Police across UK launch three-week blitz on speeding drivers to keep cyclists and others safe

Rick_Rude wrote:

Speeding itself doesn't kill otherwise it would be certain death out there . Look at Germany and the autobahns. Look at the Isle of Man's mountain section (outside of TT weeks). Driving below the speed limit can kill if the car is driven badly and no attention is being paid. I just find it odd the police were spinning the same safety narrative even when they caught people on pretty much empty roads. Anyway, speeding will be pretty much impossible once the Honda Jazz gang get back to speed going 'for a drive' aimlessly. Expect a close pass at 23mph or to be turned right across and then given the one finger lifted off the wheel wave by a hat wearing driver.

Lock down getting to you Rick?

Rick_Rude wrote:

Speeding itself doesn't kill otherwise it would be certain death out there . Look at Germany and the autobahns. Look at the Isle of Man's mountain section (outside of TT weeks). Driving below the speed limit can kill if the car is driven badly and no attention is being paid. I just find it odd the police were spinning the same safety narrative even when they caught people on pretty much empty roads. Anyway, speeding will be pretty much impossible once the Honda Jazz gang get back to speed going 'for a drive' aimlessly. Expect a close pass at 23mph or to be turned right across and then given the one finger lifted off the wheel wave by a hat wearing driver.

Germany's autobahn network has around 2x the crash risk of the UK's motorway network. When crashes happen, they're often catastrophic.

Rick_Rude wrote:

Speeding itself doesn't kill

It does, however, increase the severity of a collision should one occur.

But more importantly, it puts off vulnerable users from accessing the roads they're entitled to.  People don't feel safe when they know that some motorists are driving too quickly.

I wish the Government would run a series of TV safety adverts, explaining how to overtake cyclists by leaving a 1.5 metre gap crossing over the middle of the road, as it shows in the Highway Code.
There, fixed that for you

I thank you

Today I was the "recipient" of a close pass.  The black BMW X5 immediately behind the close passer showed how it should be done - fully crossing the central white line - before sticking on its blues and twos and pulling over the close passer!

Stopped for a quick conversation with the copper from the unmarked police car who confirmed that the stop was indeed for the close pass.

Kudos to Surrey Police.  (Not sure though whether the driver was just given a ticking off or a ticket)

martin_in_surrey wrote:

Today I was the "recipient" of a close pass.  The black BMW X5 immediately behind the close passer showed how it should be done - fully crossing the central white line - before sticking on its blues and twos and pulling over the close passer!

Stopped for a quick conversation with the copper from the unmarked police car who confirmed that the stop was indeed for the close pass.

Kudos to Surrey Police.  (Not sure though whether the driver was just given a ticking off or a ticket)

Good to hear and well done that police person. 

We need more of this, and a few plain clothes police, or in lycra if you prefer, on bikes, being trailed by discreet cars, ready to pull in dangerous drivers and issue them with either an immediate fine or NIP.  Or even just keep them waiting for an hour or two while the details come through from DVLA "So sorry sir, the DVLA computer is a bit slow today, but I'm sure the information will be with us soon and you can be on your way."  Ho, ho, ho.

Now that would have made for a memorable NMOTD video - instant karma.

I think even a couple of fairly minor tweak to the points system could be very effective.

1. Points on the licence don't come of after 3 years but instead 1 point comes of each year once you have 3 years without points, so if you get 6 points it takes 9 years minimum to get rid of them. but if you get more points at say year 7, then you need to wait another 3 years before they start to drop off again.

2. absolute ban at 10 points with no exceptions, and the same process for getting the points back of again as detailed above, so 10 points is an automatic 3 year ban and you start back with 9 points

EK Spinner wrote:

I think even a couple of fairly minor tweak to the points system could be very effective.

1. Points on the licence don't come of after 3 years but instead 1 point comes of each year once you have 3 years without points, so if you get 6 points it takes 9 years minimum to get rid of them. but if you get more points at say year 7, then you need to wait another 3 years before they start to drop off again.

2. absolute ban at 10 points with no exceptions, and the same process for getting the points back of again as detailed above, so 10 points is an automatic 3 year ban and you start back with 9 points

I like your thinking and that's exactly the kind of tweaking I had in mind.  Keep up the good work!

I dont disagree with the principle, but I come back to this point time and again with this stuff, the kind of person that gets behind the wheel of a car and drives at 57mph in a 30 limit as an example,  doesnt remotely care whether youve given them more points or even taken away their license for a period of time or not, chances are theyve already been disqualified or didnt bother getting one in the first place, their attitude is and always will be, the police have got to catch them first, and then theyve got to keep catching them, and each time they get caught, theyll just go and sit back in the car and carry on driving the way theyve always done.

Quote:

The second phase, beginning next Monday 25 May, will involve forces engaging in visible speed enforcement activity for the following fortnight, with an emphasis on roads and areas where speeding is a known problem, or that have a history of serious road traffic incidents.

We all know that "visible speed enforcement activity" will actually turn into "stopping cyclists for red light jumping"...