Watching the speedo like mad.

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Sun 13 Apr 2014 18:08
Watching the speedo like mad. - pullgees

Since October last year the minimum speeding ticket has gone up to £100 plus three points.

I got caught by a camera van and opted to do the speed awareness course for £80 and no points. I was clocked doing 35mph on a downhill approach to a village.

You don't get a second chance to do the course for three years. Now I'm absolutely on edge and ultra careful checking my speed all the time; the hiked fine is most definitely a deterrent, that really is unaffordable for me.

I don't want or expect any symphathy here, but I wonder how safer I'm actually driving now, constantly checking my speedo, which takes eyes off the road.

Do all sat-navs give a recurring speed limit warning beep, this could be the solution?

Edited by pullgees on 13/04/2014 at 18:09

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Sun 13 Apr 2014 18:48
Watching the speedo like mad. - gordonbennet

My satnav beeps at me if i'm over the limit, and it doesn't have to be programmed either it knows the speed limit of the road you are on, seldom need the thing for route finding but its sometimes useful for early warnings of traffic ahead.

I agree with you that watching your speedo constantly and watching out for hedge overgrown speed cameras, dodgily parked camera vans and coppers playing hide and seek behind lamp posts or playing sniper over the roof of the BMW on the hard shoulder etc isn't good for real road safety, you should be constantly scanning as good drivers do, not panicking lest you happened to slip just over the limit and failed to spot the latest revenue gathering wheeze.

Edited by gordonbennet on 13/04/2014 at 18:49

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Sun 13 Apr 2014 19:17
Watching the speedo like mad. - Snakey

This is the stupidity of our road safety policy these days - you spend so much time looking at the huge amount of road signs,speed camera threats etc that you put the awareness of other vehicles/bikes/pedestrians further down your list of priorities.

Driving through an unfamiliar city can be a nightmare as you spend more time working out if you're about to get done for putting a wheel in a bus lane, or exceeding the speed limit by 1mph to get the double decker bus off your tail - I wish we could all concentrate a bit more on the actual driving part of the job!

If anyone wants an example - drive through the northbound tyne tunnel - you can't even count the signs let alone read them, there are so many warnings/threats etc in the approach its almost comical!

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Sun 13 Apr 2014 19:34
Watching the speedo like mad. - oldroverboy.

I use a combination of swmbo speed warnings, sat nav, but have found a free app for android phones which reflects a heads up display in front of my eyes in the windscreen. after gettin my "speed awareness course last year am now "concerned" about any more tickets.

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Sun 13 Apr 2014 21:47
Watching the speedo like mad. - daveyjp
I struggle with people who can't drive and check speed. Driving is all about control and observation. Eyes should be checking things all the time. Left mirror, inetrior mirror, right mirror, speedo.

If I am approaching a downhill section of road my first thought is to drop a gear to maintain engine braking.
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Sun 13 Apr 2014 22:17
Watching the speedo like mad. - alan1302
I struggle with people who can't drive and check speed. Driving is all about control and observation. Eyes should be checking things all the time. Left mirror, inetrior mirror, right mirror, speedo. If I am approaching a downhill section of road my first thought is to drop a gear to maintain engine braking.

Agree with this - keeping your car at a particular speed is just part of normal drivng.

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Sun 13 Apr 2014 22:51
Watching the speedo like mad. - jamie745

I think people are spending more time looking at their dashboards than they used to. People also stick to 69mph whenever they see a flourescent car, which forces the Police to speed up to clear the traffic but it's their own fault. The Police's relentless pursuit of anybody going slightly too fast has caused this.

If it's not staring at the speedo, it's keeping an eye out for potholes. The roads are in such bad shape now I'm more likely to examine the surface than pay attention to any cyclists or pedestrians.

I was done for 49 in a 30 and I do get slightly paranoid now, I find myself sitting at 29 in 30 limits where you'd usually go faster, so everybody else behind you gets annoyed and tries to go past, which makes it more dangerous than just doing 40. Frankly.

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Sun 13 Apr 2014 22:52
Watching the speedo like mad. - alan1302

If it's not staring at the speedo, it's keeping an eye out for potholes. The roads are in such bad shape now I'm more likely to examine the surface than pay attention to any cyclists or pedestrians.

I truly hope you don't do this really

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Sun 13 Apr 2014 23:05
Watching the speedo like mad. - jamie745

Maybe a slight overstatement but I'm definately looking out for holes in the road more than I was a couple of years ago. It must be robbing focus from somewhere else.

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Sun 13 Apr 2014 23:23
Watching the speedo like mad. - gordonbennet

Same here Jamie.

Our Northants urban roads are more suited to a Challenger tank, but seeing as we haven't got one of those and i'm not buying another Landcruiser cos they are holding ridiculous prices, the softly sprung Outback will have to do.

My MB indy swears most of his work is suspension related now, down to pot holes and traffic calming/wrecking measures.

Hang on i've still got a fiver in me wallet, i'll send it straight to some foreign dictator, save civil servants a job of demanding i hand it over and them sending it for me, then having to go to all the trouble of attending the taxpayer funded and protected palace for a gong in recognition of their sacrifices, poor loves.

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Sun 13 Apr 2014 23:41
Watching the speedo like mad. - jamie745

Oh I'm very much used to the Government taking every last pound I've got and spending it on things to make earning my money in the first place more difficult.

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Mon 14 Apr 2014 00:20
Watching the speedo like mad. - Andrew-T

Oh I'm very much used to the Government taking every last pound I've got and spending it on things to make earning my money in the first place more difficult.

I hope this is not a true picture of your thinking, Jamie, as it sounds like the words of a paranoid conspiracy theorist.

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Mon 14 Apr 2014 21:28
Watching the speedo like mad. - mss1tw

Oh I'm very much used to the Government taking every last pound I've got and spending it on things to make earning my money in the first place more difficult.

I hope this is not a true picture of your thinking, Jamie, as it sounds like the words of a paranoid conspiracy theorist.

Are you self-employed?

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Mon 14 Apr 2014 17:19
Watching the speedo like mad. - pullgees

I use a combination of swmbo speed warnings, sat nav, but have found a free app for android phones which reflects a heads up display in front of my eyes in the windscreen. after gettin my "speed awareness course last year am now "concerned" about any more tickets.

I'll look into that .

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Mon 14 Apr 2014 09:35
Watching the speedo like mad. - RichT54
Do all sat-navs give a recurring speed limit warning beep, this could be the solution?

One problem with relying on a sat-nav is that they are not always up to date, even for road layouts, let alone speed limits, especially if it's a built-in unit. The built-in sat-nav in my CR-V didn't display speed limits at all. The one in my A3 displays the limits, but there is no audible warning if the limit is exceeded.

In the CR-V you could set two speed settings which caused an audible warning when you accelerated through them. I had them set to 30 and 70mph and found them to be a useful reminder, but limited given the wide number of other speed limits. I also understand that a lot of people would find them to be really annoying!

The Audi only has one setting which I currently have set to 70mph. However you can configure the dash to show a largish digital speed readout in the centre of the instrument panel which I find easier to check with a quick glance. A HUD projected on the windscreen would be more in line of site, but possibly more distracting.

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Mon 14 Apr 2014 10:10
Watching the speedo like mad. - unthrottled

Unless you're in an unfamiliar area looking for directions, how hard can it be?

Using a lower gear can be helpful to avoid creeping over the limit-albeit with an obvious penalty in consumption. Cheaper than points though.

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Mon 14 Apr 2014 12:22
Watching the speedo like mad. - Sofa Spud

Keeping an eye on the speedo is an integral part of driving. I don't think in all my years of driving, that looking at the speedo has compromised safety. On the other hand it has ensured that I've never been done for speeding, and I hope to keep things that way.

On the other hand, I recall an occasion when I was looking in the rear view mirror when a 'situation' suddenly developed in front of me - luckily with no collision. But I don't think anyone would suggest that we shouldn't look in the mirrors!

Edited by Sofa Spud on 14/04/2014 at 12:23

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Mon 14 Apr 2014 15:05
Watching the speedo like mad. - jamie745

I hope this is not a true picture of your thinking, Jamie, as it sounds like the words of a paranoid conspiracy theorist.

Claiming conspiracy would give them far too much credit. They couldn't organise a prayer in a mosque. It was merely an observation.

I'm not saying looking at the speedo is a problem in itself. The problem is too many motorists now have become paranoid about being done for speeding, which can't be helpful.

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Mon 14 Apr 2014 17:17
Watching the speedo like mad. - pullgees

Keeping an eye on the speedo is an integral part of driving. I don't think in all my years of driving, that looking at the speedo has compromised safety. On the other hand it has ensured that I've never been done for speeding, and I hope to keep things that way.

It's luck in your case because there isn't a driver in the world that hasn't drifted over the speed limit.

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Mon 14 Apr 2014 21:13
Watching the speedo like mad. - jamie745

How many motorists have an SP30 these days?

Half?

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Mon 14 Apr 2014 21:15
Watching the speedo like mad. - gordonbennet

How many motorists have an SP30 these days?

Half?

Not many here i'll wager, quite a few up for fast track Sainthood when they pass on.

:-))

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Mon 14 Apr 2014 21:29
Watching the speedo like mad. - daveyjp
It must be the case that the more I drive the luckier I get.
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Mon 14 Apr 2014 22:30
Watching the speedo like mad. - UncleRob
Do all sat-navs give a recurring speed limit warning beep, this could be the solution?

My Tom-Tom beeps 3 mph over the limit (programmeable I think) and the limits it has are usually pretty good, but I do keep it up to date.

Advice on the Speed Awareness courses is apparently to be in 2nd gear for a 20 mph limit, 3rd for a 30, 4th for a 40...

.... The trouble is my car doesn't have 7 gears! :)

Edited by UncleRob on 14/04/2014 at 22:32

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Mon 14 Apr 2014 23:19
Watching the speedo like mad. - jamie745

3rd in a 30?

I have occasionally had to change gears like you peasants and I'd use 4th in a 30. Maybe 5th, if it's a small engine with ideal gearing.

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Mon 14 Apr 2014 23:25
Watching the speedo like mad. - gordonbennet

Think i lock my work vehicle in 10th for 30..:-), makes no odds the slightest downhill when loaded and it will run on.

Edited by gordonbennet on 14/04/2014 at 23:25

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Tue 15 Apr 2014 00:11
Watching the speedo like mad. - Sofa Spud

QUOTE:...""It's luck in your case because there isn't a driver in the world that hasn't drifted over the speed limit.""

I Wouldn't say I've never drifted over the limit, but making a good effort to always stay within limits certainly greatly reduces the risk of being 'done'

Going back to what I said about looking at the speedo being no more distracting than looking in the rear view mirror, one could equally say that there isn't a driver in the world who hasn't on some occasion failed to make proper use of their mirror(s).

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Tue 15 Apr 2014 00:54
Watching the speedo like mad. - pullgees

Right I've downloaded a free android app from google play, Speedlimit GPS Speed HUD, I think it's called, . It's got a heads up display and a sound alert. You set the speed and a siren sound goes off when you go past that speed but ceases when it becomes evident that you are going way past the limit set, Whilst hovering around the speed set it will sound everytime you go over.

Just what I need! No more NIPs. Haha!

Edited by pullgees on 15/04/2014 at 01:00

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Tue 15 Apr 2014 14:09
Watching the speedo like mad. - Snakey

Watching the speed limit is just one part of it - you also have to watch out for the panic brakers who drop from 40 (in a 40 zone!) to 29 when the see the speed camera. Or like the muppets who bring the motorways to a standstill by rubbernecking an accident on the opposite side of the road.

It is easy to keep your speed down (as has been self righteously mentioned here) but when you have a barrage of other factors thrown at you then its also easy to creep over the limit and thats when plod is usually hiding behind a tree, or a bus lane camera catches you!

Humans will make human errors, and thats not allowed anymore on our cctv-policed roads.

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Fri 25 Apr 2014 22:47
Watching the speedo like mad. - oldroverboy.

Right I've downloaded a free android app from google play, Speedlimit GPS Speed HUD, I think it's called, . It's got a heads up display and a sound alert. You set the speed and a siren sound goes off when you go past that speed but ceases when it becomes evident that you are going way past the limit set, Whilst hovering around the speed set it will sound everytime you go over.

Just what I need! No more NIPs. Haha!

I like the hud that reflects off my nokia 1320 upwards onto the screen and is a decent size so don't have to look "down" and take my eyes off the road.

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Fri 25 Apr 2014 22:31
Watching the speedo like mad. - Smileyman

cruise control is good for avoiding speeding tickets ... but I do admit when I am in unfamiliar parts of the country, especially where the Police are more active with speed, I spend a disproportionate effort in avoiding a ticket, it cannot be good for general road safety to so transfixed with just one aspect of motoring

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