If car speed limiters set to 70 mph had existed a few years ago, I'd be dead.
Squashed flat, in fact, under an overturned artic trailer on the A38 in Oxford. The lorry was doing about 60, I was overtaking at 70. To this day I have no idea why but suddenly the lorry jacknifed and the trailer flipped onto its side. If I'd braked, or even hesitated for an instant, I'd have been under the trailer. Instinctively I floored the accelerator and (very very narrowly) got out from under - hitting well over 90 in the process I might add (and later gave thanks that I had a very pokey Cavalier SRi 130 at the time) The guy behind me wasn't so lucky - he *did* end up under the trailer (I've no idea whether he survived but I rather doubt if he did 'cos there was sweet FA of his car to be seen). Speed limiters are *not* the answer. Nor, for that matter, are speed *limits*. Better, *much* better, driver training and education is what is needed. There are times (fewer and fewer, I grant you, given modern traffic conditions) when it is perfectly safe to drive at 90mph plus on the motorways and some dual carriageways. There are, however, times when it isn't safe to drive at 30mph even on a motorway. One of the most terrifying moments in my life was crawling up the M1 one dark evening in fog so thick I literally could not see the end of the bonnet. Around 15 to 20 mph was as fast as I dared go (and even that was too fast to be honest) and yet people were still blasting past me at or above the 70mph speed limit. (I baled out through the back door of Newport Pagnell services before some idiot drove straight into the back of me) Speed limits, and worse IMO speed limiters, are something that people will drive up to - all too often regardless of the road conditions. I personally favour the idea that is gaining ground (especially in, IIRC, Holland) of removing virtually all road markings, signs and restrictions and making people *think* for themselves. Although Glen's idea of replacing the drivers airbag with a nice sharp spike sticking out of the steering wheel also has merit (we'd all drive a lot more carefully with certain painful death staring us right in the face! Although come to think of it ...) Bru
