30mph zones are that for a reason. cos if some child was to walk or run out infront of you they are more likely to survive with a few broken bones then if you are doing 35 where you could kill them. cars are dangerous!
How many times have we all seen that advert and the only thing I keep thinking is if somebody were to hit a pedestrian at 30-40mph, they would have to be driving like a complete loon with their eyes shut....
I'd hope that even with the most basic driver training, motorist are taught to look and scan the road repeatedly and react accordingly to hazards... Therefore BRAKING down from 30mph. To plough straight into somebody at 30-40mph, that 'somebody' deserves to lose their licence. If the unfortunate did happen, in most circumstances i'd be surprised if the closing speed was more than 20mph :-? Make sense?
Emphatically NOPE!!!
You're assuming that a child will be taller than the parked cars on the side of the road and won't run out in front of you
NEVER, EVER rely on the sense of those around you.
I rode a bike for a number of years; there is no way better to learn this extremely valuable lesson.
Have been refraining from commenting but, Gaffers speaks sense....
Apart from the radio bit? Whats that about??
If you remember the first kill your speed campain, I did one of radio commercials.
Have a look here for a flash back Gaffers junior is in the bowtie at the begining
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPnjeVHYQBM
That voiceover is John Hannah from 4 Weddings isn't it?
Great voice
Oh and prestigesec, I really can't describe how I want to respond to your posts, much of it has been said far better (and more controlled) than I could say.
He did nail it in that reading in the film I must admit.
Personally I havent seen that advert for a long time because my mum has the only copy on VHS
quite rightly she guards over it like a hawk
Does anyone have or know of anyway of converting it to DVD so that I can keep a more secure copy. The VHS and the youtube posting are the only ones I know of.
And prestigsec I can kind of see where you are coming from, maybe you havent expressed yourself as you may have wished. You do seem to make a lot of assumptions about one specific driving situation. But lets not forget you never know what is coming and those like debs who do some advanced driving lessons realise that regardless of your level you are always learning. My bro was killed when he was cycyling his bike through the village, perfect driving conditions which enticed a youth to race his mate to a party. Estimates are that he was doing 80mph in a village where the limit was 60 (later reduced to 30 through some heavy campaigning) As he was racing and thus preventing his mate from overtaking he wasnt paying attention to the road infront. There were no parked cars and nothing to obstruct his view.
I cycled for 5 years in Sheffield often in the 20-30 mph bracket where motorists do not take notice of you at all. When cycling downhill you have to operate VERY defensively in that situation, add poor weather to the equation and its a nightmare. I had a eureka moment one day after a trundle downhill in the rain when 2 cars pulled out in front of me in different places one did the right thing when he eventually saw me and proceeded to GLF to get out of the way the second decided to stop in the middle of the road! Needless to say I was airborn for a short while and despite beat plods being nearby they didnt see or decide to do anything (my confidence in the police was already shattered years before after a different cycling incident)
I fitted an airhorn to my bike where the gas conister was on the tribar/handlebar area and the horn, connected through some aquarium pipe, was siuated under the saddle. It worked a treat and I had virtually no problems after that. If I couldent be seen then I was going to be heard. I also continued onto work in Paris where I used to cycle frequently around the Etoile/Arc de Triomphe which is scary enough in a car yet the airhorn made a massive difference.
Sadly the bike was stolen along with my prototype and I havent got around to recreating it yet...
I think the morality is that everyone has a duty to drive smarter. Yes speed is a factor but more in a sense of your ability to see and react to what is around you rather than what your collision speed might be. Speed is not the only element of your driving that needs constant vigilance and attention. I dont have a beef with people who speed, just those who are irresponsible in their application of speed according to the conditions and surroundings. Dont forget you can drive slowly and be dangerous too.