Eescaped prison sentence for 140+mph

[RWDpetrol]

Where do I say that I've been over the speed limit?

What's the fastest you've been on a public road?

Don't bother with the word games.

Me? 155mph.

I've also broken the speed limit in the UK - evidenced by points on my licence, but that was over 7 years ago so I too have a clean licence.

 

[Giantvanman]

"The risk when exceeding is probably immeasurable and eg I would rather have a skilled driver passing me at 144mph than a distracted one behind me at 75mph."

As would I, believe me. But how would we or the police know the difference between the good and not good? As long as they pass safely, what would be the drama, using your argument.

However, I am talking about all of the other people who are not that good or, being older, can't judge that a car a long way back is travelling that fast and change lane with what would be a very safe gap in normal traffic speeds.

With the latter in mind, is the risk those guys placed on everyone else less gifted is acceptable?

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Don't bother with the word games.

What, like you putting words in my mouth?

So you've been over but just luckily not caught.

 

[RWDpetrol]

With the latter in mind, is the risk those guys placed on everyone else less gifted is acceptable?

Let me take a look at the video and assess the risk placed on others

EDIT: I have, no other vehicles in sight and I can only go by what I see. So much for everyone else making assumptions about wheels flying off.


In the meantime, would you say the same (being an A road) if an elderly gent was driving at 30mph and being passed by an elderly lady at 70mph?

 

[RWDpetrol]

What, like you putting words in my mouth?

I was looking for a straightforward answer but you took the politicians' approach.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I was looking for a straightforward answer but you took the politicians' approach.

Hmmm...

I don't think that I'm the one that has tried to justify these two boys going at more than double the NSL by saying

A) if they were in Germany, it'd be ok

and

B) you'd be happy for a pro driver to pass you at 144mph which is all good and well but these two Herbert's weren't pro's.

A word of advice; if there's a certain law in this country that you think is wrong, you can take it to your local MP who might just (if he so chooses) lobby for a change in legislation.

On the contrary, blathering on about it on an internet forum wont get you very far in your quest for autobahn-type limits.

 

[Deleted member 65149]

If it were Germany, there would be no problem ...

I assume you mean "If it were on unrestricted sections of the German Autobahn it wouldn't in itself be illegal to drive at 144mph"? However I would argue that even on those roads that sort of speed can be a potential problem - because of other road users. The argument has gone here that it's less safe in the UK because other drivers aren't expecting vehicles to be approaching them at such high speeds so they're more likely to pull out in front of the speeding cars. But I had that happen a few times when I was in Germany last June; many times whilst I was travelling at around 150mph cars would pull out in front of me (usually without indication). Fortunately only once did I have to test out the effectiveness of my brakes but I soon decided that any other car on the road was good enough reason for me to keep my speed well down. So high speed MAY be more dangerous in the UK (as well as illegal) but it's still dangerous in Germany.

What we can't see in the video of this incident is whether or not there are other cars on that stretch of road. Perhaps it could be argued that if the road was otherwise empty, then the cars should have been on the inside lane. But I suspect there were other cars around and for that reason I say that both cars were being driven dangerously - because of the conditions, not the speed per se. The second car was also far too close and the driver foolishly had far too much confidence in the ability of the driver of the leading car (unlike professional racing drivers who can be that close safely at much higher speeds).

 

[RWDpetrol]

Hmmm...

I don't think that I'm the one that has tried to justify these two boys going at more than double the NSL by saying

A) if they were in Germany, it'd be ok

and

B) you'd be happy for a pro driver to pass you at 144mph which is all good and well but these two Herbert's weren't pro's.

A word of advice; if there's a certain law in this country that you think is wrong, you can take it to your local MP who might just (if he so chooses) lobby for a change in legislation.

On the contrary, blathering on about it on an internet forum wont get you very far in your quest for autobahn-type limits.

You misunderstood. I was having a go at the people having a go at the offenders as though they know everything. It was never about the law, the guys broke the law.

And I'm happy with the 70mph speed limit, makes it easier for me to get past others.

 

[Giantvanman]

Let me take a look at the video and assess the risk placed on others

In the meantime, would you say the same (being an A road) if an elderly gent was driving at 30mph and being passed by an elderly lady at 70mph?

Or, the difference between the minimum and maximum speed on a motorway.

If this scenario ended up in a collision, however, there would be an impact speed of about 40mph, well within the design capabilities of the modern car's crumple zones etc.

What we are talking about is an impact speed of at least 70mph when hitting another car moving in the same direction.

And who can say where the cars go post impact? Do they gently slide to a stop or go tumbling into other traffic or over the central reservation?

People have crashed at silly speeds before and caused absolute carnage doing so.

Just out of curiosity, have you ever heard another driver say that they were rubbish drivers? Every driver I have ever listened to reckons they are good drivers.

If everyone was that good, there would be no accidents. Alternatively, they are that good but make occasional errors.

 

[RWDpetrol]

Just out of curiosity, have you ever heard another driver say that they were rubbish drivers? Every driver I have ever listened to reckons they are good drivers.

If everyone was that good, there would be no accidents. Alternatively, they are that good but make occasional errors.

Again, my view is that distractions, not speed, are primary cause of every accident.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

And I'm happy with the 70mph speed limit, makes it easier for me to get past others.

I rest my case your honour...

 

[Giantvanman]

Post 50.

Interesting point. I always thought it was inappropriate speed.

I will try and dig out the TRL data to see if you are correct so that I know exactly who to give a wide berth.

 

[RWDpetrol]

I rest my case your honour...

Yeah, from the guy who wouldn't answer a simple question.

 

[After Shock]

It's not inappropriate speed that is the problem per see. (Had to use that word.... Sorry)

As has been said many times there are so many bad drivers out there who we have all seen pull out without looking for example.

If you are driving fast looking out for this you tend to think that numpty will pull out in front of me and you act accordingly.

At this speed could they do so? Are they good enough drivers? Atd their cars checked to drive at 140? Tyres ok? Etc

Limiting risk is the point surely? I drive quickly and make good progress. Am I a good driver? Of course!!!!!

So many ifs buts and maybes in this thread. It needs to be argued over a pint to get anywhere.

 

[mct_cars]

Totally unsafe.

The A19 is an A road, not a motorway. The big difference between the two is that an A road has non motorway spec junctions - i.e. there are t-junctions on and off as well as central reservation crossing - by all things including tractors. Anything COULD have happened.

Even formula 1 drivers don't have a lot of road sense at 21 - I'm betting neither of these two has done advanced driving.

As for custodial? They didn't hurt or kill anyone (probably by luck more than judgement), so probably about right. They'll struggle to get insured on anything more that a Fiesta popular plus from now on - not sure if that worries me more!!

 

[E55BOF]

Let me take a look at the video and assess the risk placed on others

EDIT: I have, no other vehicles in sight and I can only go by what I see. So much for everyone else making assumptions about wheels flying off.
QUOTE]

All that is visible is the two cars, the central Armco, and a little bit of road in front of and behind them.

No-one is making assumptions about 'wheels flying off'. We are simply trying to get you to comprehend that generally speaking, driving at that sort of speed on a dual carriageway with a national 70 mph speed limit is selfishly imposing a risk that most of the rest of us would not be happy with. If it were bone-dry, deserted and in daylight the risk would be less, but you cannot assume that from what you can see in the video, and from personal experience I (like others on here) can testify that it's not often deserted in daylight.

Yiou are entitled to your view, but you should accept that it is very much a minority view. That should tell you something..

 

[Giantvanman]

It's not inappropriate speed that is the problem per see. (Had to use that word.... Sorry)

As has been said many times there are so many bad drivers out there who we have all seen pull out without looking for example.

If you are driving fast looking out for this you tend to think that numpty will pull out in front of me and you act accordingly.

At this speed could they do so? Are they good enough drivers? Atd their cars checked to drive at 140? Tyres ok? Etc

Limiting risk is the point surely? I drive quickly and make good progress. Am I a good driver? Of course!!!!!

So many ifs buts and maybes in this thread. It needs to be argued over a pint to get anywhere.

It needs to be argued over a pint to get anywhere.

Seconded. Count me in. Dammit. Now there will a thread on drink driving!

 

[meeeb]

In their 2008 report, the European Transport Safety Committee were firm and clear in their overall conclusion:

"empirical evidence indicates that all instances' of introduced speed limits on German motorways have caused very large casualty reductions."


"the relationship between speed and road accidents has been studied extensively and is very clear: the higher the speed, the greater the probability of a crash and the severity of the crashes."
​

 

[RWDpetrol]

It needs to be argued over a pint to get anywhere.

Seconded. Count me in. Dammit. Now there will a thread on drink driving!

Over a pint it is, with the exception of SPX who won't be honest about exceeding the speed limit. A couple of examples where speed isn't 'everything':

1) I overtook a marked police car at 90mph in North Wales on an A road. He continued at 80mph. Thank you Officer for your discretion.

2) I was driving on cruise control indicating 100mph on the M1. A marked police car came behind me within a car length, I switched off cruise with a gentle tap of the brakes and he went away (slower). Thank you Officer for your discretion.

I'd like to think both Officers were more concerned with bad/dangerous driving instead.

 

[After Shock]

Not sure if this helps or not.....

I had to do a "life safety (fire risk) assessment" of a building recently.

Brand new building open to the public. Umm well long story short no fire exit signage. Had been open for two years like this!!!!

So they were "lucky" that an emergency evacuation hadn't been needed or there would have been a high likelihood of injury/fatality.

Who wants to be in A burning building with no idea of how to get out.

The owners put other peoples lives at risk.

So. Have these drivers done the same? Surely in a collision 2 cars moving at 140mph are going to end up everywhere and anywhere.

Would anyone be justifying there actions if there nearest and dearest had been hurt/killed by these actions??!?!?!

Taking a risk with your own life us one thing. Putting others at risk is another.

Now there are many arguments sand grey areas but dud these guys push the boundaries beyond reasonable?