Electrical question

[SBD]

You wouldn’t need speed limits if everyone used common sense, and drove (and walked) with their wits about them, and at speeds that were appropriate for the circumstances.

You need speed limits because there are boy racers and dickheads out there. And morons glued to the screen of their mobile phones and headphones on. And because children and old dodderers do dangerous things because they don’t know any better.

And frankly, 20mph is too fast sometimes.

And conversely, 70 is far slower than circumstances may permit.

 

[Flappytabs]

So you're all good with a blanket 20mph? Obviously you don't live in London.
The 'speed limit is for our safety' argument is bx.

I dont think I have I said I agree with the speed limit but whether we think it is for safety or not, the law says it is, therefore there is no argument for driving/riding above the limit.

 

[Slipperyeel]

I dont think I have I said I agree with the speed limit but whether we think it is for safety or not, the law says it is, therefore there is no argument for driving/riding above the limit.

Well. I have to agree that 'it's the law, therefore you're stuffed if something goes awry'. But the blanket 20mph limit should be a wake up call. Just because it's 'the law' does not make it right. There is the letter of the law and the spirit of the law and then there is total over reach... Get done for doing '24mph' on a dead Sunday on, on an empty road that used to be 30 or even 40 and this idea will plant itself nicely. I thought like you once, no longer...
(I have not yet been done, but friends have, in cars mostly - cash cow comes to mind).

I know this is all a bit off piste from the op. apologies!

 

[botus]

Well. I have to agree that 'it's the law, therefore you're stuffed if something goes awry'. But the blanket 20mph limit should be a wake up call. Just because it's 'the law' does not make it right. There is the letter of the law and the spirit of the law and then there is total over reach... Get done for doing '24mph' on a dead Sunday on, on an empty road that used to be 30 or even 40 and this idea will plant itself nicely. I thought like you once, no longer...
(I have not yet been done, but friends have, in cars mostly - cash cow comes to mind).

I know this is all a bit off piste from the op. apologies!

I had to go into London twice last summer - I chose to go on my bike at is was 1 quid to park for the day, and I got there on one gallon of fuel - whereas two on the train is £70 and 40 mins walking - its a journey I used to regularly do in 25 mins - but with joke 20 mph limits and fake smart motorway restrictions it took more than 90 mins each way (on both occasions, outside rush hour) - that is the sole point of these crazy road initiatives

they don't care about safety or anyone's well-being - they only care we are busy and stressed as they take our money in fake energy prices, then steal most of what they claim is being used maintaining the slaughter of Ukrainians

the blanket 20mph in London is a joke, the bike doesn't want to ride well at this speed - so you spend all the time looking at the speedo and trying to make it go slow enough - then sit stuck in narrow lanes created for the mostly non existent cyclists behind queues of cars waiting at red lights they deliberately set up to block up OUR roads.

As I meandered along sections one once did comfortably at 90mph - I decided 25mph would be much safer - its just about fast enough and doable you could achieve it whilst still looking where you are going - Never believe we are governed by incompetent fools - its all 100% planned to achieve goals one day you will regret not realising they were creating

 

[Flappytabs]

Fortunately I no longer have to drive in London

 

[TaskMule]

Well this thread went to shite

 

[JoeBiff]

Well this thread went to shite

It was a non-starter from the get-go…. (See what I did there?)
Aided and abetted by some tramp talking about component theft, tech changes, what someone’s grandpa did when he was driving his Toyota, to ‘twenty’s plenty’ in London.

Great for a Friday afternoon’s entertaining.

 

[Slipperyeel]

You wouldn’t need speed limits if everyone used common sense, and drove (and walked) with their wits about them, and at speeds that were appropriate for the circumstances.

You need speed limits because there are boy racers and dickheads out there. And morons glued to the screen of their mobile phones and headphones on. And because children and old dodderers do dangerous things because they don’t know any better.

And frankly, 20mph is too fast sometimes.

And conversely, 70 is far slower than circumstances may permit.

I mostly agree with you.
Yes, 20 can be too fast. More than 70 is all good, sometimes. so why not more variable/different limits - I rather think councils are missing a trick since they would 'catch' more people if they installed rational limits in places that meant something.
Actually, after 45yrs riding motorbikes (I was racing bicycles on the road some years before that) I have personally arrived at a kernel: touch nothing, touch no one, respect the speed limits (within reason). These take you to a sensible outcome.
Speed imits are needed. In part because of the loonies you list. But also to guide us on unfamiliar roads (and remind the locals!).
Unfortunately common sense is unquantifiable. Except for those whose prize self preservation!
But for any given society/community you will always have your % of bone head loonies... And they are used as the excuse to beat us all up with. Apparently it's called democracy