Cars & Driving

Talking Bollocks: That’s where they are at.

7 Comments

MPs want to see the drink-drive limit and speed limits lowered to combat road deaths.

They’re a particularly dense bunch aren’t they? There’s no mention anywhere of how many deaths are caused by drivers that have drunk, and what proportion are over the existing limit, and similarly, how many are caused directly be speed (be that too fast for the conditions, or over the posted limit).

We have existing laws to deal with drunk drivers and reckless/dangerous/careless driving. If there were any traffic police to catch people, maybe that would be enough.

7 thoughts on “Talking Bollocks: That’s where they are at.”

  1. The only way to reduce road deaths is to regularly test people and stop inexperienced drivers driving too powerful cars. I would stop sort though of putting things like governors on cars for the purpose of speed restriction as I’m sure that contributes to bad driving by lorry drivers.

    Maybe Traffic Wardens should have more powers in this area?

  2. I’m with you on the governors. Ever been stuck on a dual carriageway behind 2 trucks, one doing 55.8mph, one 55.9, both against the limiter?

    But Traffic wardens? Nah.

    I agree there should be a BHP/Tonne limit for new drivers, and maybe regular testing. I’d like to see more driver education with less focus on speed alone. Maybe after last weekend a ‘pulling out to overtake when there isn’t enough space to make it in an Veyron, but trying it it a shitty Dagenham Dustbin when you’re a dumb young girly driving beyond your talent anyway is really thick” theme?

  3. Traffic cops – traffic wardens whatever. But I think either of them should be pulling people over more regularly to point out bad driving. And regular testing would weed out bad habits which we’ve all got, but reminding you of the basics is one way of avoiding accidents and calming people down. I know I’d benefit from it as I get really stressed driving around the Black Country.

    I agree you can’t leave it all to legislation and the stupid politicians…..

  4. Time to fess-up a bit. Many years ago (30ish) I used to be in the Fire Brigade and remember one night attending an RTA where a Mini had hit some street furniture and rolled down the road for several hundred yards. No other vehicle involved. The body count in the car didn’t match the head count. 5 youths, (admittedly not much younger than me at the time) had been out drinking for the evening and their 850 Mini on cross-plys couldn’t handle the bend at the speed they were doing.

    I spent a good hour walking the length and breadth of a cabbage field in the dark with nothing more than a crappy Pifco torch looking for the missing head. I found it eventually. Since then I’ve never driven beyond my own or the vehicles ability. Now I’m not suggesting youths of today should attend a body parts seek and find course but at least they should be educated more on the consequences of drinking and driving.

    On the subject of youths and drink, has anybody else seen that drink aware ad where the girl gets ready to go out by dressing as she would probably herself later in the evening? It’s really good.

  5. I’ve not had that sort of experience, thankfully. I think most of us thankfully learn that lesson without injury- usually just a bit of a fright. Can’t envy the head search.

    I’ve worked for the Fire Service in my past too, but as a radio/datacomms tech. Did spend some time working with a chap that had to recover bits of the unfortunate truck driver who crashed his petrol tanker at Spaghetti Junction.

    Not seen the advert yet, no.

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