When are the government going to stop

[Marty]

Its getting worse

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18840110

[Semproxion]

In a sense I agree. Particularly with the recent sharp decrease in driving standards of what was the minority but seems to have spread to the majority.

chocolate starfish that think that speed limit means they must drive at that limit in ALL conditions, even when it could be considered dangerous to drive at even half.

And I know what you're thinking "I bet you're gonna pretend to have driven within the letter of the law at all times"

No, I was actually one of the aforementioned chocolate starfish until I came a cropper on a country lane, one that I was extremely lucky to walk away from and had I not been in the car on my own, more than likely severely injured my passenger.

There are a number of single lane roads around the area that I live and no end of times I've had to take evasive manuvers because some inflatable dinghy thought that 60mph round a blind bend in the wet on said roads was an epic idea.

[mg-richard]

I think more people need to be taught the following

Lane discipline
Driving to the conditions
Keeping your distance from the car infront
How to stop and allow a lorry to maneuver

[Pinkie15]

Inclined to agree with the above, speed#s not the issue, it's the abysmal standards of driving today; are cars seen/marketed as "too safe" ??

[carl747]

I think more people need to be taught the following

Lane discipline
Driving to the conditions
Keeping your distance from the car infront
How to stop and allow a lorry to maneuver

This but have to add how to use a filter lane too

[1234dist]

Some 49% of road deaths in 2010 in the UK took place on single carriageway rural roads with a 60mph speed limit.

Because the car gets launched off the road trying to dodge the massive pot holes.

[Phoenix3dfx225]

Noooo country lanes are my playground at night - there fun. I also speak from experience from coming off them on two occassions.

Theres a little village I drive through though each morning that has been changed to a 20mph zone. During 9-5 I do drive to the letter of the law (because mainly I'm in no rush to get anywhere because its works time). Yet my point being each time I drive through this village I have a train of traffic as I seem to be the only one doing 20mph. Everyone going the opposite way are clearly going quicker than walking pass too.

Maybe it the goverments way of saying fuel as well? Or giving Electric cars more roads at which they can meet the speed limit.

[Marty]

Electric cars are WORSE for the environment the carbon footprint from making one is double what a modern diesel is in its lifetime. Electric vehicles are not the way forward at all

[Punx0r]

Good point: Finally an acknowledgement that most accidents occur on rural roads. Hence leave the blastid motorways alone!

Bad point: Changing the speed limit is unlikely to make much difference. I know plenty of roads where 40mph would result in crashing off the road.

That, and only around 4% of accidents are caused by excess speed.

Brake are fecking idiots. I don't know where they came from, but they're always sticking their ignorant oar into any issue regarding driving. I've not seen one of their statements that was true, or even logical.

[peteT16]

I have to agree about BRAKE, they would take us back to a 4mph limit and have a man with a Red flag walking in front.

I suppose it would also lead to an explosion of scameras hidden in trees and hedges

[phoenix83]

i once saw a tv programme on this and its more todo with tractor accidents on blind bends and they state that if your doing more than 25 you have a chance of having a fatal crash... and plus we all stick to the speed limits

[Semproxion]

i once saw a tv programme on this and its more todo with tractor accidents on blind bends and they state that if your doing more than 25 you have a chance of having a fatal crash... and plus we all stick to the speed limits

That's half the issue. There are drivers that stick to the limit, regardless of the road layout & conditions. Far too many see targets rather than limits. They see the a round white circle with a black diagonal and immediate decide that it means they MUST do 60mph regardless of whether it dry/wet/icy/day/night etc.

There are roads around where I live that in the wet you wouldn't be safe driving at 40 yet people still tear down them at 60.

[phoenix83]

im usually a 40mph on country lanes kinda guy anyway as im usually half asleep on the way to and from work so i dont push my luck