Stupid driving in fast cars

Mandy · Post by **Mandy** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 5:27 pm

I thought I would open this thread to highlight dangerous driving.

[web]https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manc ... 047734.stm[/web]

The above story reminded me of the story of former world boxing champion Naseem Hamed being jailed for 15 months last year :

[web]https://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=715102006[/web]

pirtybirdy · Post by **pirtybirdy** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 5:39 pm

This is a good subject, as we have a two laned highway with lights that have constant teenagers drag racing on it. Every year one hears of at least one death from crashes. I guess the police do not have the manpower to monitor both sides of the highway, because they could easily catch these boogers every night of the week if they did. I'm glad that guy is doing some serious time. He is old enough to know better.

Mandy · Post by **Mandy** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 5:52 pm

Earlier today I read the following report, and I agreed with it, that 20 miles per hour is more than fast enough in town where usually the average speed on a journey is 15 - 20 mph. I have seen crazy minicab drivers do 40+ (generally late at night)

https://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7046200.stm

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:51 pm

Well least he stayed on the scene, that's got to be something....but young, too much cash...often a bad combo....least there wasn't drink involved.

Post by **faceless** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 1:40 pm

145MPH KHAN
25th October 2007
By JOHN MAHONEY

SHAMED Amir Khan could be banned from driving for the second time this week. The boxing champ returns to court tomorrow to face claims he drove at 145mph on a motorway. Khan is alleged to have been behind the wheel of the same car in which he knocked over a pedestrian at a pelican crossing.

Last night his victim Geoffrey Hatton, 55, who suffered a broken leg, insisted the 20-year-old fighter was too inexperienced to handle his powerful BMW convertible. Olympic silver medallist Khan had only been on the roads for eight weeks when he sped through a red light and hit Mr Hatton in Bolton in March last year.

On Tuesday Khan was banned for six months and fined £1,000 for careless driving. He now faces a £14,000 damages claim from Mr Hatton. Tomorrow he will appear before magistrates in Rochdale, charged with speeding at 145mph on the M60 near the town on New Year’s Eve last year.

Last night Mr Hatton, who now walks with a stick, told Khan: “You’re a show-off who has left me a broken man.” Speaking at his home in Bolton, Mr Hatton went on: “I do not believe he is experienced or old enough to be behind the wheel of a car so powerful. My life has been ruined by all this.”

---------------------

I'd not heard about this second offence. I saw Khan on some sports show recently in which he was held up as a great example for kids...

Post by **Skylace** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 1:44 pm

Dangerous driving really gets my goat. I can't understand why people speed, especially when they usually only get to the place they are going just a few minutes earlier.

I have done a lot of long distance driving my time. Most recently from New Mexico to Pennsylvania (twice and once on Labor Day weekend). Some of the driving I saw would make your hair stand on end. It made mine stand on end for sure.

Mandy · Post by **Mandy** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 1:51 pm

Skylace wrote:I have done a lot of long distance driving my time. Most recently from New Mexico to Pennsylvania (twice and once on Labor Day weekend). Some of the driving I saw would make your hair stand on end. It made mine stand on end for sure.

A big concern is that when you do drive at the limit, you get cars who tailgate you .. forcing you to slow down to change into the slower lanes, just to let these law breakers go past before they kill you. Does that make me complicit in their law breaking ?

Post by **Skylace** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 3:04 pm

Mandy wrote:
Skylace wrote:I have done a lot of long distance driving my time. Most recently from New Mexico to Pennsylvania (twice and once on Labor Day weekend). Some of the driving I saw would make your hair stand on end. It made mine stand on end for sure.
A big concern is that when you do drive at the limit, you get cars who tailgate you .. forcing you to slow down to change into the slower lanes, just to let these law breakers go past before they kill you. Does that make me complicit in their law breaking ?

No. As a matter of fact when I have spoken to state police officers about what to do about tailgaters they say you should slow down, forcing them to pass you.

Mandy · Post by **Mandy** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 3:14 pm

Skylace wrote:As a matter of fact when I have spoken to state police officers about what to do about tailgaters they say you should slow down, forcing them to pass you.

I assume above is in case there is a spare overtaking lane .. otherwise just slowing down would piss them off even more .. and we might get a road-rage incident.

In my case, I slowed down and changed lanes to the "slower" lane .. which was dangerous for me (i.e. changing into and later out of the slower lane)

Post by **Skylace** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 4:12 pm

Mandy wrote:
Skylace wrote:As a matter of fact when I have spoken to state police officers about what to do about tailgaters they say you should slow down, forcing them to pass you.
I assume above is in case there is a spare overtaking lane .. otherwise just slowing down would piss them off even more .. and we might get a road-rage incident.

In my case, I slowed down and changed lanes to the "slower" lane .. which was dangerous for me (i.e. changing into and later out of the slower lane)

Either lane actually. I have done this ever since I was given the advice and it works a charm. I've never had road rage from it, even from some large vehicles, they just past even faster and get away from me.

Post by **faceless** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 4:21 pm

As far as I'm aware, you're only supposed to be in the 'fast lane' if you're passing someone or if the other lanes are full.

Post by **Skylace** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 4:25 pm

It's supposed to be used for passing only or if you are traveling faster than the rest of traffic. But plenty of people stay in the left lane (fast lane) here regardless. There have been times when I am in the fast lane going faster (generally to pass) and someone else behind me is going so much faster it's insane.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 8:59 pm

problem with road rage around here, you don't know who has a gun...

Mandy · Post by **Mandy** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 10:58 pm

Skylace wrote:It's supposed to be used for passing only or if you are traveling faster than the rest of traffic. But plenty of people stay in the left lane (fast lane) here regardless. There have been times when I am in the fast lane going faster (generally to pass) and someone else behind me is going so much faster it's insane.

Yep.. that's the situation I am referring to. Being in the fast lane (the right lane in England) to overtake the slower left lane traffic .. and then someone come up behind you when you are at the speed limit. You can't slow down in your lane .. so you have to indicate and merge with the slow lane "without slowing" .. since slowing could cause an accident by the tailgater. He can't overtake till you move out of his way to the slower lane.

major.tom · Post by **major.tom** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 12:46 am

The rules about which lane to drive in vary. Here in B.C., you'll often see signs like "keep left except to pass" -- nobody wants to be stuck behind slower traffic in the mountains, especially in inclement weather.

I don't drive overly fast, but usually go 10-15 clicks (km's) over the limit. And when tailgated, I do the same: slow down and make it easier for them to pass. If there's a hard shoulder, I might even go half into it to make it easier for them to spot oncoming traffic.