Re: The Speed Trap - BBC1 Scotland

Matt B wrote:
By implication your driving may not be careless, even if you are driving at a speed above an arbitrary limit. 

Yes, but you are still committing an offence.

It comes down to this: what is your excuse for driving faster than the posted speed limit? A belief that it is safe to do so is no argument in the eyes of the law.

And for reasons previously stated, I find it hard to believe that anyone ever has a genuine /need/ to break the law in this way. (I don't buy the time-is-money argument - that is simply a malaise of modern society that needs to be cured.) And if there is no need, what other excuse can there be?

If you want to get the speed limit changed, by all means campaign for it to be changed through the normal channels - but taking it upon yourself to decide the "safe" speed is absolutely unjustifiable.

Yes. Not all road users "drive". If _all_ children are are educated from an early age in "roadmanship", in all forms, including ones "rights" and responsibilities, which may include motor vehicle driving training, and bicycle riding training, the roads would surely become a safer place. 

I certainly won't argue with you there - another thing we agree on. Hurrah!

I'd be all in favour of a cycling proficiency license being a compulsory pre-requisite for a driving license - time spent on the road on a bike probably teaches you more about "roadmanship" than any other activity.

I'm not sure about that. How do you define fast? Simply in relation to the speed limit, or in absolute terms?

I mean "fast" as in relative to what's appropriate for the conditions. Looking at it in "absolute" terms, assuming by that you mean for example defining a particular speed as "fast" regardless of the conditions, I'd concede that it's possible to drive fast without driving aggressively.

d.
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