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[Markjay]

Also, it is worth remembering that the legal speed limit is there as the maximum permissible speed, but you could still be prosecuted for driving at a speed too high for the road condition even when travelling at under the speed limit.

[Markjay]

And, the statistics also show that it is worth keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you, and even more so when driving on motorways.

[kris9128]

is it true that braking/stopping distances are still based on old cars or have they now been re-calculated to allow for newer cars with better braking systems ( abs, discs etc etc ) just curious

I keep meaning to try some real stopping distances using my AP22 datalogger - on my private test track, of course.

Kevin

sounds like an experiment in the offing. if you need an assistant or somebody to hold the camera let me know. wouldnt mind a go on your private test track  

[Kevin Wood]

sounds like an experiment in the offing. if you need an assistant or somebody to hold the camera let me know. wouldnt mind a go on your private test track  

Ahem.. No problem. [size=8]Don't forget your tax disk[/size]  

Whilst it makes a valid point I hate the way these examples are always adjusted so that everything's roses for someone travelling at exactly the speed limit but it all turns to sh!t a small margin above.

IMO, it's not relevant whether you're at, a few percent above or below the limit that matters but whether your attention is focussed on observing the road conditions ahead and adjusting your speed accordingly or on driving at precisely the speed limit.

Kevin

[Marks DTM Calib]

I think what I am saying is that stupidity and due car and attention or the main problems.......speed is a factor but, you could be traveling at 10mph in a 30 in your chelsea tractor and still hit somebody if distracted...

[hotel21]

Remember that the stats/sums quoted are hypothetical calculations not 'real' examples and are simply to get a point across.....  

Its similar to being able to calculate the maximum speed for a bend where any faster and the car becomes unstable.

[Sipey]

Collision Speeds

(Figures From The Thames Valley Police Accident Investigation Team)

Vehicle “A” is travelling at 30mph in a built up area, a child steps into the road and the driver manages to stop just before hitting him.Vehicle “B” is travelling at 32mph, in exactly the same situation the vehicle will hit that child at 11mph.
At 40mph - 26mph
At 50mph - 40mph

Vehicle “A” is now travelling at 40mph on a road of that speed limit, a vehicle pulls out of a junction and the driver just manages to stop before hitting it.Vehicle ”B” is travelling at 60mph, in exactly the same situation, he will hit that vehicle travelling at 45mph.

Vehicle “A” is now travelling on a Motorway at 70mph, for no apparent reason the traffic is stationary ahead of him, he just manages to stop before ploughing into the back of the vehicle ahead.
Vehicle “B” is travelling at 80mph, in exactly the same situation he will hit the vehicle ahead at 38mph.
At 90mph - 57mph
At 100mph - 71mph

Is this starting to build a picture? At the higher speed in each situation vehicle “B” is colliding at a speed greater than the maximum limit he should be driving at.

Makes you think doesn’t it?

 Makes me think the stats are either unclear or wrong  :-/

[Albert1]

I think what is missing from the "Vehicle A is travelling at...." scenarios is the vital phrase (and one which is always included when these test results are reported by those responsible for conducting them) is "all other factors being equal".  In reality, "all other factors" will never be equal.  Numpty driver in Vehicle A, who has his brakes serviced by Qwik-Fitt Spanner-Monkey who used cheap parts and didn't give a monkey's uncle about the quality of his work, is going to produce different results than a driver in Vehicle A.1 who uses the best brake parts he can reasonably afford and competently fits them himself, doing a top job in the process.  So if Vehicle A has so many variables (because, once again, "all other factors" will never be equal), then the result can't even be compared properly to Vehicle A.1, let alone Vehicle A at 30MPH and Vehicle B at 40 MPH etc etc.

In a nutshell, just as the safety gained by the 10MPH reduction in speed can be lost easilly by other factors (tyres, brakes, shocks, driver skill, driver awareness at that precise moment in time), the safety lost by driving 10MPH faster can be regained by other factors - good brakes, good driver, etc etc.

[Sipey]

So all things being equal, traveling at 40mph in the same conditions under the same distances and circumstances, the driver would avoid the car but not the kid?

Obviously it's his neighbor’s chavy kid who keyed his car last week and this is his act of vengeance