366 replies to this topic

[Tomlad]

on this public forum i would just like to say that i have never broken the speed limit in my vx and that i read the sun on a regular basis. that is all.

Yep, me too. And I'd like to add that I never went faster than that in a Griffith a few years ago either. I only use my VX to go Crown Green Bowling and picking the wife up when she's had a blue rinse, it never goes beyond 30mph even with ITG induction and Piper. In fact, I didn't realise it had more than one gear gov

[Tail-end Charlie]

Good read. I must admit I was a bit surprised by the response to it though. I really do think some people have lived under the socialist nanny state for just one term too long.

The german autobahns with no speed limit have a much better accident record than our motorways do and I'm sure speeds of 150mph are not uncommon there! I don't really see why under the right conditions a VX220 doing 100+mph on the open road puts anyone at significantly more risk than they are at 70mph. Most VX's are kitted out with good tyres and 100mph isn't exactly a struggle for the car itself and I'm pretty sure the road isn't going to melt away the minute you pass 70!!

I am far more concerned about drivers cutting me up, turning across me or pulling out than I am about some speedball going by in the right hand lane at 3 figures.

I put some of these safety based arguments down to government brainwashing. Lets face it, nobody says anything about those youtube videos of people blasting around the Nurburgring (a public toll road technically) and I'm sure our speedster colleagues ton-up regularly - because that is all legal. These people are not dying in large numbers and nobody's complaining

Having said this, I don't support the guy as putting evidence of yourself doing something illegal into the public eye is pure stupidity. But surely there is a case for increasing the national speed limit (which is not exactly strictly adhered to) significantly?

[Yellow_or_black?]

I am far more concerned about drivers cutting me up, turning across me or pulling out than I am about some speedball going by in the right hand lane at 3 figures.

[playing devil's advocate]But that is the point (that Mary Whitehouse-types will use I should think). I agree with everything you have said, but I'm guessing that if you are doing 120mph, and some idiot pulls out in front of you, the likelihood of you stopping is minimal, and the damage done will be more than if you were doing 70mph. HOWEVER, I don't know - and would be interested to, what the difference would be.

Also aren't the speed limit-free Autobahn all toll-roads, in which case the number of cars on them at any one time must be significantly less than on our public motorways [/playing devil's advocate]

I still agree with what you have said though. I too have meant to research what the accident rates on the autobahn are vs UK motorways. I also wonder if to a large extent many of the population drive the speed we want to regardless - thus rendering the 70mph limit void Or have I been around car people too long?

Edited by Yellow_or_black?, 19 November 2009 - 07:21 PM.

[rsg]

Also aren't the speed limit-free Autobahn all toll-roads, in which case the number of cars on them at any one time must be significantly less than on our public motorways.

nope. Can highly recommend the section of Autobahn alongside Frankfurt airport for some Vmax testing

Totally agree with Tail-end Charlie too

[Tail-end Charlie]

I still agree with what you have said though

Totally agree with Tail-end Charlie too

Well this is un-nerving..don't think anyone's ever agreed with me before

[Crazyfrog (Fab)]

toll-roads, in which case the number of cars on them at any one time must be significantly less than on our public motorways

there is always a time and a place
i love my empty french motorway and not being far from Germany i love them as well............
a lots of traffic in uk day time but night time is safer

[danger7]

Hi all, Leaving in Germany and doing around 40,000 miles a year driving through mainly Germany & Benelux, the number of unrestricted Autobahn's has become fewer and fewer - I use one section for Vmax testing from time to time and high speeds are now considered anti social to some degree. The vision of Merc's BMW's, Porsches et al blasting along at over 150 mph has gone, only occasionally do you see a fast approaching car and then its normally a Passat driver wringing the neck of his/her TDI There is a great section of unrestricted autobahn surprisingly on the way to the ring, pull up at a rest place and Saturday mornings its quite a sight watching the ring goers Vmaxing R8's 997 GT3's and even witnessed a Veyron cruising at over 150 mph, mostly sensible people exercising a car well within its limits. Cheers Ian

[turbobob]

Some interesting points on this thread, so I thought I'd add my tuppence worth too. Speed limits are there because people, in general (not everybody) aren't capable of judging their speed correctly. People see speed limits as targets, regardless whether its safe or not. Again, this isn't everybody before any of you take exception to this. So this then begs the question why? Well I believe its mainly down to tuition, or lack off. People are taught the basics and are then sufficiently trained to pass the driving test. If people had thorough training, then they would be able to judge circumstances correctly and drive at an appropriate speed. Additionally, speed limits have been in force for some time now. The first speed limit was introduced in 1861, and the national speed limit was introduced in 1965. Cars, brakes, wheels and tyres have all vastly improved, thus overall stopping distances significantly reduced. So this is one persuasive argument for increasing the national speed limit. However, this would then increase the gap between the average speed of slow drivers and the average speed of fast drivers. This could potentially be an increased hazard as said slow drivers may pull out incorrectly in front of fast drivers. This then brings me back to my point regarding training, or lack of and incorrectly judging speed. To combat the issue of slow drivers, one solution would be to introduce a minimum speed limits on motorways and national speed limit dual carriageways. Another option (one I would favour, but is never going to happen) is to ban slow people on motorways and national speed limit dual carriageways. After all they obviously aren't in a hurry, take a bus!!! Another option would be to improve driver tuition, or to offer incentives to drivers to take an advanced driving course. I learnt a lot from the course I did with the Institute of Advanced Motorists. Incentives like reduced / no road tax, reduced tax on fuel etc. Currently the government's strategy is penalisation. Nobody gets a reward for driving well (with the exception of reduced insurance premiums), and that is wrong!!

[tim king]

Holey sh*t! Next question is how did they find out about the thread? Did someone from here contact the sun?

He's only got himself to blame though eh?

Why did he post it on net ??? was he pist up ???

[drpau]

Why did he post it on net ??? was he pist up ???

Because he is a nob!!

[Shamone]

Doh! just spent ages reading this only to realise it was years ago lol. I was going to say 'inappropriate speed kills' - stolen from Clarkson

[Chris Wales]

I really do think some people have lived under the socialist nanny state for just one term too long.

Yes, the "nanny state" never existed before 1997

[G-Bob]

Cars, brakes, wheels and tyres have all vastly improved, thus overall stopping distances significantly reduced.

I remember seeing an artical where they looked at stopping distances of "then and now" cars. The cars that were used for the original highway code figures were things like MK1 escorts on drum brakes all round. They tested a 3 year old Focus (and this was about 5 years ago) from 90mph and it could stop in less distance than the escort from 50mph. They then got a car with slightly better brakes (performance disks) and made it stop from 120mph in less space than the old escort.

The thinking time was obviously the same, and I know some of you will say about the fact that the person would travel further over that period of time when going faster, but the overall braking distance was considerably less.

[rabidh]

You're all a bunch of wusses. I managed this yesterday:

Attached Files

•  speedo.jpg   8.14KB   11 downloads

Edited by rabidh, 26 November 2009 - 11:57 AM.

[JDS]

On the Isle of Man as many of you know there are many sections of road with no speed limit, these aren't like autobahns or motorways, they are single lane country roads. Now as someone said earlier speed limits are often seen as targets by a lot of drivers, having no speed limits removes this and allows people to drive at whatever speed they feel comfortable at. On a lot of these roads visibility isn't great and so it would be dangerous to go hairing along with no regard for anyone else. However on a road such as the mountain road visibility is fantastic, the road surface is flawless and even if you don't know the route the tighter corners are signposted well in advance and there are even braking markers there at certain times of year. I often have a blast over the mountain at speeds of anything up to 130mph depending on the time of day, the car always feels happy, never had any understeer or panicky moments and both myself and car are well within our limits. The amount of people that are seen dawdling along at 40mph regardless of conditions is staggering. I admit many are driving the sort of front wheel drive lego bricks that would understeer stright into a gorge if they attempted the same cornering speeds as me in the vx but when you have a clear straight section of road, you can see there is nothing ahead on either side for a mile or so and most importantly it's legal, if you don't feel capable of controlling your car above 40, 50 or even 60mph then frankly you shouldn't be allowed to drive. The most upsetting thing about these people is that they are under the impression that if they are too incompetent to drive at any kind of speed then everyone else is to. Anyone who overtakes them safely on a clear stretch of road at 100mph must be an absolute psycho who is definitely going to kill someone through their arrogance and lack of respect for others. These same people then end up sat right on your arse when you slow down to go through a village obeying the 30mph limit. I've actually got lost in my ranting and have completely forgotten the point I was going to make..... Ah there it is, yes my point is that the UK driving test is completely insufficient if you want to increase the speed limits. The driving test needs to teach people some car control at high speeds, perhaps on a race track and not give them their license until they can prove they can control their vehicle in all conditions and at all speeds. Good grief having read all that again I am one grumpy old bastard!

[casino]

Ive had 190+ outa my turbo. Years ago the Stack system went wrong and on start the needle would flick round to 160. It went way past an estimated 190 mph when driving in town. Very disconcerting. Had the unit changed eventually.

[cheeky_chops]

Did he get convicted in the end?

iirc he got a noble!

[Decky]

people using the autobahns as a safety benchmark are sadly mistaken, the accident rate is much higher on autobahns than other speed limited roads and a few years ago it was so bad that it got to the final stages of introducing a speed limit before being vetoed. Also iirc in Germany if you break down on motorways you have 15mins to get it sorted and get your car off the motorway or the police will remove your car (and it will be MOT'ed before you get it back which will include repairs at their compulsory rate which makes it very expensive)

[Kieran B]

You're all a bunch of wusses. I managed this yesterday:

LOL

Edited by Kieran B, 27 November 2009 - 04:55 PM.

[Mike (Cliffie)]

Apologies, I'll run my posts past you next time cliffie...

Its a good read as is the one which it is about.

There is a comma between the word why, and is.

This is a question not a complaint or sarcastic remark...

Didn't deserve the finger for that.