

[quote name='tony_hetherington' date='May 19 2003, 03:55 PM']HOWEVER.......I think the over-exaggeration about the 156mph on an A-road (incidentally, this is one very wide, very straight, very barron A-road) is a bit OTT[/quote]
sorry Tony - there is never any mitigation for 156 mph on a public road.

run for cover !!!!!

(i've taken out the bit about it being a straight road....i was thinking of a different one that my friend and i drove up last yr...but it wasn't that one!.....so I plead guilty on that point!)



Can I ask tho (this isn't meant to be argumentative - I'm genuinely curious about your opinion)......firstly, what's your opinion of Germany's autobahn system of unlimited speed in dry conditions, and also - why do you oppose speed in england so much (SO LONG AS....done in the right places, and placing nobody but yourself at risk).

Don't Germany's autobahn's have a better safety record than out roads?

[quote]Can I ask tho (this isn't meant to be argumentative - I'm genuinely curious about your opinion)[/quote]

no worries - a pleasant discusion is always fun!

[quote]firstly, what's your opinion of Germany's autobahn system of unlmited speed in dry conditions[/quote]

never driven in Germany, so have no experience on which to base an opinion.

[quote]and also - why do you oppose speed in england so much[/quote]

I don't oppose speed so much - merely said that there was no mitigation for driving on a public road at a speed so excessive.

Chances of surviving any impact at that speed is nil.

Not just of the muppet driver, but any of the poor innocents sods he ploughs into.

[quote](SO LONG AS....done in the right places, and placing nobody but yourself at risk).[/quote]

Can you define "done in the right places" and explain how you guarantee you put no-one but yourself at risk?

156 is too fast........

If thats what you want to do go to a track day.........

1 slight error on the road & you can kill someone who's minding there own business.

As for 100 in a 40 I'm speechless

hey.. its ok.. it was a BMW owner

The german autobahn's work surprisingly well. Unsure about the safety record bit (tho I do recall hearing it somewhere). I've driven on them a few times (not in anything special, just hire cars) and they really do work well.

I completely 100% agree about putting other's lives at risk. That is without doubt unacceptable and anyone doing it so extremely should indeed be

What I mean about sensible places is - for example - an empty M1 at 4 on a sunday morning. Dead straight, well lit, dry, wide.

I'll be honest, I'm very interested in speed. I hold an interest not just from a thrill point of view (eg track days) but also from a safe driving point of view. I am booked up for courses, IAM, as well as chaueffeur courses and security driving (I love driving so much I want to excel). Within the security driving course I'm booked in for (incidentally, through Bentley) get-a-way driving is a part. This includes high-speed get-a-way, and more importantly - maintaining safety at high speed. I'm keenly interested in the theory, the logic behind it all, and the reactions and skill it all takes.

I realise not everyone with, for example, a Ferrari possesses the skill and reactions, but just to allow you to see why I hold a slightly different opinion.

Please dont get me wrong tho - I am 100% categorically against dangerous driving, and inappropriate speed - let alone RIDICULOUS speed.

only have to think of a tyre blowing out at that speed

whats the stopping distance at that speed???
remember doing about 130 on some french motorway
absolute straight and empty
saw a lorry in the distance and was alarmed how long it takes just to get to 70mph and how quick that lorry came up on us

[quote name='bazza' date='May 19 2003, 05:18 PM']only have to think of a tyre blowing out at that speed[/quote]
a good way to illustrate my point......

a mate of mine (a security chaeuffeur) had a blow out in his 550bhp Escort Cosworth at 140mph (on an Autobahn.....he's Belgian) and, because he knew what to do, and the car could withstand it, he slowed it down, and pulled over to a quiet stop to change the wheel.

Sounds extreme I realise, but it's kinda where I'm going about advanced driving, sensible driving, and knowing what to do.




[i]oh,i'm off home now people, but am enjoying this discussion so be sure i will rejoin in the morning. Night all !![/i]

The real issue surrounding speed is weather conditions.. I'm sure we've all seen people flying down the outside lane in thick fog or heavy rain...

The best solution (IMHO) would to have variable speed limits on all motorways, and raise the 'max' limit to 80.

As for 100 in a 40 zone...

It's people like this guy that cause roads to be clogged with Gatso's and speed traps..

perhaps we should do a group buy in advanced driving? evasive driving too!

[quote name='tony_hetherington' date='May 19 2003, 04:18 PM']What I mean about sensible places is - for example - an empty M1 at 4 on a sunday morning. Dead straight, well lit, dry, wide.[/quote]
one of the most fundamental aspects of driving is "driving within the limits of your vision".

The article suggested a stopping distance under perfect conditions on 1,000 feet.


so - if you see something - you better hope it is more than 1,000 feet away, or you are in trouble.



I know the M1 pretty well - and the state of the road surface in parts makes it absolute suicide to drive at those sort of speeds - 4am on a Sunday or not

The police said that the stopping distance was in excess of 400 ft! Also concider if you're doing 80 on a motorway and someone comes up behind you at 70 MPH more than you are doing, do you think you would see him coming?

[quote]The best solution (IMHO) would to have variable speed limits on all motorways, and raise the 'max' limit to 80.[/quote]


the M25 has variable speed limits on surrey section

must admit i havent a clue what it is
it says stay in lane : is this the american way of any lane any speed- seems to get used as this

the gantrys have speed limits on them which obviously change: but dont all other motorways have this - normally governed by traffic speed anyway

the limit is 70mph but the average speed is probably about 80mph

[quote]if you're doing 80 on a motorway and someone comes up behind you at 70 MPH more than you are doing, do you think you would see him coming?[/quote]

if its a b*w you would notice the fog lamps on

might come across as a bit controversial here. 156MPH on an A road is a bit too fast, but doing 100 in a 40 zone deserves a trip to Broadmoor.

anyway, my point is there should be a difference between overspeeding, inappropriate speed, and dangerous driving.

doing 140 on the M1 on a quiet sunday morning (AFTER JUNCTIONS 1 - 4, pardon me) is overspeeding cos you are doing more than 70, but is it inappropriate speed? NON. Is is dangerous driving? Don't think so.

Doing 50 - 60 in a 30 zone (on built up area) is surely dangrous driving and should be dealt with severely. school kids could step into the road etc. IMO it's far more dangerous than doing 140mph on a quiet MWay.

Again, sometimes you could be doing 50mph in dense fog, heavy rain etc. you are within the speed limit but it's inappropriate speeding and it's dangerous. A couple of months ago, I was driving thru LES ARDENNES forest in Belguim at around 3.30am. I had to slow down to 40mph, and put me blinkers on even though the speed limit for foggy consitions was 60mph.

so my point is commonsense has to be used by all. I mean the law makers, old bill, and drivers. Driving 60 could be far more danerous than 140 depending on where it's done and conditions.

T

[quote name='tony_hetherington' date='May 19 2003, 04:55 PM']HOWEVER.......I think the over-exaggeration about the 156mph on an A-road is a bit OTT

If done in the right places, in the right cars, it is not anymore dangerous than an old lady doing 40 on the inside lane of the M25.[/quote]
Hmm - disagree STRONGLY

There is no such thing as "the right car" for this type of driving. I doubt even professionals who drive at speeds like this for a living would consider for a moment driving a road car on the open road in this manner.

Would you put your child in a car with this person?

I rest my case

just like to say that the accident rate on german atobahns is equal to uk motorways........

german drivers are assholes...........yes there are de-restricted parts, but large parts of the autobahn ystem are still 2 lanes either side........

however, its average speed is 80-130mph

and amazingly its 1,0 litre polos that are doing it

[quote]and amazingly its 1,0 litre polos that are doing it[/quote]

ah! thats why you need 700bhp

I read this artical you are all talking about, in the one I read there was another one about some Dic% Head who killed someone whilist speeding and was only FINED £200. Lets all sit down and think about this minute. Fast cars don't kill people but the people who drive them FAST thinking it's safe, just remember one thing, a small POT HOLE in the road is enough to throw any car off balance and once control is LOST it's all over apart from scrapping up whats left and some poor sod dressed in Blue uniform has in form the next of kin.

Also let the punishment fit the crime, if you kill someone whilst speeding, under the influeuace etc, then it's 'life inside',

If you get caught for speeding then you should be banned for min 5 yrs and then made to complete an intentsive driver driver training course paid for by individual and they are not cheap, believe me. when this completed you can retake your driving test and get your licence back.

This post may affend some people but if comes from someone who has been by hit car where the motorist wasn't paying attention and may even been speeding at the time. I am not sure as I flying through the air, I was lucky, I walked away, a lot of people who have been in the same situation have not been so lucky.

I find when driving on German autobahns i'm more alert and focused on what's going on.
100 or 'it won't go any quicker' ... constantly aware something's travelling faster than you ...

As a result, lane discipline seems far better,
you HAVE to get outta the way in plenty of time or be tailgated and flashed by huge mercs and audis

On the other hand, i have 2 relatives who both got done speeding in Germany...
and both at speeds below 20mph.

It seems where there's a need for limits, they're there ...
built up areas, before + after autobahn on/off ramps and bad weather for example ...
And where there's no need, progress as you please ...
Concentrating on driving rather than looking for sneaky cops and cameras.
All seems perfectly sensible to me.

Then cross to UK with arbitrary speed limit figure from the 60's plucked out of the air ...
Progress is drone like and artificially restrained = lack of concentration = problems.
Ever notice traffic moving freely ... ooh look, police car doing 60 on inside lane, traffic instantly jammed up ....

So, i vote German... Sensible limits where required ... Unrestricted where they're not.
But then i usually do go for the common sense option

I have just booked a course of performance driving sessions as I am finding the new car quite a handfull. I thought the GS 430 was quick, how wrong I was.

156mph on any road is asking for trouble, I have booked a runway session to see how quick 200mph is as, it would frighten me to dead doing anything close to that speed on the road.

Steve hit it right on the head when he reminded us it was a BMW Driver after all

tell ya all what though............

im gonna have a pic with the needle of this bugger

[img]http://www.lexusownersclub.com/gallery/albums/Misc/TTE180MPHclocks.sized.jpg[/img]

and Matt (2T) You have already booked your ride remember....

Look out everyone, sounds like Mat is going to Scotland

i wanna ride!!!!!!!!!!!!

dont leave me out... the quickest acceleration i have ever had was falling out of bunks beds!

me want quicker

matt

why is the temp guage showing a reading

the tables warm..............i dunno, its a pic

[quote name='bazza' date='May 19 2003, 10:51 PM']why is the temp guage showing a reading [/quote]
the "mpg meter" is uncannily accurate though.

Good morning everyone !

I've read this thread with interest - there are of course some very strong opinions both for and against what we're discussing.

I think I'll just pop this question in your head for you to think about.......

"Is the fastest you've ever been in your Lexus 70mph ?"

I will bet money not one of you can honestly honestly HONESTLY answer yes.

[quote name='tony_hetherington' date='May 20 2003, 07:34 AM']"Is the fastest you've ever been in your Lexus 70mph ?"

I will bet money not one of you can honestly honestly HONESTLY answer yes.[/quote]
I cannot say I have never exceeded the speed limit... but considering most of my driving is at 4/5am on the motorways, [b]my Lexus has never reached 100mph[/b]

I never exceed 30 or 40mph limits... ever!

[quote name='tony_hetherington' date='May 20 2003, 07:34 AM']"Is the fastest you've ever been in your Lexus 70mph ?"[/quote]
no.

I'll admit to cruisin a nice empty motorway (do a weekly drive to london - M53 => M56 => M6 =>M6 => M1 - on the way down, usually very late at night) at around 90-95.

thats only if the conditions permit, its dry etc - and its also variable - leaving a nice big gap between me and the car in front.


I don't claim to be perfect - or faultless.

Still think that there is no justiufication, nor place in the UK, where 156 mph is in any way condonable though!

To be honest - I think we've both come to the same conclusion, Matt !

The important point here is [b]appropriate speed[/b]

If everybody everywhere adhered to that, along with appropriate distances, I think the roads would be an awful lot safer.



(nice discussion this......I enjoy a good debate!)

Bonjour tout le monde,

(long one sorry)
Speeding…your story remind me one 2 years ago, a guy with his bike decided to break the wall of speed in a national road (not highway) at the very crowdy hour of 11AM, was trapped at 238km/h on his Hayabuza. This story made the front page for a day, the guy went to jail for 3 months and clearly he was the example to not follow, all the people start looking at bikes with dark eye, thanks to him, he did, we pay.
Now, blaming a guy when we're actually using speed detectors, GPS speed trap locators (UK only) and seeking for more horse power is a bit "hypocrit", we're all speeding or trying to do so. The speed factor is like our economy, we have to go fast and we like it, unless we will all driving some Trabants. Personnaly if I want to speed up the 3L or the Aprilia, or I go to the track or I do it by night, when the roads and the highways are empties, speeding isn't a crime if you know your car and have the skill to do it AND YOU DO IT IN A PROPER AREA, especially knowing how to break hardly, most people know how to accelerate but never how to stop or a simple thing that is where you point your eyes is where the car or the bike will generally pass, it depends of each car, an IS200 can make a bunch of kilometers mostly at top speed 200-210 km/h, done in Spain during a summer between Barcelona and Denia, it's a good car with a terrible brake power, now the HW was empty, the 300 even worst…
Without talking about bikes, 3 seconds to reach 100km/h, a better acceleration than most of the dream cars, every year a lot of people killed themself in bike accidents, because they're stupid, because they fill themself too secure, and speeding produce depedency. A friend is the "Monsieur Sécurité Routière" for the french army, seeing the latest injured people number, the work to do is still on the go.
Lately the French gov decid that the Road security was a major goal to obtain, OK they started to put radars everywhere, and magically the road death number is getting down…for a time, that's the effect "Peur du gendarme" as we call it.
Now it's always the same story, in case of accident, the speed factor is worsening, and will be pin point badly, in a crowdy road when you see a "auto censored" doing in & out, this is a criminal, this guy even if he knows it can kill a lot of people, various cases happened shamely down there.
Now if you drink don't drive, if you're nervous don't speed, etc etc.

It's always the same story, it's not by putting a lot of radars that you will cure the desease, but slowly making the conductor mind beeing more respective of each other.
I agree about having on HW speed limits depending of the hour and the day, as we cannot have people really conscient about what they are doing, including me. Speed limits is a need.
I'm definitly not a criminal when cruising at night above 200km/h in an emty highway, but it's there where the radar will catch me, and never in front of a school in a city, so what ?

@d'taleur

Just to pull another story out of the archives, there was a guy caught in Billericay in a 911, doing 100mph, and it's a 30 limit - I can't see any issue with trying to teach this guy a lesson that it's not the time or the place to explore the limits of the car.
Thing is, if you feel the need for speed then get yourself to a track. At least there the only person you're likely to hurt is yourself.

[quote name='tony_hetherington' date='May 20 2003, 10:41 AM']To be honest - I think we've both come to the same conclusion, Matt !

The important point here is [b]appropriate speed[/b]

If everybody everywhere adhered to that, along with appropriate distances, I think the roads would be an awful lot safer.



(nice discussion this......I enjoy a good debate!)[/quote]
Your idea of what is appropriate and mine will differ considerably, due in no small part to hormones.

I wouldn't care what speed ANY motorist did PROVIDING he (or she) only killed, crippled or maimed themselves. (and then scraped their remains off the road and deposited it in a nice black bin bag for the ambulance or policeman to dispose of)

But that's never going to happen.

I think the crux of the matter is that it was an A road - not a motorway. A roads have cyclists, pedestrians, cross roads and other junctions and are not as well maintained or lit as motorways.
Speeds of this magnitude on any road which is not a motorway are totally and completely unacceptable under any circumstances. Period.

[quote name='tony_hetherington' date='May 20 2003, 08:34 AM']"Is the fastest you've ever been in your Lexus 70mph ?"[/quote]
Can you answer this question for me ?

[quote name='vince-com' date='May 20 2003, 11:47 AM']1) speeding isn't a crime if you know your car and have the skill to do it....

2)Speed limits is a need.

3) I'm definitly not a criminal when cruising at night above 200km/h in an emty highway, but it's there where the radar will catch me, and never in front of a school in a city, so what ?[/quote]
Intersting thread and a few good points raised....

Have to make a few comments from an earlier post to be pednatic....

1) Yes it is...
2) Agreed 100 %, sort of contradicts the first point though !
3) ??? If there is a need for a speed limit as stated and you know the radar will catch you then you are a criminal....

In response to Tony 'No'....

Speeding is a problem in the majority of instances, the large number of people do speed in 30 zones, built up area's and schools etc, speeding in these area's is crazy...

Speeding on motorways is subjective, as loads of people have pointed out, it all depends on the conditions, although 100mph in a 30/40, 156 top is never acceptable...

I think the biggest problem on the UK roads is driver training, the quality of UK driving is abismal, last time I drove accross to Europe (chunnel - belgium) I was very impressed with the driving on the motorways over there, everyone appeared to be aware of people around them, if faster traffic was approaching from behind they would get out of the way and the roads were in a very good condition. I think we should make it harder over here for people to get licenses as better training is a necessity, linked with harsher punishments for people who do break the driving laws.

Speeding is a risk everyone takes, not just the few, only problem is the small number the stretch the rules too far and put others at risk.

The maxium speed limit on UK roads (MOTORWAYS ETC) is 70mph we all know that, so why do some people think they can justify that they can drive at 95mph.

My car is capable of 200+mph, do I drive it that quick? no way on a public road nor do I try and justify what speed I could drive it at on a public road cause the law says 70mph.

Purely my own opinion here....

I do not try and justify driving at 95mph, yes I do on occasion drive over the national speed limit of 70mph depending on where I am, what the conditions are like and the amount of other traffic around me, why... Purely selfish reasons, I can I feel that I am being aware of what is happening around me and that I am not causing a risk to others primarily or myself.

If I am on a nice dry motorway with very little traffic I will quite happily plod along doing on average 90mph although if I see traffic in the distance I will back off and as the conditions will soon be changing and I don't see that speed as being safe any more....

As I said the majority of people speed and on occasion people go faster than they would normally drive, they do not try and justify it as it is something that just happens and is something that "everybody" does...

I think it's worth mentioning, on most motorways my speed creeps above the limit, not because 'I'm looking for a rush' but simply because [b]everyone[/b] is driving faster than me...

I frequently notice my speed has gone up to 80 (and above) purely because I been [i]going with the flow of traffic[/i].

I think it's more dangerous to be looking at your speedo every 2 mins to keep to 70mph than to be concentrating on traffic...

Just my 2 cents..

[quote name='Fidgits' date='May 20 2003, 02:36 PM']I think it's worth mentioning, on most motorways my speed creeps above the limit, not because 'I'm looking for a rush' but simply because [b]everyone[/b] is driving faster than me...

I frequently notice my speed has gone up to 80 (and above) purely because I been [i]going with the flow of traffic[/i].

I think it's more dangerous to be looking at your speedo every 2 mins to keep to 70mph than to be concentrating on traffic...

Just my 2 cents..[/quote]
Exactly, most important thing for any driver IMHO is tobe aware of what is happening around him....

"Have to make a few comments from an earlier post to be pednatic....
1) Yes it is...
2) Agreed 100 %, sort of contradicts the first point though !
3) ??? If there is a need for a speed limit as stated and you know the radar will catch you then you are a criminal...."

1/ Rhaines, Ok so you're driving with speed limits done in the 70's, compare with our car, especially the ABS, EBV, etc, etc, our cars can easily over pass 200km/h and we're still stucked at 130. There isn't any contradiction in what I've said, cruising above 200 in an empty highway at 3am is definitly not a crime, you're alone, take the A6 going to south France, perfect condition, nobody at night. NOW in a national road, or in city, no way for speeding, you've been a lot on a track, so you should know that real speeding is not in a straigh line, but in curve, going for point 2
2/ Speed limit is a need, obviously, assuming that we can be responsible or not, so we need a law to put a limit, BUT would like to have a similar example of Germany, with some mods, variable speed limits depending the day and the hour (read my first message once again).
3/a photographic criminal guilty of speeding see point 1, no way, once again night condition, empty lines etc etc, the radar will be placed there because is way easiest to catch a guy cruising hardly than stop 50 guys passing the limit in front of a school…

As you said, and I said and a lot more said, that's the one making wrong who makes others paying (see the bike example)

@d'taleur

I agree with most of your comments but atthe end of the day the government which allegedly reflect the views of the public maintain a set of rules known as the law which every member of the public must abide by.

These laws also state that on a national highway the maximum limit is 70mph (in the UK) it does not matter whether you are in a vehicle capable of doing 200mph+ that fact is if you are traveling faster than the legal limit for the stretch of public highway you are on then you are commiting a criminal offence which means that points 1 and 2 theoretically make you a criminal....

The point of fact that modern machines are much safer than when these laws were introduced does not alter the law, and again at the end of the day as pointed out early it is upto the drivers ability more than the car, unfortunately most drivers show that the abilities of the car are greater than that of the driver....

Just my 2p

[quote name='rhaines' date='May 20 2003, 02:15 PM'][quote name='vince-com' date='May 20 2003, 11:47 AM'] 1) speeding isn't a crime if you know your car and have the skill to do it....

2)Speed limits is a need.

3) I'm definitly not a criminal when cruising at night above 200km/h in an emty highway, but it's there where the radar will catch me, and never in front of a school in a city, so what ?[/quote]
Intersting thread and a few good points raised....

Have to make a few comments from an earlier post to be pednatic....

1) Yes it is...
2) Agreed 100 %, sort of contradicts the first point though !
3) ??? If there is a need for a speed limit as stated and you know the radar will catch you then you are a criminal....

In response to Tony 'No'....

Speeding is a problem in the majority of instances, the large number of people do speed in 30 zones, built up area's and schools etc, speeding in these area's is crazy...

Speeding on motorways is subjective, as loads of people have pointed out, it all depends on the conditions, although 100mph in a 30/40, 156 top is never acceptable...

I think the biggest problem on the UK roads is driver training, the quality of UK driving is abismal, last time I drove accross to Europe (chunnel - belgium) I was very impressed with the driving on the motorways over there, everyone appeared to be aware of people around them, if faster traffic was approaching from behind they would get out of the way and the roads were in a very good condition. I think we should make it harder over here for people to get licenses as better training is a necessity, linked with harsher punishments for people who do break the driving laws.

Speeding is a risk everyone takes, not just the few, only problem is the small number the stretch the rules too far and put others at risk. [/quote]
hi there,

don't know how many times you've driven in Belguim, but I strongly disagree with ya comparism of European drivers to UK. If a common thing here. Everyone knows the Belgians and Dutch are shocking for motorway driving. They know it themselves.

They zoom right behind you knowing well that you are obvertaking someone. They don't respect distance between cars. If you are the fast lane overtaking two cars, the first car you are about to pass can step out in the fast lane cos they want to overtake the truck in front. You will be lucky if they indicate.

Trust me son. Been here almost three years and still get paranoid when overtaking more than ONE car. Last november someone really pushed me off the road. I was overtaking, he didn't even have to look in his morror to see me, I was right beside him, yet he pulled out to overtake the truck infront of him. It happens all the time.

There's even a joke here in Lux as to why we always get a phone call that there's traffic jam towards France or Belguim, but never Germany. There are always crashes.

France is just as bad. Driven is Paris and if that's bad, try Nice or Milan. To stress on my point, a few months ago, there was a campaign in France about driving. The French used the English as a perfect example on road safety. They used zebra crossings in the video.No body respects zebra crossings. I was nearly mowed down once in Gare de Nord in Paris, and here in Lux.

We may be bad in the UK, but man don't try here.

I think the main problem with speeding is that it tends to be done to excess by people who are way over confident i.e. think they can handle the car when they can't. Drivers should be painfully aware of their own inadequacies and drive within their limits, and the limits set by the road conditions, weather and general environment.

I totally disagree with the speeds that that moron got up to and I hope he 'enjoys' his time at the pleasure of HRH.

I am no angel and have been guilty of speeding. Having gone from a ropey old Vauxhall Cavalier to a Honda Prelude 2.2 VTech, I hit a stupid speed on the M4 without even realising it. When I did take notice, I scared myself silly and slowed right down. I'm an average driver and feel that my driving has improved over time, but not to the extent I could handle the car at high speeds.

Drivers who kill, maim, injure other drivers through DANGEROUS driving (not necessarily related to speed), should be imprisoned. A fine and a smack on the wrist isn't enough.

[quote name='Fidgits' date='May 20 2003, 03:36 PM']I think it's worth mentioning, on most motorways my speed creeps above the limit, not because 'I'm looking for a rush' but simply because [b]everyone[/b] is driving faster than me...

I frequently notice my speed has gone up to 80 (and above) purely because I been [i]going with the flow of traffic[/i].

I think it's more dangerous to be looking at your speedo every 2 mins to keep to 70mph than to be concentrating on traffic...

Just my 2 cents..[/quote]
Spot on