Can Speeding Be Justified??

Question

Further to a previous question that i answered concerning speeding, i would like to know if there is anyone who has an intelligent and informed opinion on speeding. My answer to 'why do speeders drive excessively' was removed due to an apparent insult, but i think it may have more to do with the fact my answer had the most votes and someone didn't like that!

Think about the question carefully and don't just assume what you hear from government warnings is true. What sort of groups of drivers are the most to blame and what arguements are there for AND against speeding.

I'm not after short, pointless answers that have no experience to back them up.

I'll be interested to see how many proffessional drivers reply here. Sources would also be a great help.

Thanks.

Leo and wedge appear to be seeing the same side of speeding that i do. Surely, if the speed limits were raised in line with safety standards of cars, there wouldn't be the large difference in speeds you get when people speed (motorways mainly). It's that difference in speed that could be the danger factor, along with the control and conditions. Do you not think that more intense driving tests and graduated passing schemes would help people drive to a higher standard? Maybe compulsory lessons in road craft and driving psycology? I personally feel that the fight against traffic and conjestion is being fought in the wrong way, mainly due to the fact that the government cannot justify an increase in speed limit.....maybe this is what i am really looking for....a reason for speed increase on our roads.

Answer 1

Can burglary be justified? Can assault be justified? Can theft be justified? Can speeding be justified?
The first 3 crimes are unlikely to lead to death. The 4th crime can and does.

Answer 2

Speeding is a very loose term. Is a few miles per hour over the limit speeding? Yes of course it is but in good weather on good clear roads is it any more dangerous than driving at the speed limit? There do have to be limits but an experienced driver knows how fast is safe on a particular stretch of road, and sometimes this is below the set speed limit.

As a general rule on British roads it just is not sensible to exceed the limits. This has nothing to do with safety. My reasons for saying this are:-

1) You just don't gain anything by speeding. Because the roads are so congested all you achieve is you get to the next set of traffic lights before the other guy.

2) Is it so important that you arrive at your destination 5 minutes earlier that you put your life at risk.

3) Speed cameras are everywhere its only a matter of time before your clocked and that's a £40 fine and 3 points on your license. Its surprising how quickly 3 points can become 12 points.

Answer 3

Speeding is illegal. That is an irrefutable fact.

If you're cought and you feel that you were justified (medical emergency etc) then you are free under the law to argue your case in court. Each case is taken on its merits so there is no point in trying to give a general answer.
If the magistrate or judge agrees with your reason for speeding then your fine will be waived. If he doesn't agree then you'll just have to pay up.

I think many people who claim speeding is justified because the 'road is good' should direct their efforts at getting the speed limit changed rather than carp about cameras.

Remember, speeding fines are a voluntary tax. If you don't want to pay it then don't break the speed limit.

Answer 4

Speeding, as in 'driving too fast for the prevailing road conditions' is totally reckless & should carry high penalties.
Speeding, as in 'exceeding the speed limit' should not necessarily be a crime, but is used mainly to generate income for the treasury.
Doing 25mph on an icy, busy high street is the former.
Doing 100mph on a lightly trafficked motorway in good conditions is the latter.
I reckon most of the 'lock em up' brigade either don't drive at all, or do so with less than the required amount of competance or confidence.
Bad driving is what causes accidents, whether that involves speed is another issue.

Answer 5

First of all, a Driver's Licence is simply a permission slip for you to use the highways and roads systems. Holding this permit doesn't mean that you are well trained and that your attitude is in tune.
Drivers vary in their skills and confidence.
Some may drive slow. Some may drive fast. Some use good judgement, and some have impaired judgement due to some influence of a drug or extreme emotional state.
The problem is, all of these persons are driving on the same roads at the same time. You never know who you are dealing with out there. Speeding increases the possibility of a loss of control and decreases the possibility of a successful trip. You may get a ticket, you may kill someone. You have to accept the consequences of either.
You are the captain of your ship!

Answer 6

One problem with higher speed limits is reaction time. Many people already have difficulty in this respect. Anyway, how many people really study their driving skills and religiously keep their cars on top line? Looking at this site many are even incapable of performing routine underbonnet and tyre checks. Also many cars are capable of speeds which questionably outstrip their abilities in an emergency compared with the latest quality products which adds to the number of rear end accidents. Someone at a Mercedes dealership told me that nearly all body repairs they did were to the rear of vehicles dor this reason. It is just that available performance makes drivers think that they are going too slow. You see youngsters passing on motorways at 80+ mph in ancient fiestas etc. They have no chance in an emergency; and I had no sympathy for the young man who had clearly blown up his Rover 100 ten miles down the road after passing me. Only on a long journey can driving hard make even a small difference to journey time and already 90% of drivers consistently exceed speed limits by at least any proposed increase. No driver with the right motivations pushes it. I have been lucky enough to have owned both high performance cars and motorcycles and have driven on racing circuits. But on three occasions in the last two years I have only been able to avoid an accident because I was conforming to the speed limit and advised separation distance. Something that seven out of ten motorists clearly have no intention of doing, even with their family on board. I no longer ride a motorcycle because of the sheer incompetence and wilful lawbreaking of the vast majority of car drivers. It is hard to accept that such people are of normal intelligence or have the slightest regard for the welfare of others, including their own families. Many are certainly too lazy to get up earlier in the morning as an alternative. How would it be if airline pilots took the same approach?

Answer 7

i think that it can be justified for the correct circumstances, i.e. someone very ill needing to go to hospital and it taking too much time for an ambulance to come out. i also think that for another reason such as big wide straight open roads, that arent too busy are ok as well, bends cause a lot of accidents, so i wouldnt reccommend it on a bendy road!
however, when it says 30mph, i think thats what it should be. 30s are usually there for a reason... to protect people of a village. i would never purposely or knowingly go over a speed limit in a built up area especially a 30. xx

Answer 8

In most cases speeding increases the risk of being in a crash. The only exception is if you are traveling the speed limit, and every other car is traveling substantially faster than you (i.e. 10-15 mph). In that case, you are creating a hazard for other drivers who are trying to get around you (this is more evident on a two lane road versus a 4-6 lane divided highway, driver impatience/"road rage" can increase the risk of crashes). In that case, it is safer to maintain traffic flow.

ADDED NOTE:
The design of the highways are heavily dependent on the speed limit. The posted speed is 5 mph lower than the design speed. This is used as a factor of safety. However, the speed limit, not the design limit, is the law that governs motorists. This is vital when designing curves in the road. Obviously, the road must be designed for a semi as well as a passenger car. It is far easier for a semi to tip over in a turn, because they have a higher center of gravity, so the curves are not sharp. This is rather critical in the posting of on-ramp speeds (especially with ramps with sharp turns). Yes, it is conceivable that a well-maintained vehicle can travel a well-maintained highway at higher rate of speed safely, assuming no other vehicles are present. Perhaps 10-15 mph over in some cases. But it isn't smart to be traveling 15 mph over in traffic or at night (there was a time when the speed limit was lowered at night because of darkness).

However, it would be unsafe for people to travel at high speeds when others around them are traveling the speed limit. If you choose to speed, you can lose control of your vehicle (which is more likely to happen when traveling at high speeds; on bumpy roads, the vehicle can briefly lose contact with pavement, increasing the risk of spinning out or reducing the ability to use your brakes), get into a crash and kill someone (fatalities and serious injuries are more likely at higher speeds). Then you would have to deal with it the rest of your life, legally and mentally. The roads in this country are some of the best designed in the world, but you cannot design against stupidity.

In the end, is speeding justified? Not really, unless you are causing a safety hazard to other drivers. That type of situation is often the result of poor law enforcement of the road.

Answer 9

in Germany they have unrestricted roads when on these roads you can drive as fast as your car will go however this would not work in the UK as lots of drivers have a poor understanding of lane discipline and wont move to the left when over tacking is complete.
on the autobahn if a speed limit is posted it is keep to by all drivers except UK tourists this would not work in UK as lots of drivers don't have any respect for speed limits.
the 70 mph limit was first posted in the 60s after a road tester took an ac cobra over 140mph then wrote about it in a magazine article the volume of traffic on the roads has gone up very dramatically in just the last 10 years the space in the road will not permit this speed.
if speeds in city's towns and villages were drop-ed to say 20mph to help pedestrian safety this could then be balanced by a 100mph speed limit on motorway's.

Answer 10

Speed does not kill, inappropriate speed does. There needs to be a different mind set with respect to how fast you can drive and when it is not appropriate to ad hear to the speed limit.
Different cars can do different speeds for example a super car can speed up to 100mph and then stop faster than a mondeo can accelerate up to 70mph.
I am a professional driver with over 15 year behind the wheel, I was lucky to have learnt to drive in South Africa and completed an advance drivers licence, as class A1 licence (Same as the police), an anti hy-jacking course and ever with all these driving skills I am limited to the same rules as a 17 year old newly passed driver.

Answer 11

SJW, you are a hypocrite.

In answer to the original question, yes anything can be justified by the individual, so it's up to you whether you think it's justified or not!

Personally, it depends on the circumstances, I don't think speeding can ever be right in cities, towns or villages, but on a clear dry motorway/freeway yes, as long as the car and driver are up to it. YThe main problem is the normally the car and driver are not up to it or do it in the wrong conditions and so accidents happen.