Would an anti-motorist grind someones gears ?
Owen Smith
Well-Known Member
This ignores the shape and weight of the vehicles. I'm sure being hit by a 2 ton brick shaped SUV at 20mph where all the energy goes into the pedestrian is worse than being hit by a sensible weight and size normal car at 30mph where the pedestrian by design rolls off the bonnet sideways hence not all the energy is transferred.The scientific reason is the survival rates at 20mph compared to higher speeds. Do you also think the drink drive limit is also a crock and just a compromise ?
Survival Rate on 20mph Roads 17.5% Higher, Say Motor Safety Groups
With road fatalities rising, introducing 20mph roads across the UK could save hundreds of lives a year. Motoring safety experts at Road Angelautoscommunity.com
I don't understand why cars are legally required to shape the bonnet to cause pedestrian roll off, and yet SUVs are allowed to be shaped like a house brick guaranteeing slamming straight into pedestrians. My 2002 Mini Cooper S has a bonnet shape no longer legal for new cars because pedestrians can get into the dip between the wings and the centre of the bonnet.
Last edited:
Owen Smith
Well-Known Member
That'a historic, no new roads in Germany have no speed limit. But it's a political nightmare to add them to roads that don't currently have them, which is only some autobahns.
Black Hole
May contain traces of nut
Nobody's trying to reduce the speed of trains because they collide with stupid people on level crossings.
Nobody's trying to increase the speed of cars because they do not collide with pedestrians on motorways
EEPhil
Number 28
Oh to see the signs displaying Ausfahrt...
Black Hole
May contain traces of nut
That is as much to do with fuel consumption as anything else.
If you have a physical button forcing a cocktail stick in to keep it pressed down might do the trick of always start/stop turned off.
Ditto
antipodean
Active Member
Yeah, but when you see "Ausfahrt 2000m" and you realise that is only 30 seconds away because of the speed you are doing ...
My Mondeo with automatic gearbox tops out at around 120mph, the previous one with manual box got to that speed and still had a touch of accelerator left. I never quite got that one to top out before the wife wrote it off.
Black Hole
May contain traces of nut
In the newspaper today: "government advisors" are suggesting a blanket 20mph in built-up areas just because it's cheaper to implement than putting up the signage for specific 20mph zones. 
(Before anyone chimes in "here, here", I'll bet they have never experienced driving in Wales. Keeping to 20mph where 30 is more appropriate is not easy, distracting, requires a lower gear and therefore increases fuel consumption and CO2/pollution, and actually hardly anybody does. I've been overtaken when doing 25mph! 20mph on side roads is reasonably painless... 3 miles across town isn't.)
(Before anyone chimes in "here, here", I'll bet they have never experienced driving in Wales. Keeping to 20mph where 30 is more appropriate is not easy, distracting, requires a lower gear and therefore increases fuel consumption and CO2/pollution, and actually hardly anybody does. I've been overtaken when doing 25mph! 20mph on side roads is reasonably painless... 3 miles across town isn't.)
Last edited:
"Speed Limiters (ISA) on Every New Car
Intelligent Speed Assistance has been required on all new car models since July 2024, but from July 2026 it applies to all new cars sold — including existing models that previously didn't have it. ISA uses GPS and camera data to detect the speed limit and provides warnings or resistance through the accelerator if you exceed it. You can override it by pressing harder, and you can turn it off — but it reactivates every time you start the engine. "
Maybe they should make it send data back when the limit is exceeded with a camera used to detect who is driving and fines could be then issued. The revenue raised would be more than enough to pay for all the road repairs and still leave a nice chunk to bolster the local councils coffers.
This is the topic on Jeremy Vine as I post this.
Intelligent Speed Assistance has been required on all new car models since July 2024, but from July 2026 it applies to all new cars sold — including existing models that previously didn't have it. ISA uses GPS and camera data to detect the speed limit and provides warnings or resistance through the accelerator if you exceed it. You can override it by pressing harder, and you can turn it off — but it reactivates every time you start the engine. "
Maybe they should make it send data back when the limit is exceeded with a camera used to detect who is driving and fines could be then issued. The revenue raised would be more than enough to pay for all the road repairs and still leave a nice chunk to bolster the local councils coffers.
This is the topic on Jeremy Vine as I post this.
Black Hole
May contain traces of nut
Another reason I like old cars. The manufacturers have already realised the driver "assistance" isn't good enough, let alone cars which think the speed limit isn't what it actually is.
Old was always better, it has been a steady decline since they scrapped the guy walking in front with a flag.
EEPhil
Number 28
And when the Russkies jam the GPS signal?
Anything that impedes your ability to accelerate out of trouble should be avoided. Surely a display of the speed limit on the dashboard should be enough. An audible warning if you must. Something interfering with the accelerator pedal is something else to go wrong.
Old cars were better. I had a clue how to fix some problems. Not sure I would now.
Owen Smith
Well-Known Member
I've found it dangerous, I'm doing 20mph and I have to watch the rear view mirror as much as looking ahead due to people coming piling round the corner behind me at 32mph. My concern is I have so much attention to the rear I'm going run over a pedestrian ahead that I didn't see.
HugeMaximum
New Member
I love the banter in the Hummy Arms... just like the pub - debate everything, set the world to rights, change laws / speed limits / car designs, etc.
It's all just entertainment, because we're all in a simulation anyway!
It's all just entertainment, because we're all in a simulation anyway!
EEPhil
Number 28
What with all that and dodging potholes, speed bumps, cyclists, illegal electric scooters and skateboards you are going to have sensory overload. It's a jungle out there!
Owen Smith
Well-Known Member
This is Cambridge, cyclists are sometimes better behaved and very much more expected than much of the country. If nothing else a lot of them know to cycle in the middle of the lane if it isn't wide enough for cars to pass, as recommended in the Highway Code. Makes them (and me when I'm on my bicycle) much easier to see.
You have however forgotten the illegal electric motorbikes that look mostly like bicycles. If you don't have to pedal to make it go it's a motorbike and needs tax, MOT and insurance and a helmet for the rider. Half of them ride illegally on pavements and cycle paths, and the other half ride illegally on the roads. No insurance means no-one to claim against when they kill someone.