Dont want to seem like I think its ok to do those sorts of speed on A roads but I personaly think that the faster driver is far more alert to what he is doing, and I do think that the speed limits on some roads is far too low, I spend up to 10 hours a day on U.k roads I see all kinds of drivers have to say that the person most likely to cause problems and accidents is the slow and over cautious driver. I do find it very hard to get my work done in light of some of these speed limits camera sites and the usual old fart etc etc drivers who see 30mph limits and slow down to 25mph very frustrating if you have to be somwhere! Might I also point out that German motorways are unrestricted (correct me if I am wrong its been a while since I have been there) the greater speeds dont cause death and destruction in any greater numbers than in the uk. If government and all the other do-gooders get their way we had just as well go back to a poney and trap, that will also probably incur legislation ,methane polution, waste by product tax per bucket blah blah blah, My point is that it wont be worth owning a car anymore for fear of being called a lunatic or being jailed for daring to drive our cars over 30mph...................rant over!
A few points here that raise a few concerns for me.
"faster driver, more alert"
This may very well be true. However, the laws of physics remain the same. The faster you are going, the more distance you need to stop. Not all other road users will be "tuned in" to someone who is smashing the speed limit. 10, 20 maybe even 30 MPH over on a motorway is not too much of a problem. Statistically, the safest road type.
"slower drivers likely to cause more accidents"
Well, actually, whilst very irritating, they are not particularly high risk. Exessive speed is the root cause of around 70% of collisions apparently.
My experience is that if I encounter a "slow" driver, I can normally negotiate my way past him without incident.
The "fast" driver that approaches far more quickly than I was anticipating, is the one that seems to represent more problems.
"Autobahn speeds"
I can support this with data or evidence, but I have seen a number of autobahn stacks, and they weren't pretty. If there is a m'way smash, the higher the speed, the worse it'll be. The only caveat to this that I can think of is poor weather. A lower overall speed in poor vis conditions may result in a higher impact speed. When weather is good, you get a chance to break before impact earlier than in poor vis conditions. viz M4 smash in fog about 10 years ago; average speed 60 MPH, but massive stack, as nobody could see it. 10 dead I think.
Risk of fatality in the UK per 100,000 head of population is 6.7
Germany is 10.
Figures taken from a recent TRL study.
I hope we are not restricted to the pony and trap, as I love driving my car.
But stupid speeds on public roads are just that. Stupid.
Sorry folks, this wan't particularly well written as I've had a sherry or 2.
Just modified this.
Interesting point......
Germany :- 61% road deaths are car drivers, UK :- 50%
Pedestrians, Germany :-13%, UK :- 27%.
So, if you are driving, do it in the UK, if you fancy a walk, go to Germany!
