Speeding in the UK

[darmstadt]

They have speed limit - around 155 mph, this is build into most cars. But perhaps the most important limit they have is their sense of responsibility for their own and other peoples lifes - something that you clearly do not have.

(all speeds quoted are in km/h...)

When you drive over the border in to Germany you will see a sign that says 130 which is the official speed limit in Germany, as such. Yes, there are many places where you can go above that, I do all the time, but if you have an accident above 130, even if you are totally blameless then you're insurance can be declared null and void. At the very least you will be expected to pay 50% of the total costs. As for the speed limit quoted above, this is not true. Most German (and some non-German) car manufacturers voluntarily agreed to limit the speed of their models to 250. This can be changed by taking your car to the dealer and having the restriction removed. You then need to go to the TüV (like MOT) and get your car papers changed to show this. A number of cars are not restricted such as Porsche, Alpina, etc. though.

You cannot drive your car here without insurance as well as to get number plates for your car, you need insurance. On your number plates are the TüV and ASU (exhaust emission) and the date they run out. Police and the Ordnungsamt regularly check cars to see if they are up to date and if not, then the sticker is scratched off. Everytime you make a modification to your car, i.e. different wheels, you need to get yourself down to the TüV and get your documents updated.

[DodgyAgent]

seems to me that speed cops will need PhDs in algebra rather than straightforward common sense. Just imagine being pulled over by AtW!

"vood you mind stepping out of ze car comrade?"
"certainly officer what seems to be the problem?".

You haf broken ze law in zat car.

"How so officer?"

"you ver doing 77 mph and ze crash barriers cannot cope vis zat sort of speed of impact. In ozer vords you vas driving dangerous"

"Well officer I am an engineer and I know for a fact that these crash barriers are capable of absorbing an impact of 80mph.

"OK zen I am going to prosecute you for running over zat squirrel, zat poor fluffy squirrel zat you have just run over, I vill haf you shot for zat"

[Churchill]

seems to me that speed cops will need PhDs in algebra rather than straightforward common sense. Just imagine being pulled over by AtW!

"vood you mind stepping out of ze car comrade?"
"certainly officer what seems to be the problem?".

You haf broken ze law in zat car.

"How so officer?"

"you ver doing 77 mph and ze crash barriers cannot cope vis zat sort of speed of impact. In ozer vords you vas driving dangerous"

"Well officer I am an engineer and I know for a fact that these crash barriers are capable of absorbing an impact of 80mph.
"OK zen I am going to prosecute you for running over zat squirrel, zat poor fluffy squirrel zat you have just run over, I vill haf you shot for zat"

Shades of "My Cousin Vinny" there...

[AtW]

seems to me that speed cops will need PhDs in algebra rather than straightforward common sense. Just imagine being pulled over by AtW!

"vood you mind stepping out of ze car comrade?"
"certainly officer what seems to be the problem?".

You haf broken ze law in zat car.

"How so officer?"

"you ver doing 77 mph and ze crash barriers cannot cope vis zat sort of speed of impact. In ozer vords you vas driving dangerous"

"Well officer I am an engineer and I know for a fact that these crash barriers are capable of absorbing an impact of 80mph.

"OK zen I am going to prosecute you for running over zat squirrel, zat poor fluffy squirrel zat you have just run over, I vill haf you shot for zat"

Nice try - I'd just shoot you for ze "attempted escape"

[TimberWolf]

I can say from recent experience that you can be made to feel like a bit of a menace doing 30 mph in some thirty limited zones. Just try it religiously for a day, all of you, it may well drive you insane. It’s so distracting when people come behind you and try to bully you into doing the more usual 35 mph on a clear road, or try to overtake. Added to which to allow some leeway for error, sticking to 29 mph is even less fun since in between glancing at the speedo and the line of impatient cars weaving behind, you also need to glance at the road now and then. I did 31.5 mph today (accidentally was watching the road too long) and was just praying I didn’t end up getting a speeding ticket.

I have to go for my SpeedChoice indoctrination session today.

[threaded]

I can say from recent experience that you can be made to feel like a bit of a menace doing 30 mph in some thirty limited zones. Just try it religiously for a day, all of you, it may well drive you insane. It’s so distracting when people come behind you and try to bully you into doing the more usual 35 mph on a clear road, or try to overtake. Added to which to allow some leeway for error, sticking to 29 mph is even less fun since in between glancing at the speedo and the line of impatient cars weaving behind, you also need to glance at the road now and then. I did 31.5 mph today (accidentally was watching the road too long) and was just praying I didn’t end up getting a speeding ticket.

I have to go for my SpeedChoice indoctrination session today.

Do it regular. Nothing as annoying for other road users than being stuck behind something exotic that is sticking to the speed limits.

It's actually quite common in Denmark to do it, it's a cultural thing and I'm just trying to fit in.

[threaded]

In this country, the crash barriers are designed for cars, they are not intended to stop or deflect heavier vehicles... this explains why I encountered an HGV facing the wrong way on the hardshoulder of the M6 near Coventry... it had come across the central reservation, leaving an extremely flat crash barrier.

Driver was white faced...

Absolutely, the tensioned-wire type are a particular hazard for motorcyclists.

[Churchill]

Absolutely, the tensioned-wire type are a particular hazard for motorcyclists.

WGAS?

[NotAllThere]

... Added to which to allow some leeway for error, sticking to 29 mph is even less fun since in between glancing at the speedo and the line of impatient cars weaving behind, you also need to glance at the road now and then...

Just switch on the cruise control.

[Joe Black]

100 mph is not dangerous on German motorways (where permitted) because:

a) it is actually fairly slow speed there - if its dangerous then only because it might be too slow
b) they designed motorways in mind for these speeds (crash barriers better)
c) they are not tw@ts that speed up like this in irresponsible fashion.

Hmm...

Am I missing something, since BASt (the German Federal Highway Research Institute) in their last report still showed the death (kill) rate being 25% higher, or 60% in the case of motorways, than the UK?