Kensington MP supports “more cycling” but not through Kensington… Shocker! Police say you CAN drive somewhere to exercise; Should speed limits be cut to ease NHS burden? You have your say; Tour of Flanders: Lockdown Edition; Arnie + ponies + bike +more
SUMMARY
Astana pro Davide Martinelli "the happiest man in the world" delivering food and medicine
Astana’s Davide Martinelli has volunteered to deliver food and medicine in his home town of Lodetto in Brescia.
Lodetto doesn’t have supermarkets or chemists, so Martinelli’s heading into nearby Rovato on his bike to pick stuff up for the elderly and vulnerable.
He says the efforts were started by a cousin of his and some friends.
“I have heard various stories that touched me about people who are unable to travel to our capital and who have solved their problems thanks to these volunteers.
“Over the years I have received so much from my community, but I have hardly had the opportunity to repay it because of a life that often leads me to be away from home.
“I am very attached to Lodetto, a community of just over 1,500 people, where unfortunately there is neither a chemist nor a grocery store. I thought it was a chance to make myself useful and repay the many people who have always supported me over the years, and to help those who need it right now.
“I have a bike, two legs – now not very trained – and a backpack and nothing more. Today I had the honour of being able to go to the chemist to collect medicine for an elderly couple.
In total 30 minutes and about 10km – nothing special for an athlete, but when I delivered them to their door – obviously with the necessary precautions (mask and gloves) – I felt a thank you, which still echoes in my head.
“I am the happiest man in the world, cycling is beautiful, everything is beautiful, but being useful to others is priceless.”
.@Davide_Marti93 is delivering shopping and medicals to elder people in his town, Lodetto. The town has no supermarkets or pharmacies there so people had to go to the nearest town (Rovato) to buy them. 👏👏👏https://t.co/eSvUJ8K17J pic.twitter.com/rCNqlEHupI
— La Flamme Rouge (@laflammerouge16) April 2, 2020
Leamington cyclist filming his early morning rides for those stuck indoors
Sky engineer Andrew Laverock has been filming his leisurely morning exercise rides for the benefit of those in isolation.
“I thought that people who are stuck at home due to the virus would be able to enjoy some of the beautiful sights our lovely town has to offer,” he told the Warwick Courier.
“Spring is in the air, the flowers are blooming and I just wanted to bring the local outdoors to people’s screens.
“I’m trying to get around all the local parks and canal towpaths and I’ll keep posting new content so stay tuned.”
Arnie chases his ponies on his bike
Speaking a couple of weeks ago, Arnold Schwarzenegger said that getting out on his bike was, “the only way I’m leaving the house.”
Here he is chasing his ponies, Whiskey and Lulu, because “they need exercise too.”
“We cannot control the virus but we can control our fitness,” he says.
A brief history of Schwarzenegger on a bike
- Arnie spotted cycling on wrong side of road in Edinburgh
- Arnie’s bike ride through German train station terminated by police
- Arnie’s repeated refusal to wear a helmet in Australia
- Arnie joins Sagan in urging commuters to swap cars for bikes
- Arnie’s security guy pulls a taser on a man suspected of trying to steal the Terminator star’s bike
- Arnold Schwarzenegger goes riding with his ‘friend and hero’ Greta Thunberg
Tour of Flanders: Lockdown Edition
Not an April fool. Unless they’re a day late.
The real Tour of Flanders has been postponed for the time being. However, they’re going to run a one-hour virtual edition this Sunday.
“In a closed tour reserved exclusively for professional cyclists, 13 pros will be competing during the last 32 km of the Tour of Flanders – on their home trainers.”
Further details will burble out via social media in the next few days. We’ll keep you posted.
Tour of Flanders: Lockdown Edition start list
Predictably Belgian – which is as it should be.
De Gendt’s a bit of a surprise though. Unusually for a Belgian, he’s never really shown much interest in the Classics.
This is what De Ronde 2020: Lockdown Edition will look like on Sunday the 5th of April. #DeRonde2020 pic.twitter.com/sY8bxxUnS4
— Ronde Van Vlaanderen (@RondeVlaanderen) April 2, 2020
Should the Government immediately lower speed limits to reduce the burden on the NHS?
The British Medical Journal (BMJ) has recommended an emergency reduction of all national speed limits to 50mph, and to 20mph in urban areas.
The publication argues that while the public it working to “flatten the curve” of covid-19 and the NHS is exploring all options to increase its capacity, the nation is “missing a trick” by not also working to lower the baseline demands placed on the NHS.
“In England alone there are around 35,000 non-fatal admissions to hospital every year related to road traffic accidents; more than one in 10 of these are serious and likely to require intensive support, including anaesthesia and surgery.
“Evidence from around the world shows that lowering speed limits can lead to major reductions in injuries. In Canada, for example, lowering the speed limit from 40km/h to 30km/h was associated with a 28% decrease in pedestrian-motor vehicle collisions and a 67% decrease in major and fatal injuries.
“This measure would be particularly important in supporting those who follow government advice and avoid non-essential use of public transport in order to maintain social distancing. We therefore suggest that the government urgently explore an emergency reduction of all national speed limits to 50mph, and to 20mph in urban areas.
“These policies are already supported by the Road Safety Management Capacity review, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.
“We expect that the public would support this proposal for a limited time period if it was communicated appropriately in relation to the current NHS emergency.”
Tour de France won’t take place without fans, says Prudhomme
Last week ASO was reported to be considering staging the Tour de France without fans. Race director Christian Prudhomme has now said this won’t happen.
Speaking to Sports Auvergne, he said: “The Tour de France is fervour, it’s enthusiasm, it’s smiles above all. We have to find those smiles.”
Speaking about the prospect of the race not taking place, he said: “It’s the health situation in the country that matters.
“I only wish one thing – that the Tour de France will take place this summer. Not for the Tour de France, but if it does not take place, it would mean that the country is in a catastrophic situation.”
Throwback Thursday - De Ronde 2019
Seeing as we’ll probably only get a virtual Tour of Flanders this year, we thought we’d have a look back at one of the biggest surprises of last year.
Despite showing glimpses of form the year before, not many would have picked Alberto Bettiol at the startline.
This behind-the-scenes film from Rapha shows the emotion of winning one of the biggest bike races of the year.
Thief took NHS worker’s bike from outside hospital
Depressingly, we’re reporting on this kind of stuff daily at the minute.
A woman who works in the surgical management team at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle emerged from work on March 26 to discover that her bike had been taken.
Investigating Constable Graeme Newton told the Metro: “This is a disgusting crime. Given the current lockdown, the thief would have known there was a very high chance the bike belonged to a key worker.
“This was the victim’s chosen transport to and from work and she was crushed to discover, after her long shift, that someone would be so cruel as to steal her bike knowing it was likely how an NHS employee got to and from work.
“The theft of another person’s transport to work is always a selfish crime but to steal from an NHS worker in the midst of a pandemic is shameless.”
Do you recognise him?👇
We are appealing for help identifying the man below. He was in the area at the time an NHS worker’s bike was stolen from outside the RVI and we think he could help with our enquiry.
Email us at 3570@northumbria.pnn.police.uk quoting log 816 26/03/20 pic.twitter.com/HwikfdcRSB
— Northumbria Police #StayHomeSaveLives (@northumbriapol) April 1, 2020
Police say you CAN drive somewhere to exercise (but don't go far)
We don’t want to present this as a green light to drive up to the Lake District or anything, but new police guidance clarifies that people should NOT be punished for driving a “reasonable distance” to exercise.
In recent days social media posts from police forces across the country have often implied that people have been ignoring the rules about avoiding non-essential journeys.
Derbyshire Police used drones to highlight people exercising in the Peak District, while police in North Yorkshire even went so far as to set up checkpoints to stop people and enquire about their destinations.
The Guardian reports that new guidance issued by the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) advises officers stopping vehicles that enforcement actions such as arrest or the issuing of a fine should only be used as a last resort.
“Use your judgment and common sense,” it says. “For example, people will want to exercise locally and may need to travel to do so, we don’t want the public sanctioned for travelling a reasonable distance to exercise. Road checks on every vehicle is equally disproportionate.
“We should reserve enforcement only for individuals who have not responded to engage, explain, and encourage, where public health is at risk.”
Have you noticed more speeding motorists during the lockdown?
Earlier today, we reported how the BMJ is recommending that the Government immediately lower speed limits to reduce the burden on the NHS.
That would make sense even if everyone were behaving normally, but earlier this week North Yorkshire Police reported a rise in ‘opportunist drivers’ caught speeding.
“We’re seeing a worrying trend here,” commented Gary Digva, a director of automotive tech specialists Road Angel.
“It isn’t just the ‘opportunist’ drivers that the North Yorkshire Police Force flagged, there are actually far more ‘accidental’ speeders.
“The network is quieter, which one might think would lead to fewer accidents, but there is an issue with overconfidence that comes in and perhaps a more casual style of driving.
“Think about driving at night on a quiet motorway compared to the rush hour. Fewer cars around you alter your sense of speed and your concentration because it appears safer.”
Digva says that is a false sense of security both from the point of view of safe driving and the ease with which a driver can accidentally start to speed.
“Roads may well be quieter but as we like to remind our customers those speed limits are there for a reason. Yes, sometimes it is due to expected traffic flow and congestion which is less the case right now but it can also be due to road conditions, difficult terrain, blind bends or hidden dips.
“Right now the need to be aware of your driving and your speed is greater than ever. There may be fewer vehicles but there are more pedestrians getting exercise where they can and it is essential that drivers do not see these quieter roads as an opportunity to flout the law.
“Now more than ever we must all be speed aware as we do our bit to ensure an already overstretched frontline is not unnecessarily burdened.”
So, road.cc readers – have you noticed more speeding motorists?
Bike Punks youth project withdraws plan to offer deliveries on e-bikes
The Tweeddale Youth Action (TYA) group’s Bike Punks project has abandoned a plan to offer deliveries on e-bikes during the coronavirus pandemic.
A spokesperson told the Peeblesshire News the hope had been to make a contribution through the provision of the cargo e-bikes.
“However, as the trustees continued to reflect on the evolving situation, they came to the conclusion that people’s health and well-being was paramount and that they were not prepared to be responsible for putting anyone at risk.
“For this reason, the decision has been taken to withdraw the offer of the cargo e-bikes.
“Trustees were disappointed that the service would not now be provided but hoped that the public would understand that protecting the health and well-being of staff, volunteers and young people has to be the number one priority.”
TYA hopes to restart its e-bike delivery service later in the year.
Slow TV is really catching on in Leamington
Regarding the story further down the page about Sky engineer Andrew Laverock, who’s been filming his morning rides for those in isolation…
peted76 writes in the comments: “Yay go Leamington! I saw that bloke pop up on facebook the other day on a local group and thought.. who would want to watch that.. then found myself strangely mesmerised by a video he posted… it’s particuarly odd as there’s nothing new to me about any of the places, it’s literally my local patch.. I’m not the only one it seems, there’s a ton of really postive comments from non-cycling people saying how his videos are really helping them. From Royal Leamington Spa Cycling Club, we tip our hats, chapeau!”
Conservative MP for Kensington against CS10
“I have received a vast amount of correspondence from constituents on the CS10 proposal,” writes Felicity Buchan MP, “the overwhelming majority of which has been critical of this scheme.”
The first reason she lists is that ‘air quality would further deteriorate’.
Fair to say not everyone was convinced by her reasoning…
Loud angry voices of small minority against CS10 drowning out majority who live in Holland Park and area adjoining the proposed cycle lane ! We Very Much support the cycle lane! Better air quality, safer for cyclist, addresses worry about trees, more foot traffic good for shops !
— London Cubsfan (@Editedversion) April 2, 2020
If only we had some sort of baseline scenario in which lge amounts of traffic was removed from London sts to show how drastically pollution levels could be reduced for the health benefit of everyone if we moved more towards a sustainable transport model… https://t.co/8DzLQRihS9
— Sites Of Newham (@SitesOfNewham) April 2, 2020
Speeding and the burden on the NHS – your views
Regarding the BMJ’s recommendation that the Government immediately lower speed limits to reduce the burden on the NHS, it’s fair to say that the most commonly-held opinion among you guys essentially boils down to, “Why bother changing the speed limits when you aren’t enforcing the ones you’ve got?”
Beyond that, quite a few of you do think that people’s driving has deteriorated.
In the comments, Eton Rifle suggests that, “Whilst the roads are indeed far less busy with motorised traffic, the remaining vehicles do seem to be driven by a disproportionately high number of dickheads.”
There have been similar comments on Twitter.
Yes! Was out for my daily ride and 3 or 4 hatchbacks (boy-racer specs) came flying past me at insane speeds. Some people definitely using empty roads as an opportunity for some road-racing.
— Colin Bradbury (@ColinBradbury3) April 2, 2020
Fewer cars, but definetely much quicker in central London. Also not sure which key workers can afford these high end sports cars/SUVs I see a lot of now.
— Sunny (@Sunny_tweet2) April 2, 2020
But the feeling on road.cc seems to be that enforcement would have a bigger impact than any temporary change in speed limits.
That said, Keith tweeted us to point out that the Isle of Man recently imposed an island-wide 40mph limit to reduce the burden on its health service.
Police there report that so far it is being observed well by motorists – perhaps because driving within the speed limit is being highlighted as an important measure.
There’s been a bit of overtaking above the speed limit, according to 3FM. Police point out that overtaking probably isn’t really necessary when everyone’s only travelling at 40mph anyway.
Campaigners ask for Richmond Park to be reopened to cyclists
On Friday, Royal Parks announced that cycling would be banned in Richmond Park due to the numbers of cyclists who had been riding through.
A Royal Parks spokesperson explained: “It is necessary to suspend all cycling in Richmond Park to protect public safety and ultimately help keep this vital green space open for everyone. Cycling is still permitted in the other Royal Parks, where there is no current evidence of congestion.”
Campaigners including London Cycling Campaign have written asking for the decision to be reversed.
The letter sets out a series of measures that could be taken to ensure responsible cycling, including adding relevant signage, making trails one-way for cyclists or restricting and controlling the numbers riding in the park at peak times.
You can read the full letter here.
2 April 2020, 08:20
Tasty new titanium model, and you can choose the spec yourself
Ribble releases Endurance Ti Disc road bike
UK brand adds new titanium model, and you can opt for either a standard build or choose your own spec
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Latest Comments
@mdavidford Same day, Same badge. They're out there! and no such driver has ever considered 'not driving' anywhere, or climate change, or not having a Panzer or 'cyclist ahead' etc. etc. ttps://upride.cc/incident/pg21fwa_bmw_uwlcross/
@mctrials23 When I was planning my 2025 World Record ride I raised this issue with Jenny Graham. She said Guinness was set up for records like balancing the most number of books on your head, not these multi day efforts. Fortunately, WUCA are putting in place much clearer rules and I expect that the Guiness rules will be less relevant. They are also quite limiting, I am the first disabled person to do the challenge, but Guiness don't recognise brain injury under their disability category. With regard to comparing the different routes, Mark Beaumont did a great GCN interview on this at the time of Laels last attempt. He pointed out that there are two approaches. Go fast which means avoiding Asia with big loops in North America, or keep to the 'spirit' of the challenge. The latter means if you put your route on the living room wall it looks like you circumnavigated the world. Jenny and Mark's rides were the latter, Lael's the former. I originally had a route very similar to hers but decided my record would be 'tainted' by being within the rules but not the spirit. So I went to one like Mark suggested, with over 7,000 km in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and China.
@mdavidford Yeah, definitely Wilcox. And the depth of the research used here is also attested to by the consistent misspelling of Victor Bosoni's name...
@swagman - Lots of cyclists own cars - Lots of those car-owning cyclists like to drive their bikes nice places to cycle (we don't all live in the Lake District) - Lots of those holiday-making-car-owning cyclists like to use campsites when they do that - Lots of those holiday-making-car-owning-camping cyclists would find this setup interesting – Ergo, it's not a new low for road.cc but a perfectly legitimate and appropriate product review.
@swagman - Lots of cyclists own cars - Lots of those car-owning cyclists like to drive their bikes nice places to cycle (we don't all live in the Lake District) - Lots of those holiday-making-car-owning cyclists like to use campsites when they do that - Lots of those holiday-making-car-owning-camping cyclists would find this setup interesting – Ergo, it's not a new low for road.cc but a perfectly legitimate and appropriate product review.
Just to say your Tredz link is to the Continental Grand Prix, not the GP5000, they’re very different tyres.
Concur with KDee's comment. Also, how would a Vittoria T60 be the equivalent comparison, when this tyre has a centre section optimised for tarmac (or very hard packed gravel)? Surely Vittoria's T30 would be the equivalent?
Erm, Ruggins did manage to ride her bike very fast, perhaps in part because she'd headed up towards the Arctic Circle before the worst of the heat took hold. Are you perhaps thinking of Lael Wilcox?
@Rome73 The solar panels top up the battery. A battery is still needed especially when there isn't enough direct sunlight onto the panels to provide assistance. Brings a new meaning to fair-weather cyclist.
roadcc sinks to new low, next week wee reviewing electric cars !
26 thoughts on “Kensington MP supports “more cycling” but not through Kensington… Shocker! Police say you CAN drive somewhere to exercise; Should speed limits be cut to ease NHS burden? You have your say; Tour of Flanders: Lockdown Edition; Arnie + ponies + bike +more”
Yay go Leamington! I saw that
Yay go Leamington! I saw that bloke pop up on facebook the other day on a local group and thought.. who would want to watch that.. then found myself strangely mesmerised by a video he posted… it’s particuarly odd as there’s nothing new to me about any of the places, it’s literally my local patch.. I’m not the only one it seems, there’s a ton of really postive comments from non-cycling people saying how his videos are really helping them. From Royal Leamington Spa Cycling Club, we tip our hats, chapeau!
Given existing speed limits
Given existing speed limits are being fairly openly flouted in the current environment, and it’s not like people arent aware theres a bit of a crisis going in at the moment, what does the BMJ base their thinking on that a newer lower speed limit has a chance of making any impact ? Should the government divert more police resource to enforcing a new speed limit as a result ?
Whilst I think that lowering
Whilst I think that lowering the speed limits might be a good thing, why not properly enforce the ones we’ve already got, and AT the limits we have, so 21 in a 20, 31 in a 30. Perhaps with instant (though more temporary for speeders) bans and confiscation of motor vehicles, especially for drink and drunk drivers and for “distracted” drivers, seeing how stretched the court system was in the Before Times.
Whilst the roads are indeed
Whilst the roads are indeed far less busy with motorised traffic, the remaining vehicles do seem to be driven by a disproportionately high number of dickheads. In particular, twats on motorbikes in the suburbs noisily accelerating to high speeds for a few seconds before slamming on the brakes as they reach the next roundabout.
Nice to see more cyclists out and about, though.
I don’t remember the last
I don’t remember the last time I saw anyone sticking to a speed limit anyway!
Municipal Waste wrote:
Me, I do. Of course I end up with a queue of traffic behind me, all impatient to overtake to get to the next traffic lights first, but that’s where I catch them up.
Me too, as a cyclist I detest
Me too, as a cyclist I detest speeding drivers, so when I drive I don’t speed otherwise I’d be like a tory MP that supports cycling, but not on their patch.
I have a Fly 12 on the front
I have a Fly 12 on the front and I record all my rides.
Maybe I’m missing a trick by not uploading all rides for people to watch, although I suppose there would be almost no interest in 2 hour tours of central Scotland 🙂
Re the virtual Ronde, I use
Re the virtual Ronde, I use Bkool and the 3D simulations are basic to say the least and bear no relation to the terrain you’re riding through other than the road goes up and down.
Have they developed something new for the Ronde? If so will it be available to all users?
Or are the graphics I see basic because I use an elderly second hand laptop? I usually ride along to videos which are fine.
I’ve not seen any speeding
I’ve not seen any speeding motorists in my garage…
“Use your judgment and common
“Use your judgment and common sense”
Haven’t Derbyshire and North Yorkshire Police already demonstrated that they are unable to?
Current speed limits are not
Current speed limits are not enforced anyway, local councils don’t do anything about them and the police don’t have the resources. It makes no difference what the ‘limits’ are. I regularly see people far exceed the speed limits (incl police cars), park on double yellow lines, go through red lights and turn right or left against signs that say no right/left turn. Some drivers just do what they want because they know there is a 99% chance they’ll get away with it.
Unless there is a serious deterrent (fines, loss of license etc etc), driving behaviour is not going to change.
Whilst the current crisis is making the roads a lot less congested, there are still some idiots on the road.
Notbuilt2climb wrote:
That’s not strictly true, since many people will drive at or near the legal limit most of the time. There are a couple of sections near me that used to be 40 mph and are now 30 mph and, while some people still drive too fast, overall they are better than before the limit was reduced.
And the solution to current lack of enforcement is not to shrug, say “oh well” and do nothing. If we pester councils and police forces they will feel obliged to do more. The topic must be getting some traction because the Met’s Supt. Andy Cox has just posted a poll on twitter:
https://twitter.com/SuptAndyCox/status/1245744383506419712
I agree that it’s the
I agree that it’s the minority who don’t comply to road rules (cyclists and drivers). That’s great that the reduction close to you is being adhered to you for the most part. Unfortunately, here in Bristol, it’s not always the case but I also acknowledge that we only really notice the ‘bad’ ones. Fair play to Andy Cox for putting it out there.
I’m not really shrugging and saying ‘oh well’; I’d like it to change. But I am frustrated about it, especially when I see police cars (in non emergency situation) exceeding speed limits. Not sure how to report that and be able to prove it though. When I drive my car in a 20mph zone at the limit, so many cars are right up my rear trying to pressure me to go faster.
Yes, we can pester the councils and police forces (pull an Andy dufresne a la ‘Shawshank’) & hopefully some changes will result especially when daily life gets back to something resembling normality.
Now you say minority, but
Now you say minority, but there are government stats out there that say that if given the oppertunity, car drivers will exceed the posted speed limit in a 20mph zone 85% of the time, which increases to 90% at the weekends.
I found this
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/743878/vehicle-speed-compliance-statistics-2017.pdf
I’m sure the BMJ’s suggestion
I’m sure the BMJ’s suggestion will be fully investigated in the government’s review of road laws, which is bound to happen any day soon. Well, any year soon. Any decade soon? Ever?
Well, I for one am shocked
Well, I for one am shocked that a fine, upstanding, honest, truthful and unimpeachable tory MP would do something so underhand and NIMBY as supporting cycling, but not in her area.* I’m sure she and her sycophantic hypocritical pals will sink without trace the recent government announcement about reducing car use and increasing active travel.
*May contain huge great dollops of irony.
Been out for a couple of
Been out for a couple of hours 4 times since lockdown and I’ve not had any problems with speeding drivers,. However, maybe it’s because there’s a lot less traffic about and it’s making them easier to notice but the amount I see who are openly fiddling with their phones while driving is really worrying.
I think it’s partly because
I think it’s partly because they are so not stuck in queues of traffic, which for them is a “perfect” time to check their phone, without that they “just have to” do it while motoring at speed.
I’m a keen motorist myself,
I’m a keen motorist myself, but there needs to be a lot more careful and considerate driving than the lawlessness that has become normal on our roads. We need lower speed limits because if it just saves one life it will be worth it.
I have been cycling regularly
I have been cycling regularly in London (for work reasons) and I have noticed that obviously there is a lot less motor traffic. The tension and aggression is much less as drivers are not stuck in endless queues. Therefore drivers tend to be more considerate perhaps because they don’t see cyclists as ‘blocking their way’. On the negative side – the speed. It has increased considerably. So the London close pass is now at 30 – 40 mph whereas pre lockdown it was 10 – 20 mph. I still don’t understand the manoeuvre that requires a motorist to hurtle past and then slam on the brakes to turn right or left – or to park. Just wait 1 second for me to pass the junction / turning / parking spot.
Definitely less traffic but
Definitely less traffic but more people speeding and using mobiles. When the police refer to unnecessary journeys being taken by the ‘ignorant and defiant’ it all makes perfect sense.
Richmond Park; why have the stress and hassle of trying to keep distance from other cyclists? Go places where it’s quiet; I’ve been sampling some of the local A roads that are normally way too busy for a relaxing pedal.
The technology exists to fit
The technology exists to fit and retrofit every vehicle with intelligent speed adaptation that will stop the vehicle from going over the speed limit in any part of the road system. Cycling and road safety bodies should be pressing government and opposition politicians to insist that every vehicle be fitted with these devices so that people just can’t exceed the limit. It is ridiculous in this day and age to rely on our chimp brains and tendencies to look after each others’ safety on the roads, when a technological solution is sitting there waiting to be used.
New vehicles will soon be
New vehicles will soon be fitted with speed limiters, European thing, but unfortunately it will be overcome by the incredibly difficult process of pressing hard on the accelerator pedal. I think there may be a small sound inside the vehicle, I’m sure to be easily silenced.
F1 cars use pit lane limiters
F1 cars use pit lane limiters that prevent the car exceeding the speed limit but I think it’s dependant on the driver pressing the button to make the car adjust down to the max speed allowed. Could that be the first building block of a system that will trickle down to everyday vehicles.
Hypothetically, streets could be lined with devices emitting signals to vehicles that activate the limiters built in to the car. They could attach the device to all the non working speed cameras & the speed limit signs that are being ignored.
I fear that ‘smart’ people will always find a way to bypass it though.
But I still don’t understand why we need cars built to go over 100mph when the limit is 70mph on UK motorways.
The tech is very easy and
The tech is very easy and already availble, the better half oldish sat nav already knows the speed limit on roads, I don’t think it can quite do variable speed limits on Mways, might do, I haven’t really looked.
As I said it is already about to be fitted, from 2022 all cars sold in the EU will have to have governers fitted, but also overcome by pressing the go faster pedal. If it were “only for emergencies” you’d thing that alams and lights would have to tell everyone around that there was a “rare” emergency going on.
Breaking the speed limit is somehow different than any other form of illegality, why else would they have created the term “otherwise law abiding motorists” and think that attempting to have lower speed limits for the safety of all is somehow a “punishment”
I think most new cars will fairly easily get to 100mph, most to 150 and some to 200. Sort of makes you wonder doesn’t it.