As a driver, pedestrian, and one-time cyclist, I'd like to think that all three of my mirrors are properly adjusted so that I, when driving, can see as clearly as possible behind me. As I approach 70 (age, not mph!), I'm not as flexible as the youngsters when it comes to turning head and torso in the driving seat, so I'm concentrating even harder on the mirrors.

I haven't seen the new highway code yet, but I hope it stresses that passengers - sans benefit of mirrors - are in most need of the 'stretch and turn' technique.

I haven't seen the new highway code yet, but I hope it stresses that passengers - sans benefit of mirrors - are in most need of the 'stretch and turn' technique.

I have read the bits about the changes with respect to rights of way for cyclists but not the stretch and turn bit. As I approach collecting my pension later this year, I also rely more on the mirrors than turning my head than I used to.

I haven't seen the new highway code yet

It is law from tomorrow onwards, with fines up to £1,000.-

I'm checking https://www.dutchreach.org/ and see:
- Dutch kids learn it from parents & in school. -- Uhm, not that I know of.
I've taught the daughters of my best friend to use the mirror first, then look over their shoulder before opening the door, but not with their left hand (driver's side is left for us, passenger side is right)

-It’s taught in drivers’ ed, and used to pass their driving test. -- Nope, neither. We do get to squint at a car's number plate 50 meters away, does that count?

- It's been Dutch commonsense for 50 years. -- Mirrors yes, not this thing. Ask any Dutchman how they get out of their car and maybe 1 in 50 tells you they'll do it this way, but certainly not because they were taught it 50 years ago.

Still don't know why you have to blame us for so many things:
- Going Dutch
- Double Dutch
- Being Dutch
- Smoking a Dutch
- Dutch American
- Being in Dutch

Don't forget the ever loved and widely used 'Dutch Oven'. 😀


TL

30mph - 34mph & over is speeding
40mph - 45mph & over is speeding
50mph - 56mph & over is speeding
60mph - 67mph & over is speeding
70mph - 78mph & over is speeding.

Caught speeding in the 1st 12 counties listed?
Tough luck, you're guilty.
The next 7? Pot luck I guess.
Stopped for speeding in Wiltshire?
Pray that the copper knows all about the Road Traffic Act.
Speed Camera thresholds

Drivers are most likely to break the law in 20mph zones, with a huge nine in 10 drivers found speeding on these roads. This may be because 20mph roads are often quieter, or drivers have not realised that the lower limit is in effect.

If they haven't realised, they shouldn't be on the road.

In far too many locations the signage of a 20mph limit is very poor, lacking the required entry point signage and repeater signs; not to mention a few that one can enter in the middle from a higher limit with NO signage at all. (I had a long conversation with local highways & police about one such road locally for which the main entry point is about half way along the 20 limited road and there were no speed limit signs.... council attitude was "tough, nobody ever uses that entry point", police however said "We've told the council about that far too often, we will not be enforcing the 20 limit". Joined up or what.....

Your 20 is 30 here, and on some of these roads every light post and tree has a separate 30 kph sign. Still, people, preferably the people living in that street or a side-street, drive 50 kph or faster and ignore the speed limit. Some try to drive as fast as their cars let them.

In far too many locations the signage of a 20mph limit is very poor, lacking the required entry point signage and repeater signs; not to mention a few that one can enter in the middle from a higher limit with NO signage at all. (I had a long conversation with local highways & police about one such road locally for which the main entry point is about half way along the 20 limited road and there were no speed limit signs.... council attitude was "tough, nobody ever uses that entry point", police however said "We've told the council about that far too often, we will not be enforcing the 20 limit". Joined up or what.....

Here in Cambridge, every entry point has a big 20 sign painted on the road as well as the signs. No excuse for anyone here at least though I wouldn't go any faster in our street even if it was still 30.

Sadly not everywhere is as efficient as Cambridge....

My biggest gripe about speed limit signs is their poor placement and the angle they are set at.
I have a car with a detector that reads the signs and displays this on the dashboard what the speed limit it thinks you should be restricted to. If you go above this limit it puts out an annoying beep, which wouldn't be so bad if it was accurate. But it keeps picking up the side road limits of 20 mph and so beeps because you are doing 30 in a 30 limit area.

And we have to note that in the UK and the EU all cars will shortly be fitted with this technology and after that, in 2025 I think, if it detects that you are above what it thinks is the speed limit it will decrease the power output so that you slow down. It will not be applying the brakes.

I can imagine the reaction of following drivers when you are on a 40 or 50 mph main road and your car slows to 20 for what is some unknown reason to the following drivers.
You better hope the following drivers are paying attention.

And we have to note that in the UK and the EU all cars will shortly be fitted with this technology and after that, in 2025 I think, if it detects that you are above what it thinks is the speed limit it will decrease the power output so that you slow down. It will not be applying the brakes.

It will be a while before any car I can afford is new enough for that. By then the data will all be in googlemaps or similar and it will happen via the built in satnav.

I can think of one junction and road combination that will really confuse this technology. For about a mile the A38 runs parallel to a side road, the A38 is national speed (70mph) and the side road is 30, both have signs appropriate to their limits. The two roads are separated by a strip of concrete and low crash fence the strip is only a couple of feet wide, and the speed limit signs are staggered (one post has a thirty sign, and the next a national speed limit sign and so on), the signs being on posts on the concrete strip.

and after that, in 2025 I think, if it detects that you are above what it thinks is the speed limit it will decrease the power output so that you slow down. It will not be applying the brakes.

No, it won't do that. That's already been said that this automated brake won't be included, for the reasons you give. Also, you can disable this detection thing, only thing is, you have to do so after every time you start the car.

and after that, in 2025 I think, if it detects that you are above what it thinks is the speed limit it will decrease the power output so that you slow down. It will not be applying the brakes.

No, it won't do that. That's already been said that this automated brake won't be included, for the reasons you give. Also, you can disable this detection thing, only thing is, you have to do so after every time you start the car.

I agree, and stated that.

It will not be applying the brakes.

But it will decrease your power output, over a period, so that your speed decreases.

I can think of one junction and road combination that will really confuse this technology. For about a mile the A38 runs parallel to a side road, the A38 is national speed (70mph) and the side road is 30, both have signs appropriate to their limits. The two roads are separated by a strip of concrete and low crash fence the strip is only a couple of feet wide, and the speed limit signs are staggered (one post has a thirty sign, and the next a national speed limit sign and so on), the signs being on posts on the concrete strip.

I know a couple of stretches of road where that could be a problem too.

But it will decrease your power output, over a period, so that your speed decreases.

And then you press the pedal in deeper and that'll override this.

https://etsc.eu/intelligent-speed-assistance-specifications-officially-published/:

The most effective and appreciated systems, already available since 2015 on several vehicles, assist drivers by cutting engine power once the legal speed limit has been reached. The driver can override the system by pushing further down on the accelerator pedal.

The most basic system allowed simply features an audible warning that starts a few moments after the vehicle exceeds the speed limit and continues for a maximum of five seconds.

That reads as "not all systems will be using the same method".

By the way, about the reading of the signs:
https://etsc.eu/new-legislation-will-boost-availability-of-digital-speed-limit-information/:

In addition to cameras, well-performing ISA systems also use maps to determine the applicable speed limit for the road the vehicle is driving on.

GPS, turn right onto the one lane mud road ... the speed limit is ...

As well as that, is councils not maintaining signage in rural areas. Never expected to come across this in London, but did so in summer 2010. The council saved me from getting an endorsement. :-)
Getting the run sheet the night before, took one look & didn't bother mapping them out.
Thought, down the M11, east to north & come home on the A1, job done.
Get to the penultimate drop, turned off the main road & parked up approx halfway down for the drop.
Oops, police pulled up behind us.
"Forget the highway code, did we lad?"
"Huh?"
"Do you know what a "No Entry" sign means lad?"
"Of course"
"So why have you driven down the wrong way?"
"No flipping way"
He then proceeded to tell me & how long it was a no entry road from the main road (about 10 years)
"2 problems officer (said this as he was starting at me, I guess it was the accent)"
1: The last time I drove down this road was 25 years ago next month.
2: Where is the no entry sign?

He thought I was taking the mickey until I handed him my driving license
He then walked both of us to where the sign was. My oppo took several pictures - What sign?
We found it & even high up in a truck cab, it could not be seen.
It was completely covered by overgrown foliage.
We had a great chat on the way back to our vehicles. Told that I lived on the road on the left of the post box for 10 years (post box was approx. 20 feet in front of our vehicles. What he then said, has always stayed with me. I'll report this to the local council, but I don't think they'll act on it.

Last post to topic: 6 days ago. ... did everyone fall asleep?