Traffic Counts

MichaelCarter · Post by **MichaelCarter** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 7:33 pm

We should give Will credit. We've been telling him for months to stop being obsessed with his bike speedo and at last he's listened, and focussed his attentions on to his dads!

Arthur · Post by **Arthur** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 9:00 pm

People just need to be further apart on the motorway, for example 70mph its not really going to be safer if you are right up close to the person in front than say 100mph and you are a good 5 meters away.

Stopping distance with top quality brakes, new tyres and a dry road at 70mph = 62m

At 100 mph, it's 127m, or just over double.

So you need to add rather more than 5 metres extra....and that's in the very best case.

(figures from http://www.csgnetwork.com/stopdistcalc.html)

willhub · Post by **willhub** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 10:09 pm

Lol I do look at the speedo quite alot in the car its just a habit.

50mph in a 30 is bad, 30mph speed limits are in built up areas, you are not likely to get kids playing in the middle of the M1 are you now? Doing 50mph in a 30 could kill someone whilst 30mph might give them a chance of living.

So at 70mph the stopping distance is 62m, so either way doing 100 or 70 you are going to be pretty much done for on the motorway if someone slams on in front because no the usually distance on the motorway is about 1m between cars from what I see, sometimes its less than a ft.

MichaelCarter · Post by **MichaelCarter** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 11:22 pm

"distance on the motorway is about 1m between cars from what I see, sometimes its less than a ft."

That's just wrong!

Seriously Will, there really is no argument. Doing 100mph on a motorway, even on a long stretch of road with no-one else around, risks loss of license, car control and life. Similarly for not observing the stopping distances (plus for you I'd double it as you'll be watching the speedo rather than the road!).

willhub · Post by **willhub** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 11:35 pm

MichaelCarter wrote:"distance on the motorway is about 1m between cars from what I see, sometimes its less than a ft."

That's just wrong!

Seriously Will, there really is no argument. Doing 100mph on a motorway, even on a long stretch of road with no-one else around, risks loss of license, car control and life. Similarly for not observing the stopping distances (plus for you I'd double it as you'll be watching the speedo rather than the road!).

You'd be saying the same thing is the speed limit on the motorway was 50mph and people where doing 70mph.

Helen · Post by **Helen** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 9:29 am

I'll know the cost of petrol is making a difference when I see fewer cars
carrying bikes of for a ride or to take part in an event.
(Twice, so far for me this year)

Helen

cath · Post by **cath** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 9:55 am

"You'd be saying the same thing is the speed limit on the motorway was 50mph and people where doing 70mph."

Yep. At the end of the day, if the speed limit was 25mph and you went at 50 then you'd still deserve a ticket - whether you agree with a speed limit or not, it's the law and no one forces you to drive faster - and I'm not speaking from any kind of pedestal, I've worked as a driver and had a speeding ticket or two....it can be frustrating to drive at a slower speed than you want to, esp on an open road when you have somewhere to be, but it ain't worth giving in to temptation.

The person who gets caught doing over a 100 on the m/way (& I know a couple) and feels hard done by cos they're a 'safe, skilled driver and the conditions were fine and there were deadlines to meet...' maybe they are all those things but 1. they broke the law knowingly so it's their own fault 2. people generally over-estimate their own ability behind the wheel 3. you might be a superb driver - but what about all the others around you that aren't? who change lanes without indicating/brake when there's no need to/don't look properly before changing lanes and aren't expecting someone doing 100mph to come bearing down on them...I could go on and on and on....

Dr Dave · Post by **Dr Dave** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 11:17 am

C'mon guys, you can't seriously expect Will to debate on an even playing field with older, more worldly, highly educated mature adults - it's just not fair!

Helen · Post by **Helen** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 11:35 am

Problem is that young men his age are driving near you.
Most likely killer of a teenage girl is a man under 21 driving the car the're both in.

Helen

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 12:08 pm

Dr Dave wrote:C'mon guys, you can't seriously expect Will to debate on an even playing field with older, more worldly, highly educated mature adults - it's just not fair!

Bravo. But, Helen is of course correct above (and very blunt) and in a broader sense young Will is only playing back a general attitude that he's picked from perhaps the majority of the motoring public (including many older, more worldly, highly educated mature adults). Its scary and very serious stuff. Moreover Will is old enough to drive

.

Edit: I suppose the other thing to stress is that when we engage in these debating duels on here, we challenge peoples opinions not the person themselves. Afterall, when an opinion is put forward it is usually the opinion of many, most of whom haven't had the inclination to post. So in that sense; bravo to Will too!

willhub · Post by **willhub** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 2:24 pm

I am old enough to drive, but I cant afford it and even if I could I probably would not, its mad paying these prices for petrol and its never going to go down again for another couple of million years until more fish have died and fell to the sea floor.