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I learned to drive in London, where the only rule is "he who hesitates is lost" and have driven in most European and Scandinavian countries. Aside from the well policed and super polite Swedes, we could learn lessons in pressing on from most of them!
I always loved the idea of "making progress" which, AFAIK, is the police instructors polite euphemism for "drive it like you stole it"! I endeavour to "make progress" at all times! I like to carry speed through corners and roundabouts, have the clutch rising the split second the amber shows and, wherever safe, maintain 60mph on NSL roads. My reaction times, measured and displayed for all to see at the dragstrip, have not changed from an average 0.3 seconds since I was a young buck in my 20s.
I like to drive fast, but driving fast carries a cost, as well as a reward. The cost is total concentration on what you are doing, but the reward is that your reactions are kept sharp, this not only helps to keep you alive, but helps your mind stay young too! Oh, it's FUN too! And the 2 together mean that you CAN probabaly anticipate what the moron in the side road/oncoming lane/in front of you is going to do next because you are constantly and totally unconsciously reading the road and other users on it instead of cruising along on autopilot and wondering what's for dinner. So the alert driver is probably taking evasive action before the brain-in-neutral cruiser even knows anything is wrong. It's why I don't like to just sit back and cruise, it gets you into sloppy habits. If you always drive at 100%, when something goes pear shaped around you, you'll be ready for it! Sadly, it appears that most drivers these days can't be arsed to put that much effort in! And anyway (to get back ON topic) the car will save you.......won't it?
And this is the real crux of the matter, SPEED doesn't kill, INATTENTION kills. HESITATION kills, FAILURE TO COMMIT kills! And as for the morons who STILL use their phones while driving, despite the possible outcomes, well Mr Darwin has a special award, just for them!
And now my rant is over!
Steve
The problem with this is people are very bad at judging their driving ability, most people rate themselves as an above average driver, which simply can't be true. I will be honest, I am average at best and very much know my limits, alas allot of people don't.
They will drive flat out in the rain, they will overtake before blind summits and other pieces of insanity. 90% of the time they get away with it, but it only takes one time. Not to mention the fact that you have to take into account the ability of all the drivers around you.
The roads around here are so busy that making progress stopped being a safe option on them years ago.
To be honest I do feel like I missed out, must have been more fun 40 years ago with clear roads and not lane to lane traffic.