In the UK speed cameras (or euphemistically, using Orwellian Newspeak, “safety cameras”) are springing up all over the place. They are being used to target motorists who break the speed limits in the name of “safety”. The latest stunt is to wait over the bridges on the M4 in vans with mobile cameras because
240 people died or were seriously hurt on the M4 in Wiltshire last year
Okay, so 240 people died. Why did they die? Was it because people drive at about 80 – 85 miles per hour or is it because they drive too close to the preceding vehicle, don’t use the lanes properly, don’t concentrate on their driving, don’t read the road ahead and don’t allow for road and traffic conditions? All of which may involve adjusting speed as a consequence – but might not.
Contrary to the slogans, speed does not kill. This little fact was proved conclusively with the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway and people were not killed by all the air being sucked out of the carriages at speed.
What kills is bad driving. Unfortunately the issues involved here are far too complex for government and its law enforcement agencies. Nice little (misleading) slogans such as “speed kills” are easier to apply. The problem is that manipulating peoples’ behaviour with the threat of punishment only really works if the majority accept that the behaviour in question is really unacceptable. With speeding on our motorways, this just isn’t the case. Firstly, other countries have higher limits on smaller motorways and it works perfectly well. Partly because drivers in European countries use the lanes properly and tend to keep a decent distance between themselves and the vehicle in front. And secondly, travelling at 70mph will seem like going backwards as everyone whistles by at speeds well in excess of the posted limit.
Yesterday, knowing that I had to travel to Swindon on the M4 and that these cameras were going to be about, I made a decision to stick to the 70mph limit. It wasn’t long before I came across a bunch of lorries. I checked my mirrors, signalled and moved into the middle lane ready for overtaking the stream of trucks. So far, so good. Then those cars in front who had not been reading the situation as far ahead decided to move into my road space. There was traffic closing in on me from behind and cars converging from the left. My one escape route was to the right. So I moved into the right hand lane and accelerated hard, taking my speed briefly up to 85mph before dropping back to 70mph once clear. My good intentions lasted 15 miles.
That’s the problem with arbitrary limits – they make no allowance for the circumstances. On this occasion, maximum safety was achieved by increasing speed. But the politically correct dunderheads responsible for the current atmosphere of hysteria can’t understand that simple concept. Police patrols in cars out on the motorway may cost more than cameras, but they are capable of reading the situation and making reasonable judgements.
You chose a bad example. At the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1830, an MP, William Huskisson, was killed by a train. If it had been going slower, he would probably have got out of the way.Tony
[Longrider replies] Oops, forgot about that. However, it doesn’t alter the main point. In that instance, he shouldn’t have been on the railway in the first place. It wasn’t speed that killed him, it was trespassing into a dangerous environment. Speed was merely a contributory factor. My point with the example was that we travel in trains at speed in excess of 100mph – this doesn’t kill. Collisions following catastrophic failure do.
As indeed, speed may well be a contributory factor in road accidents. I can see the logic in urban areas where the impact will be significantly reduced and make the difference between injury and death. On the motorway, driving too close at 70mph will get you killed just as will doing it at 85mph. The speed is not the relevant factor – driving too close is.
Yes the caveat about built up areas is a good one, I believe the 30mph limit in built up areas and particularly around schools and hospitals and such like should be enforced.
However when it comes to the motorways, if speed killed then there would be carnage across the German autobahns. I have done over 250,000 miles in the last 5 years and I have seen some of the most dangerous people on the roads doing quite low speeds. The tailgating lorries are rarely breaking the speed limit but the damage caused when one runs into the other is something I won’t forget.
The trouble is it is yet another easy figure-buster, the police and the politicians can use the conviction figures to show they are being tough on crime and the revenues come in handy for the authorities. I would mind slightly less if the money was used without exception on alternative methods of transport rather than simply a plod and council moneyspinner.Visit me @ http://redbaron.blog-city.com
Huskisson was killed at the opening of the Liverpool to Manchester Railway – not that it makes much difference.
Er, where have you been driving on the Continent? In France last year I concluded that either the French had much better reaction than normal people or all had a suicidal death wish.Patrick Crozier [[email protected]]
[Longrider repiles] France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and Hungary.
Italy was horrendous. The rest generally seem to me to exercise lane discipline that is lacking on our motorways. I’ve always fount that the French drive reasonably well on their motorways – you just have to be careful with their short slip roads.
I always feel safer on ‘European’ motorways, except when being driven by a ‘European’.John
There’s a law in some US states that the left lane is only for passing. Keep driving along in it, and you’ll get pulled over and fined. (How Stupid)!
Can you imagine what it would be like to have to weave in and out of traffic every time that you encounter a slower vehicle? I think that there’d be MORE accidents that way. I’d sooner pass the whole lot of them and keep going.Visit me @ http://pimme.blog-city.com