In the past there have been quite a few threads dealing with speed cameras, being stopped by the law, fines etc. and what with now having a quicker car than I have ever had (Fabia) I have been pondering on this subject for a coupe of days. Now, in my Estelle, it is very easy to keep to the 30 or 40 limit - engine note and throttle position are easy to remember, but in the Fabia, it is a bit more tricky. I have driven for 15 years and have never had a ticket or been stopped - and I hope to keep it that way. To these ends, I would appreciate your advice.

Is it best to make an effort to stay at or below the limits at all times, even if the cars in front are 'getting away' or try to keep up with the flow? I have cruise control, and used this the other day to keep my speed correct, but was being slowly, and dangerously overtaken between the Gatso's by some other motorists:mad:.

I personally have no problem at all with sticking to limits, but what I do have a problem with is having 'motorists' wanting to get round the sluggard in front (me)and me worrying about when and where they are going to try and get around me. This gives me stress:(.

I don't hang about, and travel at the true speed limit (32, 43 and 64 speedo MPH).

What are your thoughts - is it best to strictly stick to the speed limits, or keep up with the flow?

Ian

Just do what i do and drive as fast or slow (trafiic and road conditions permitting) as i like!

I don't worry about "keeping up" with the traffic but generally do as i don't drive slowly... but i do keep to 30 and 40 speed limits etc... don't believe is blasting through a 30 or 40 as the speed limit is usually there for a reason!!!

What are your thoughts - is it best to strictly stick to the speed limits, or keep up with the flow?

Going above the speed limit is breaking the law...as such, if you get caught there will be consequences. If the chance of getting caught and the penalty you'd incur through getting caught are not risks you're comfortable with, stick to the speed limit...

Rob.

I have the same problem; there are times when actually observing speed limits is dangerous, simply because of the idiocy some people get up to in order to overtake you!

That said, the last few times I've been on 40mph dual carriageway, I've found myself overtaking people, simply because I'm doing an indicated 40mph!

Not saying I necessarily endorse this, but there's always the grey area between indicated/actual speed and prosecutable speed if you feel confident (i.e. if you were stuck between Lane 1 at 40mph and Lane 2 at 75mph, you would probably be OK on Lane 2) Otherwise, driving at the speed you feel comfortable with, but making it as easy as possible for others to overtake, is probably the best compromise...

I see where you're coming from; Unfortunately the whole "prosecutable speed" argument starts to fall down when you're in an area that operates tallyvans (rather than hand-helds, which are similarly stymied to VASCAR et al when confronted by several vehicles per minute at illegal speeds). I presume that the "illegal lane" will slow down for a fixed greed scamera.

Do what you need to do to

a) get there alive and in one piece

and

keep your licence clean.

In this area there aren't that many roads I can think of with inappropriate speed limits. And there's always the satisfaction to be had from leaving the tailgater behind in a big cloud of soot when you leave the 30 limit for the 60...

The answer is, drive at whatever speed you are comfortable with, taking into account safety. If that happens to be more than the limit, watch out for getting nicked.

i do keep to 30 and 40 speed limits etc... don't believe is blasting through a 30 or 40 as the speed limit is usually there for a reason!!!

That is true in many areas, but there are several around here that are inappropriately low.

And there's always the satisfaction to be had from leaving the tailgater behind in a big cloud of soot when you leave the 30 limit for the 60...

IME, that only happens 50% of the time. The other 50% of the time, you're stuck behind some so-and-so doing 40 in the NSL zone, who then carries on at 40 once you enter the town and the limit drops to 30!

IME, that only happens 50% of the time. The other 50% of the time, you're stuck behind some so-and-so doing 40 in the NSL zone, who then carries on at 40 once you enter the town and the limit drops to 30!

In a Rover 75 or 400.

stick to the limit, but don't drive in such a way as to prevent those that wish to speed from doing so? leave decent gaps etc

And there's always the satisfaction to be had from leaving the tailgater behind in a big cloud of soot when you leave the 30 limit for the 60...

unless they too are prepped and in the appropriate gear, in which case you might end up in tears

unless they too are prepped and in the appropriate gear, in which case you might end up in tears

The cloud of soot isn't really optional, so it's even better if they stay close to get the 'full effect'.

Some valuable info here - it is great to be able to ask other more educated drivers (like those on here) about such matters.

So to sum up, obey the speed limits at all times, leave room for others who want to speed and don't hang about when the restriction ends. How does that sound?

Last question for you. Do you ever feel a bit impatient towards the driver who is strictly obeying the limit, or do you feel approval for their restraint?

Ian

Last question for you. Do you ever feel a bit impatient towards the driver who is strictly obeying the limit, or do you feel approval for their restraint?

Personally I despise inconsistency, so I prefer people who always do +10mph to people who have their cruise stuck on 40. Given the camera-happy environment we live in, rigidly obeying the speed limits is a very sensible way to drive. Not necessarily safe, but sensible.

I don't feel impatient towards someone who is obeying an actual legal speed limit, but might be impatient towards someone who is driving at a lower speed which they fondly and wrongly believe to be the speed limit. Of course, that presumes that external factors don't make a lower speed prudent.

Personally I despise inconsistency, so I prefer people who always do +10mph to people who have their cruise stuck on 40. Given the camera-happy environment we live in, rigidly obeying the speed limits is a very sensible way to drive. Not necessarily safe, but sensible.

So you'd disapprove of my 30+/-0.1mph in town and 70mph on Greed Scamera free motorway then?

So to sum up, obey the speed limits at all times, leave room for others who want to speed and don't hang about when the restriction ends. How does that sound?

Last question for you. Do you ever feel a bit impatient towards the driver who is strictly obeying the limit, or do you feel approval for their restraint?

Ian

That's pretty much my driving style summed up there!

And in regards to other people obeying limit... only if they fall below it... say doing 30-35 in a 40 when its actually safe to do the full 40!

My speedo is also bang on! I've checked it against my GPS many times and it's exactly right! (give or take 1mph at times) so thats quite useful for me to know sometimes!

Phil

So you'd disapprove of my 30+/-0.1mph in town and 70mph on Greed Scamera free motorway then?

Motorways are motorways. Even the '40 everywhere' crowd do at least 50. I was referring more to normal roads, and the way that some people who speed at least vary that speed with the limit (and hopefully the conditions), where others simply drive at their chosen - (Mr Bean voice) "this is quite fast enough thank you!" - speed oblivious to the world around them, except perhaps, on occasion, to flash their headlights and tut at the 'yob' who had the audacity to blast past him on a straight piece of road....

*AND breathe*

Do you ever feel a bit impatient towards the driver who is strictly obeying the limit, or do you feel approval for their restraint?

Ian

I approve of someone who is obeying the speed limit, especially in a 20/30/40 zone where children/pedestrians etc are liable to just step out in front of them, and have no problems with it.

What I do find irritating is when entering into a 60/70 limit, said person in front still pootling along at 20 below the limit.

I think If I remember correctly, you can travel at the speed limit +10% +4MPH, so on a motorway, 81 would be a reasonable speed to tavel at without fear of being 'done' for speeding.(An indicated 85-90 on speedo, as Skoda speedos are almost always registering about 10% more than you are actually travelling at!)

I wouldn't find travelling at 37MPH in a 30MPH zone acceptable though - hitting a pedestrian at 7MPH more can mean the difference between life and death.Stuff the person behind if they can't handle doing the speed limit and tailgate you, they'll be the ones forking out of their insurance if they run into you if you have to stop suddenly.

At the end of the day, motoring should be a fun and enjoyable experience.Drive safe & dont worry what others think.

Motorways are motorways. Even the '40 everywhere' crowd do at least 50. I was referring more to normal roads, and the way that some people who speed at least vary that speed with the limit (and hopefully the conditions), where others simply drive at their chosen - (Mr Bean voice) "this is quite fast enough thank you!" - speed oblivious to the world around them, except perhaps, on occasion, to flash their headlights and tut at the 'yob' who had the audacity to blast past him on a straight piece of road....

*AND breathe*

In that case we agree; I hate the "40 everywhere" morons with a passion the like of which you can not conceive.

if i am with a group of cars i tend to go with the flow, something my driving instructor years ago said not to do, but once pass my test do what i want. ive been in traffic on the m40 on a sunday night doing above limit speeds. a friend in the police says if 90% of traffic is doing 90mph and its freeflowing and not dangerous i.e. raining, traffic to close etc, then they just let it be as it moving. but come down the motorway at 90 on your own they might get a bit interest in you.

a friend in the police says if 90% of traffic is doing 90mph and its freeflowing and not dangerous i.e. raining, traffic to close etc, then they just let it be as it moving. but come down the motorway at 90 on your own they might get a bit interest in you.

But that's because they can't stop everyone, and if they do stop one person, they'll be shouting about how everyone else was speeding too and why are they picking on him/her.

I find it highly amusing when you stick to the speed limit and know you're legal, and some idiot wants to overtake you (as obviously you're going too slow for them), then you both come to a speed camera and the idiot in the outside lane is braking for the speed camera and you end up undertaking them.

i had a woman last year or the year before on the m4, came into a 50 limit by the bath turn off and knew the speed camera was there, approched it at 55 and let off the accelorator to slow down for it with her inches from my bumper. she saw it at the last second and slowed down to about 30 (panic braking?) didnt see her near my backside for the rest of the roadworks or outside the road works area when the speed limit came back to NSL.

I find it highly amusing when you stick to the speed limit and know you're legal, and some idiot wants to overtake you (as obviously you're going too slow for them), then you both come to a speed camera and the idiot in the outside lane is braking for the speed camera and you end up undertaking them.

I suppose I should learn to find that amusing too, 'cos at the moment, it annoys the hell out of me!