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[Amigo]

No ifs/buts, i know the stretch of road etc. just tick the box.

[albitz]

Since I hit middle age a couple of years ago (and got caught at serious speed ) I have developed the habit of driving quite sedately. In the car It is rare for me to hit 80mph these days.
On a bike is different though. I do still feel the need for speed on 2 wheels. I try hard to temper it though, and I do have a private road nearby which I have a little run on occasionally. The main straight is long enough for the boggers speedo to read just over twice the national limit.

[aaronjb]

Of course.. Depends what car I'm driving though - the Omega, like Miss Daisy, the turbocharged MR2? Like my life depended on it..

[Dishevelled Den]

Although I ticked the 'there's no need for it' box I do understand the temptation if the road supports a blast of speed.

When I collect my pension next year (age 60) it will have been 34 years since I first put on a uniform and was taught to drive in earnest.

I've done and seen a lot since then but it never has ceased to amaze me how pointless speed is on the public roads (in the overall sense) when one considers the restricted extent of our road network, the number of other vehicles on the road and so on.

Now although many will attribute my remarks as being the ramblings of an old geezer out of touch with the technically able, switched on youth of today but I consider it a duty to pass on these experiences in the hope that other people will avoid the grief of unnecessary pain should excessive driving result in a collision.

Although many of us think that disaster will never happen as a result of what we do (especially when driving inappropriately fast) there is a fine dividing line between exhilaration and regret – and – when that collision eventually does occur there's little point in wishing that the outcome was different.

In such circumstances we not only potentially cause personal injury but are liable to injure others, cause inconvenience to other road users, tie up dwindling resources, load the NHS should injuries be involved and push up those insurance premiums we all complain about.

For the sake of our loved one’s we should be responsible as it is they who will invariably suffer the pain of loss if the worst happens.

I must be getting old, that was another bloody sermon.

[Andy B]

Although I ticked the 'there's no need for it' box I do understand the temptation if the road supports a blast of speed.

When I collect my pension next year (age 60) it will have been 34 years since I first put on a uniform and was taught to drive in earnest.

I've done and seen a lot since then but it never has ceased to amaze me how pointless speed is on the public roads (in the overall sense) when one considers the restricted extent of our road network, the number of other vehicles on the road and so on.

Now although many will attribute my remarks as being the ramblings of an old geezer out of touch with the technically able, switched on youth of today but I consider it a duty to pass on these experiences in the hope that other people will avoid the grief of unnecessary pain should excessive driving result in a collision.

Although many of us think that disaster will never happen as a result of what we do (especially when driving inappropriately fast) there is a fine dividing line between exhilaration and regret – and – when that collision eventually does occur there's little point in wishing that the outcome was different.

In such circumstances we not only potentially cause personal injury but are liable to injure others, cause inconvenience to other road users, tie up dwindling resources, load the NHS should injuries be involved and push up those insurance premiums we all complain about.

For the sake of our loved one’s we should be responsible as it is they who will invariably suffer the pain of loss if the worst happens.

I must be getting old, that was another bloody sermon.

WOW! 

where is that man with his red flag? 

Accidents always happen to someone else, and it's impossible to put an old head on young shoulders etc etc We all take a chance if we are really playing in a car that will do twice, a bit the & legal UK motorway limit, and if we think we can get away with it, I think most of us will. Not that i have ever done. 

[geoffr70]

What wise words of wisdom you speak Zulu! Although when I bought the Elite I stormed up the M1 at 130 past 2 police bikes going the opposite way who were quite angry! Having said that I completely agree with you after having learnt some valuable lessons myself when it comes to speed (nothing major just enough to make me think of possible consequences for me and other people).

Although I love speed and going fast I never speed in built up  areas, especially in an auto when I'm lucky to get above 25 - crap roads and too much traffic! I never go above 80 now on the odd time I find myself on the mway. Im going to max out on the autobahn though on my European road trip that's planned!

[ballcock50]

Yes under certain circumstances, we have many roads around here that were perfectly safe to drive at national speed limit so THEY decide to lower the limits to 40 [revenue from future speeding fines perhaps]. Rarely through built up areas not even on the motor bicycle. I also feel they should reduce some speed limits through housing estates without sticking speed humps in though as these dreaded things really annoy me especially in 30 limits in my van.

[feeutfo]

There's not a driver alive that hasn't broken a speed limit illegally!

[Shackeng]

I guess we have all done so. For instance I usually cruise in the late 70's on Mways, but if I don't travel at at least that speed, I'm holding up the fast lane.

Cruise control is great for preventing unwanted speed exceedances. I think the most likely places to do so are urban dual carriageways with 40 or 50 limits, and this is where CC is so useful in preventing the likelihood of getting a ticket. 8-) 8-) 8-)

PS Can't vote as no option appears right for me.

[Richie London]

i still drive fast but not as bad as i was a few yrs ago. ive wrote off too many cars through racing over the yrs and seem to be mellowing out in my middle age yrs. older and wiser now

[Banjax]

I don't think speed is the issue, I would argue that in todays modern cars, you can safely sit a 100mph on a clear, dry stretch of motorway with good visibility.

Whats far more dangerous is sitting legally at 70mph in thick fog and sub zero temps as i've witnessed daily over the last 4 weeks.

[Richie London]

I don't think speed is the issue, I would argue that in todays modern cars, you can safely sit a 100mph on a clear, dry stretch of motorway with good visibility.

Whats far more dangerous is sitting legally at 70mph in thick fog and sub zero temps as i've witnessed daily over the last 4 weeks.

exactly!  driving conditions play a major role in our ability to control the car so speed should be calculated for this. i also find that being in a bad mood or running late plays a big part in how you drive as well

[cem_devecioglu]

yep.. the only limit is the engine most of the times..

really sometimes I need a v12

most of the times I open the road for ambulance drivers but they are too slow

[Mr Skrunts]

Raising the speed limit on motorways wouldnt be a bad thing as far as I am converned, sadly the standard of motoring in britain today couldnt cope with it.

Too many selfish drivers on the motorway, lane hogging or rubbing bumpers trying to get past you.

If a secondry test had to be taken to be able to drive on the motorway then 60% of todays drivers would fail it.

[jerry]

dont drive so fast now as i used to. must be getting old or maybe its just that its slowly dawned on me that 1)you rarely get to your destination that faster anyway 2)I really cannot afford the fuel that is disappearing at such an alarming rate during those bursts of acceleration 3) its nice to see that i no longer have 9 points on my licence 4)maybe  im not actually as good a driver as i once thought and 5)much as i love my omega she is a bit of a barge compared with my old 200bhp prelude and certainly doesnt accelerate or handle as well. Dont get me wrong, still "feel the need for speed" at times and still feel angered that the law focuses so much on speed when speed is only one (albeit the major ) factor in risk assessment of driving when there are so many other examples of bad driving out there like tailgating (but not actually overtaking when they could), driving without lights when the weather obviously dictates that they should be used, not indicating and driving too slowly for the conditions.