Speed limits are not arbitrary, enforcement of traffic laws is arbitrary. If your're a policeman, how are you going to fill your ticket quota? By driving around paying attention to motorists or by parking in the shade with a donut and the new issue of JUGGS, letting the radar gun find the outlaws?

It is just as illegal to disobey this sign:


As it is to disobey this sign:





Drivers that set the cruise control and plant themselves in the passing lane are much more of a hazard than speeders. Faster traffic is forced to slow down (not likely) or pass on the right (unsafe and illegal). When the faster car is forced to weave through lanes to get around the prick in the left lane there is a much higher chance that there will be an accident. When was the last time you heard of somebody getting a ticket for not conceding the left lane to faster traffic?

 

A VERY good point indeed. This is something you just see SO much of here in the States. A person who is hogging the left lane and just DOES not care that he is holding up traffic. Not only does this frustrate the drivers behind him but it creates a very unsafe driving environment. You will NOT see this happen when you drive on the Autobahn - I guess it is just a question of basic driver education and awareness.

 

In the U.K. as elsewhere I suspect, the training required to pass the Driving Test is minimal. I still find it incredible that in the U.K. this test can still be passed with limited experience of varied driving conditions i.e. night driving. Also learner drivers cannot drive on motorways in this country. It scares me to think of someone who has just passed his test in a Vauxhall Corsa going out and buying a high performance car and bombing down the slip road unnacompanied to enter a motorway for the first time at night or in fog. I do not support blatant disregard of the speeding laws but it is a fact that high speed driving sharpens all reflexes.The need to look further ahead and anticipate and plan your driving is much more acute. Several Chief Police Officers are talking about zero tolerance to speeders in this country.One very experienced senior traffic policeman has angered his Chief by saying that it is the innappropriate use of speed which is dangerous. Hes says that the thought of everyone driving around at 30mph eyes glued to the speedo for fear of hitting 31 mph scares him to death.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Moneeb
[B]

 

I wanna live in Germany!

 

One simple statement: Speed is Life.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bieg
[B] I agree that driving faster forces concentration where driving at 55 bores you to sleep.

 

I second your comment Bieg...

I spent two years living in Bavaria. I also took the German driving test so I think I can say that they are better drivers...in general. I certainly would not feel comfortable on US highways if everone was doing close to 100 all the time. IMHO it comes down to common sense...like not driving a F****** SUV 90 mph or cruising aimlessly at 60 in the left lane.

OK I feel better. Thanks for listening...

 

Faster is only better when everyone is cognizant of what speed most people will be doing, and with respect the "slower traffic" rules.
I spent four weeks driving through several countries in Europe this spring. The high speeds that the drivers maintain is a bit disconcerting at first. Within a short while, you can pick up what the accepted "norm" is for each lane and adjust to their system. I witnessed various high speed vehicles coming down the left lane (right lane in UK) and consistently, the slower vehicle either cleared the lane, or more importantly, did not change lanes to pass that truck they were seemingly doing 5 kmh faster than.
The apparent driver awareness kept the faster cars driving faster, and I believe that everyone was able to maintain a higher speed overall. It certainly felt safer.
I have seldom seen this sort of awareness in North America, and have to agree with several other people here. High speed is for the track. Knowing that police do not generally ticket at "10 over", has made the practical speed limit the posted limit + what the police will not ticket below. Those that go above that are risking more than their license.
Excessive speed in populated areas is more risk than any perceived benefit could garner. Unless yours is the only life risked, one injury or life is not worth any time saving, and is certainly a poor trade off for having a "great days racing".
Just mho.
sousleau

 

You know...every once in a while it's just fun to drive it like you stole it though!