Ari Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 Sister gets zapped by a camera (in quite open bit of road), 36 in a 30 limit. Gets sent points/fine but option to not get either if she goes on free Police Speed Awareness Course. So does that. Went today, just had (justified) ranting phone call from her. Couple of highlights. Very first thing the do is write on blackboard "SPEED KILLS". Then they go on to explain that the safest roads in the UK are motorways, 3% of fatalities there. Err, aren't motorways the fastest "Speediest killiest" roads therefore..? Hmm... maybe speed doesn't kill after all, maybe just maybe it's inappropriate speed that kills hmmm..? No, too complicated, stick to government party line. So speed kills then.... They're then told that a child being hit by a car doing 30mph has a 50% chance of survival. At 20mph it's 80%. And of course at my sisters maniacal 36mph on a clear dry road in daylight poor Johnny has even less chance. So she should have been doing 30mph like the law says, naughty girl. Hang on, says sis, are we saying that an only 50% chance of survival is ok then? Surely we should all be doing 20mph and give little Johnny 80%? (Or better still little Johnny should stay on the pavement and look both ways before crossing..) Errr... hmmm.. yes well. Speed kills dontcha know? Anyway it then transpires that in this desperate band of criminals the highest speed of anyone there got done at was a heady 39mph! I didn't know cars went that fast! Must have been downhill. They then go on about speed cameras. Apparently there has to have been a fatality on the road for them to be allowed to put a speed camera up. Cos that proves the road is dangerous see? And sure enough there was a fatality on the road my sisters camera was at. A young lad pinched his bosses Jag for a joyride and lost it at well over 80mph, hit a tree and died. So camera there now. He won't try that again now, eh? Oh, and there's been no fatalities on that road since, see how well cameras work? Statistics to prove it, no camera, fatality. Camera, no fatality since. I know I'm convinced... So anyway we have a real problem with boy racers in our area. Including several killed and quite a few serious accidents where they've lost control at huge huge speeds. So it's good that the police are throwing resources into showing middle-aged middle class people like my sister that 36mph is dangerous and she should stick to the limit so's to have a 50/50 chance of killing a child if he wanders in front of her car. Funnily enough, on the way there, sticking to 30mph cos she does out of dogged principle now in 30 limit (even though the road in question used to be a 60 limit without problems) a young lad behind her tries to blast past using a turning right filter lane. Which was a shame as there was a car turning right sat in it. Sis hit the brakes and BoyRacer cuts between her and stationary car in right turn lane narrowly missing both and blasts off up the road at mega speed. But no camera see, so was a safe manoeuvre. No driving course for him. Anyway, my sister is super safe driver after her course now and prob won't have an accident or run anyone down. So, bit like the last 22 years she's been driving then hey? Remember children, speed kills... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelson_R32 Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 I would be more than happy to take a couple of hours Government brain washing to save a £60 fine and 3 points I didn't have that choice last time Bastards!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bounce Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 I did a course when i got had, but i had to pay 94 quid! plus a 60 quid fine and take 3 points and also got bored to death for 5 hours!! But it was better than going to court Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted May 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 To be fair though Bounce, you were doing about 200mph through a school playground or something! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bounce Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 [ QUOTE ] To be fair though Bounce, you were doing about 200mph through a school playground or something! [/ QUOTE ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Sister gets zapped by a camera (in quite open bit of road), 36 in a 30 limit. Gets sent points/fine but option to not get either if she goes on free Police Speed Awareness Course. So does that. Went today, just had (justified) ranting phone call from her. Couple of highlights. Very first thing the do is write on blackboard "SPEED KILLS". Then they go on to explain that the safest roads in the UK are motorways, 3% of fatalities there. Err, aren't motorways the fastest "Speediest killiest" roads therefore..? Hmm... maybe speed doesn't kill after all, maybe just maybe it's inappropriate speed that kills hmmm..? No, too complicated, stick to government party line. So speed kills then.... They're then told that a child being hit by a car doing 30mph has a 50% chance of survival. At 20mph it's 80%. And of course at my sisters maniacal 36mph on a clear dry road in daylight poor Johnny has even less chance. So she should have been doing 30mph like the law says, naughty girl. Hang on, says sis, are we saying that an only 50% chance of survival is ok then? Surely we should all be doing 20mph and give little Johnny 80%? (Or better still little Johnny should stay on the pavement and look both ways before crossing..) Errr... hmmm.. yes well. Speed kills dontcha know? Anyway it then transpires that in this desperate band of criminals the highest speed of anyone there got done at was a heady 39mph! I didn't know cars went that fast! Must have been downhill. They then go on about speed cameras. Apparently there has to have been a fatality on the road for them to be allowed to put a speed camera up. Cos that proves the road is dangerous see? And sure enough there was a fatality on the road my sisters camera was at. A young lad pinched his bosses Jag for a joyride and lost it at well over 80mph, hit a tree and died. So camera there now. He won't try that again now, eh? Oh, and there's been no fatalities on that road since, see how well cameras work? Statistics to prove it, no camera, fatality. Camera, no fatality since. I know I'm convinced... So anyway we have a real problem with boy racers in our area. Including several killed and quite a few serious accidents where they've lost control at huge huge speeds. So it's good that the police are throwing resources into showing middle-aged middle class people like my sister that 36mph is dangerous and she should stick to the limit so's to have a 50/50 chance of killing a child if he wanders in front of her car. Funnily enough, on the way there, sticking to 30mph cos she does out of dogged principle now in 30 limit (even though the road in question used to be a 60 limit without problems) a young lad behind her tries to blast past using a turning right filter lane. Which was a shame as there was a car turning right sat in it. Sis hit the brakes and BoyRacer cuts between her and stationary car in right turn lane narrowly missing both and blasts off up the road at mega speed. But no camera see, so was a safe manoeuvre. No driving course for him. Anyway, my sister is super safe driver after her course now and prob won't have an accident or run anyone down. So, bit like the last 22 years she's been driving then hey? Remember children, speed kills... [/ QUOTE ] It shows you are from the same stock! But in all seriousness - good points above! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 Well made comments Ari. I hate the argument that the slower you drive, the less likely someone will die, for the simple reason that we will all soon be driving at 0 mph and having 0 accidents. Speed limits are dropping, and congestion is increasing. What is really needed is investment in public transport, freeing up roads, together with draconian punishment for drink driving / boy racing and speeding near schools or shops, plus better education for kids. (Oh, if the speed limit was 0 mph, I would still crash the Scumball BMW somehow...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgera Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 Great! Is it just me that see's parallels between this "Speed Kills" and "Cars kill the planet"? More worthless brain washing based on dodgy facts and figures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calm Chris Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 30 Mph was the limit. Maybe the centre is told that since the guilty one's being re-trained are unable to read a speedo display and compare it with a road sign- then such dumbing down is required. Reference the nearer 40 mph than 30 mph. We are told (countless times) that 40 mph kills, 30 mph doesn't (so much). If your stupid enough to ignore the law,stupid enough to get caught- then I'd treat the guilty as stupid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHA Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 So Chri5 to remain in the not guilty/not stupid section of society I must concentrate on my speedo at all times when in the car? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 [ QUOTE ] So Chri5 to remain in the not guilty/not stupid section of society I must concentrate on my speedo at all times when in the car? [/ QUOTE ] ....Certainly within the 20/30/40 mph signs and roadworks 50s. Game Over within those limits and watch your speed - Its not difficult, just a matter of awareness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHA Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 No Robin that is not what I asked. I said should I concentrate on my speedo at all times, I am fairly aware of my speed most of the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ska Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 Are you automatically given the choice to go on this course when you got the letter from the police? Or does this follow afterwards and is this dependant on the police force as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted May 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 [ QUOTE ] 30 Mph was the limit. Maybe the centre is told that since the guilty one's being re-trained are unable to read a speedo display and compare it with a road sign- then such dumbing down is required. Reference the nearer 40 mph than 30 mph. We are told (countless times) that 40 mph kills, 30 mph doesn't (so much). If your stupid enough to ignore the law,stupid enough to get caught- then I'd treat the guilty as stupid [/ QUOTE ] Riiiiight. So for higher intelligence species like yourself, the message "speed kills" together with the statement that motorways are the safest roads in the UK makes perfect sense then does it? Didn't you used to have a Golf R32 by the way..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHA Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Are you automatically given the choice to go on this course when you got the letter from the police? Or does this follow afterwards and is this dependant on the police force as well? [/ QUOTE ] I think it depends on which limit was broken, by how much and the police force in question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazza_g Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 [ QUOTE ] If your stupid enough to ignore the law,stupid enough to get caught- then I'd treat the guilty as stupid [/ QUOTE ] I'm so glad you are in no real position of power - I suppose you've never done anything wrong, ever? All treating people as stupid does is make them mock the way they are being treated rendering any 'message' the course was suppposed to pass as useless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Botang Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 Would I be right in thinking that the figures that they quote (50% chance at 30mph) would be actual impact speed? As they like their statistics so much Id be curious to know what the average impact speed was when a driver has been travelling at 35mph. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fresco1 Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 [ QUOTE ] No Robin that is not what I asked. I said should I concentrate on my speedo at all times, I am fairly aware of my speed most of the time. [/ QUOTE ] I would have though a good 'instrument scan' as per basic PPL would suffice .. ! Or, buy an M5 with a HUD? I stick to the limits, whats the point otherwise? Need my license and car for work, so have to obey (then again, I'm married with kids so I tend to 'obey' the lot of them just for a peaceful life!). Be safe out there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted May 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Maybe the centre is told that since the guilty one's being re-trained are unable to read a speedo display and compare it with a road sign- then such dumbing down is required. [/ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] I've done 160 mph on roads, I love bikes, but you are unlikely to ever get me on the back of one. [/ QUOTE ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazza_g Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Maybe the centre is told that since the guilty one's being re-trained are unable to read a speedo display and compare it with a road sign- then such dumbing down is required. [/ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] I've done 160 mph on roads, I love bikes, but you are unlikely to ever get me on the back of one. [/ QUOTE ] [/ QUOTE ] classic contradiction action there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHA Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] No Robin that is not what I asked. I said should I concentrate on my speedo at all times, I am fairly aware of my speed most of the time. [/ QUOTE ] I would have though a good 'instrument scan' as per basic PPL would suffice .. ! Or, buy an M5 with a HUD? I stick to the limits, whats the point otherwise? Need my license and car for work, so have to obey (then again, I'm married with kids so I tend to 'obey' the lot of them just for a peaceful life!). Be safe out there! [/ QUOTE ] I do scan but even the most vigilent can stray into the "stupid" zone of 30-36mph uninentionally whilst concentrating on ohhh say some actual hazards, but if I was to purely focus on my speed (going by government info this is the biggest killer on roads) I would miss these other hazards. But then again I am possibly too "stupid" to notice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarmac_Terrorist Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 Perhaps we all need to ask ourselves that question.."Am I stupid"! Poll anyone? We ALL occasionally beak limits - knowingly or not. What annoys me most is that my £205 12 months car tax which I've just shelled out for is being spent on pointless courses designed to brainwash people with innacurate statements and twisted facts as opposed to repairing worn out road surfaces, which would allow us all to stop quicker should an emergency situation arise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHA Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 *by stupid we mean have you EVER broken a speed limit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 Agreed that even being extremely vigilent it can be easy to slip into 30-33mph unintentionally but 36 will feel faster in most cars and by the time someone has strayed from 30 to 36 they should have done a quick scan of their speedo. If someone repeatably has a problem then surely setting the alarm beep for exceeding 30 will inform. I'm not calling anyone stupid but just pointing out that In My Opinion there's not much excuse for doing 36+ in a 30. And when you add in the fact that a big yellow camera box with advanced warning signage is also present.....I find it difficult to have much sympathy. Of course I have exceeded 30 in the past but that is very, very rare now. If you are in any built up area, regardless of cameras etc, slow right down - I often go through 30's at about 25 mph and that's on my Road Angel GPS which is much easier to read than an OEM speedo. Reserve the fun of going faster for the open road when conditions are safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 Now if anything is "stupid", it's that poll ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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