...... Passed my test 4 months ago, and I seem to be the only one who is scared of them!! I just find it very hard to stick to 30 at times- so might go on to 35-36 and I just can't rest doing that... Wen i stick to 30 I get people tailgating me- makes me feel right uncomfortable as I know driving at 30 mph can most of the time be inappropriate........

I usually don't have a problem spotting speed cameras, and you soon get to know where they are in Sheffield anyway. At 35 you should no problem slowing down in time, not that I condone speeding of course :)

Drive at the proper speeds and ignore the cars tailgating you. All it takes is for a police car to see them at it and they can get into serious trouble. I think its called dangerous driving or driving without due care and attention on account of the tailgater has an impaired view of the road.

And by sticking to the speed limit you can really annoy these pillocks without breaking the law. They deserve it. Stick to the speed limits especially in built up areas. I do not see the point of speed cameras on the motorways though. I'm bad.

You will get used to sticking to the speed limits without watching your speedo but it takes time.

Just my two cents worth.

Dragon

I know how you feel!

I do slow down well in advance of known camera sites, and i get tailgated! But i try to ignore them as much as possible!

I've been so bloody paranoid at times asking my girlfriend " poo, we were talking just now, didn't look at the speedometer, did I go just over 30??" Its getting to a point where it's just getting stupid. I mean I understand there are reckless drivers out there going way over the limit, but having sleepless nights worrying about whether you've done 32 instead of 30....
I was looking forward to driving for so long, started when i was 18 but I was then very ill so started again at 22. Now 4 months after passing my test, I just think what a bloody farce driving is and wish I'd have passed my test at least 20 yrs ago..
Quite a few of you will have known the pleasure of driving, us new drivers seem to have to pay the price of decades of bad driving...
I've got my shiny golf sat outside the house and often think when can I drive it without feeling so bloody scared of those f***** cameras.

my advice to anyone reading is never EVER cross the road near a speed camera, 'cos all the drivers will be watching their speedometers, not the road. I always think that it's safer doing*around* the limit and watching the road than going spot on 30, 40 or whatever and watching your speedometer.


discuss...

You're probably right UncleBob, I mentioned on another thread a while back that I'm never watching the road when I'm in camera country. In fact with all the drivers braking hard, it's not really a safe place to be driving either.

Any Sony, yeah I remeber the glory days of driving :)

Problem with that unclebob is that most of us tend to drive at the same speed on average as the vehicles in front of us - allowing for a safe braking distance. So if other cars are doing 35 then others tend to do the same, or wonder why the car in front is letting the gap between them and the next car is getting bigger and bigger.

Speed cameras in certain places are a great idea, but flawed. The new cameras on the motorway - the new A64 for instance - are spread over a few miles so if you speed up after one then the next one will get you.

Too often I see drivers speed up once clear of the cameras. It would be much better if there was a second camera a little further along the road to catch these idiots. We have speed limits for a reason.

No doubt that now I have said that I will get caught doing 31 mph in a 30 zone - just kidding.

Drive carefully.

Dragon

Originally posted by Dragon
We have speed limits for a reason.True, but for instance Sheffield is stuck in the 30mph zone whereas cross the border to say NE Derbyshire, on the same road, in the same area, configuration is at national speed... It's more of a council policy than careful consideration.

Possibly - but the duel carriageway on penistone road is a 30 zone most of the way anyhow. It should be a 40 cos its a duel carriageway. Apparently it was reduced to 30 due to accidents being too frequent on that stretch. However - I also believe the police will not do more than caution you if you exceed 30. Near the city end of Penistone road there is a speed camera set to catch anyone doing more than 30, but at the wednesday footy ground end - nothing.

Does anyone know the proper limits along the length of penistone road. And can someone explain why Halifax road changes to a 40 zone about a third of the way up? Its a duel carriageway all the way to the top.

Dragon

I usually always stick to the speed limits and never worried about speed cameras. But recently I got a speeding ticket for driving at 37 mph in a 30 zone. I know it's no excuse but I genuinely thought it was a 40mph road. Since the fine I am more nervy of speed cameras. It really bugs me when people tailgate me when I'm driving at 30 and/or whizz past me obviously exceeding the speed limit.

Right,

Dragon - Penistone Road is 30mph as far as I know it goes! To the roundabout (is it Leppings Lane Roundabout?) at the end, right from the other end (at Sharrowvale is it? I'm not good with names of places!), I only found out because my driving instructor told me when I sped up to 40mph.
People think I'm mad when I do 30mph on it, but there are no signs apart from that one near the camera on the way back from the roundabout towards the city centre.

I don't know why it's only a 3rd of the way up it goes up to 40mph on Halifax Rd, perhaps because of the amount turn offs and the bends in the road at the bottom?

Now, Sony. Yes, I get paranoid, and sometimes I realise I'm going over the speed limit.
I don't know if you lot are aware of this but for any speed limit there is a 10% give in the limit. so if you can go up to 33mph in a 30 zone. and 77mph in a 70 zone etc.

Sony, I recommend that you do what I do and stick to the speed limit EVERYWHERE not only because, as Dragon said, speed limits are there for a reason, but also because we who haven't been driving long (I must have passed around the same time as you) we can get our license completely taken off us for 2 charges of speeding and have to take our test again and if you get used to slowing down in certain areas or when you see a camera, then if you miss one your caught!

People say to me, 'oh don't worry, there's no cameras round here' but I refuse and say 'no, if I get used to going above the speed limit I'll do it where there's a camera'. Plus, police are sometimes out with mobile speed cameras.

One way to do it is, when I was learning I was told to look in the rear view mirror on average every 6 seconds. When you look in your rear view mirror, glance at your speedometer too. This means you're not watching it, just glancing like you do your mirrors. That's how I do it.

I also agree with Dragon when he says about putting speed cameras spaced apart to catch people who slow down and speed up again.

At the end of the day - don't let it rule your life - you will get used to how fast you're going, but always make sure you're not speeding.

Lottie x

Lotti is very perceptive when she mentions mobile speed cameras. Look at this link, and be advised to always keep to the speed limit!

http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=53794&highlight=parkway

I'm a bit paranoid about them because, despite the holier than thou brigade preaching to simply "stick to the limit then", it's not always that simple. Unless one keeps a constant eye on the speedo, it is almost impossible to not drift over (and under) the speed limit. This is particularly true on faster roads when, for example, 55mph really doesn't feel much different to 50mph. Also, it can sometimes be difficult to establish what the speed limit is until you pass a repeater disc.

Originally posted by Sony
... I know driving at 30 mph can most of the time be inappropriate........

Not if you're in a 30mph limit :confused:

There isn't a 10% 'give' in any speed limit. This a totally unwritten rule and is absolutely at the discretion of the police officer who would catch you (and incidentally its 10% + 2mph, i.e. 24, 35, 46 etc.) With Gatsos they can (and do) vary the speed at which they are automatically triggered.

And another thing... The roads in the UK are so bloody dangerous.. I mean how many blind bends do we have to go through hoping for the best?? Abroad, you get mirrors showing you whats coming up/down. The roads are in a horrid state, so much so that it is actually very dangerous to drive on them.

Take Hagg hill, as you enter it from Stephen Hill ( I think thats what its called) its officially a 60mph stretch of road. Now of course, nobody in there right mind would do 60 mph on that stretch of road; but thats not my point; that road is so dangerous how could it have ever been 60mph?? Should be a 40 no more!!

Same with Sheephill road, its a 60 mph road, that road is horrible, its so narrow and the road is in a shocking condition! The only difference is that some people seem to be doing 60!! So I'm coming right the bend at 25-30 and some idiot nearly give me a hear attack zooming down at high speed.

And thats such a classic, why is it theres always a car passing me on a bend?? lol Sods law i suppose!

What I mean is the council or whoever is in charge are crazy! Nothing makes sense, youve got some 20 zones that are far less dangerous than those 60mph stretches of road I've mentionned above. At least the 20 zones are nice a wide roads, in generally a decent state with no blind bends.

I am pretty certain those roads are not 60mph. Think perhaps checking up on the highway code is called for.

However - you are expected to use your own judgement, and anyone who drives at 60 in the hagg hill area really ought not to be driving. You come to a sharp bend and you slow down. Even if it means taking the corner slower than a person can walk.

Common sense is the important thing - and then so many accidents would just never happen.

Speed cameras and such are there because people fail to use common sense.

Going out towards Wigfield Farm, Barnsley, there is a corner with a house blocking the view that is so tight you would be stupid to go round it at more than 5 mph in first gear. Cars have gone in the other direction as I round this corner with no problems. Common sense.

Dragon

Originally posted by Dragon
I am pretty certain those roads are not 60mph. Think perhaps checking up on the highway code is called for.



I do them every day, I can assure that its a National speed limit applies area.

Sorry Twiglet, I enquired about this and that's what I was told. I felt it was odd that if you went 1mph over, you should get caught so I asked and they said it's 10% so that is what I have been believing. Not that I've been driving to it, I try to keep just below or on the speed given. I don't drive to 33mph on purpose.

The thing that really gets my goat, is when you see a sign saying it's national speed limit, but often I'm still unsure as to what the speed is. Most drivers, by the time they've been driving a long time, don't keep checking the highway code and couldn't tell you what the national speed limit was for all areas. And sometimes I have to double check and ask whoever I'm with. Why not just put a sign up with the speed limit on???? If you can put up signs with the sign for Nat. Speed limit, why not just put up a sign with a number on it??! It seems ridiculous to me, sorry.

I agree with Dragon on using your common sense, however, I do know what Sony means, there are people who won't use their common sense and will go as fast as they can if they think they can go up to 60mph!
Also, I agree with him. Penistone road = 30mph, whilst narrow winding country roads = 60mph. HUH??????

Sorry - I agree, I think they've got the whole system messed up! lol

Plus, I often get people speeding up past me and getting irritated because I'm going at 30mph on Penistone Road and then it's very difficult not to speed upto 40 when that's the minimum everyone else is doing, you feel like you're going at about 10mph when everyone else is zooming off in front! and you get faster without realising it.
It annoys me because if they're going to have a limit on it, they ought to have more obvious signs. Those people think they're in the right and will never be told otherwise! It was only the other day I told my dad it was 30mph and he wouldn't believe me!

Lottie

I think the National Speed Limit is to allow the speed limit to be changed without having to change all the signs.

Also, in reply to a much earlier post about 30mph and tailgating......

I once stuck to 30mph on a 30 limit road. A guy was tailing me for about 3 miles, getting close, flashing lights and all that, but, I stuck to my guns and cruised at 30.

Eventually, he found an opportunity to overtake, pulled in front of me and stopped , angled across the road , forcing me to stop.

As he got out, a saw him conceal a long metal object in his hand as he approached my window.

He asked what I was playing at, and normally my cheeky manner wouldve surfaced to outwit my foe, but, considering the circumstances (and the metal weapon) I decided to keep stum and let him vent off.

He eventually calmed returned to his car and was off.

Lesson here is, Sure, stick to the law, but avoid antagonisation as you just dont know what people are capable of under heated situations......

Drive with care.................

Sony - the national speed limit is not a flat 60mph. It varies depending upon the road. The national speed limit for any built up area, unless indicated otherwise, is 30 mph, for instance.

The national speed limit on a narrow couintry road is not 60. The national speed limit for the A64 is 60. The national speedlimit for that stupid duel carriageway in town called the parkway is 50mph.

Check your highway code.

There was an article in the newspapers that mentioned that 9 out of 10 drivers have no idea.

Dragon

Originally posted by Dragon
Sony - the national speed limit is not a flat 60mph. It varies depending upon the road. The national speed limit for any built up area, unless indicated otherwise, is 30 mph, for instance.

The national speed limit on a narrow couintry road is not 60. The national speed limit for the A64 is 60. The national speedlimit for that stupid duel carriageway in town called the parkway is 50mph.

Check your highway code.

There was an article in the newspapers that mentioned that 9 out of 10 drivers have no idea.

Dragon

Wrong. The national speed limit on the Parkway is 70mph since it's a dual carriageway with central reservation. The 50mph limit only applies, surprisingly enough, where the 50mph signs are. Once you pass the national speed limit sign it's 70mph.

As for the country roads, if the NSL is not 60mph, what is it? I think you'll find the highway code suggests it's 60mph since such roads are single carriageway and not in a built up area, so a NSL sign means 60mph.

Fair enough. Question - what sort of idiot is going to do 60 miles per hour on a winding country road - or a road such as those in the Hagg Hill area?

Sorry but just cos the max speen limit is 60 does not mean you HAVE to travel at that speed.

Still say - common sense saves lives.

Dragon

Originally posted by Dragon
Fair enough. Question - what sort of idiot is going to do 60 miles per hour on a winding country road - or a road such as those in the Hagg Hill area?

Sorry but just cos the max speen limit is 60 does not mean you HAVE to travel at that speed.

Still say - common sense saves lives.

Dragon

Yeah many common sense does say that you should slow down, but many people dont have common sense so the speed limits should cater for this lack of common sense.

Originally posted by Dragon
Fair enough. Question - what sort of idiot is going to do 60 miles per hour on a winding country road - or a road such as those in the Hagg Hill area?

Sorry but just cos the max speen limit is 60 does not mean you HAVE to travel at that speed.

Still say - common sense saves lives.

Dragon

I agree entirely. Personally, I hate the winding country roads and rarely get higher than 40-45mph on them, particularly when they're new to me. You literally just never know what's around the next bend or how sharp it may be.

Originally posted by Dragon

Sorry but just cos the max speen limit is 60 does not mean you HAVE to travel at that speed.

This is precisely what I said. There is no way in amillion years I would do over 35 on Hagg hill... Yet quite a lot of people do. And my point is that I just can't understand why Hagg hill should be a 60mph zone... I would even tolerate it being a 30, for obvious security reasons.

Originally posted by Sony
Wen i stick to 30 I get people tailgating me- makes me feel right uncomfortable as I know driving at 30 mph can most of the time be inappropriate........
Of course it's not inappropriate in a 30mph zone. I always try and stick to the speed limit. If I've got people tailgating me, tough! The limit is not there for no reason. The only time I might break the speed limit is if I'm in a 60 zone and I know the road well enough to go faster. And on the motorway of course.

What does annoy me is people who constantly drive at 45mph, even in 30mph zones.