Speed limits can save lives.....
 

On a regular route today, tootle up to a T junction where I turn R onto a major road. Light traffic, nothing coming from the left. A sportsbike comes from the R doing I estimate about 35-40 (it's a 30 limit), road clear after him so eyes left, car in the distance but plenty of time to turn R ahead of him. Clutch biting left foot coming up, eyes R again and there's a hooligan on a learner bike doing >40, probably trying to catch up with the first bike, so back brake back on and foot down again, no problem. A very tiny difference in the timing could have made this a very unpleasant and messy event.

My point being that if the second bike had been riding even close to the 30 limit we would have both had much more time to assess and deal with the situation even if I had been right in the middle of his lane as he came into view. That is why speed limits save lives.

Ken,

Thank goodness you managed to look back to the right again.

A few years ago, I was not so lucky... a guy pulled out infront of me, impacting my drivers door and pushing me off the road.

He then admitted that he'd only looked in my direction once, and that I was so far down the road that he'd not bothered to look again. What he'd failed to ascertain was that when he had looked at me, I was probably only doing 5mph as the car infront of me had had to stop to pull into a driveway, so he'd judged my speed when I was accellerating.

Then, he tried to pin the blame on me telling me I must've been going too fast. Then suggested that because I'd got FC insurance with protected bonus, that I should shoulder the claim anyway! Knob! :evil:

His insurance footed the entire claim and I got my excess back! :twisted:

Hi Ken
glad to hear you're unscathed.

Just to be pedantic (we've exchanged views before! :wink: ), it's driving/riding at appropriate speeds for the conditions that saves lives, not speed limits per se.

Anyway, we all know what you mean and a good reminder to all. :idea:

Re: Speed limits can save lives.....
 

No, it's good observation that saves lives, which I suggest you've just proven - well done ;).


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Re: Speed limits can save lives.....
 

once more agreed.

so if it happened in a national speed limit, speed limits wouldnt save lives ?

good observation saves lives. :)

Re: Speed limits can save lives.....
 

Agreed here too.

Re: Speed limits can save lives.....
 

Well in a national speed limit with a t junction on a gentle bend (I didn't mention that did I?) and limited lines of sight the problem would be that much worse. In some enlightened countries such a junction would of course have a speed-limit zone around it, just to remind the less well trained that slowing down near hazards is always a good idea.

Re: Speed limits can save lives.....
 

What, like all the other countries in the world, all of which have more accidents than the UK? You're obs wern't good enough and you almost got squished. Get over it.

Re: Speed limits can save lives.....
 

Well it's actually a combination of both. Good observation is clearly important, but speed limits are equally important provided they are appropriate.

I assume the scenario you're talking about is in a built up area if it's a 30 limit. Is it somewhere I'd know?

Re: Speed limits can save lives.....
 

I thought the point was his observation was good enough and because of this all was well. :?:


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