Speed awareness

[XW-BAXR6T]

Originally Posted by Chopped

I check my speedo every now and then. I also car perve and lady perve whilst driving.

Im like what he said. ^^^

[burnz]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

Im confused, as a truck driver do you continually take your eyes off the road to maintain a legal speed or not?
And if you are forced to take your eyes off the road to maintain legal speed, how many accidents has it caused you?

Personally, I may check my speedo once a minute and it is a quick glance and straight back to the road ahead, including anything in my peripheral range of vision (hazard awareness).
Usually I will chose a moment when the likelihood of an incident is minimal ie. straight stretches, clear visibility, braking distance in relation to road speed/conditions etc.

what an erroneous post, you cant drive without looking anywhere but the road?

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by burnz

you cant drive without looking anywhere but the road?

Yes, and I do regularly.

Im not saying that I don't scan my surroundings, just that I don't need to be fixated on my speedo to avoid speeding fines.

If I have glanced down at the speedo my next port of call is the road ahead, then once I know im good I am free to scan around for hazards or short skirts what ever the case.

[xisled]

If you can't drive without being able to stay under the limit, you shouldn't be on the road. Same if you keep looking at the speedo, I think people are just trying to convince themselves and to justify why they think going a few ks over is ok.

People seem to think its ok to break the law if it is only by a small amount. They try make them selves feel better by justifying it and using excuses.

[MITCHAY]

I just take a glance here and there. Sometimes I just use the tacho to get the speed.

[Sprint]

WTF guys ,this poll should not be this close!..

I am always looking at my speedo, true all my cars are sports cars and have touchy throttles hahaha.

[GCRXR6]

Originally Posted by xisled

If you can't drive without being able to stay under the limit, you shouldn't be on the road. Same if you keep looking at the speedo, I think people are just trying to convince themselves and to justify why they think going a few ks over is ok.

People seem to think its ok to break the law if it is only by a small amount. They try make them selves feel better by justifying it and using excuses.

Are you a carpenter? You've nailed it.

[blackf6]

I am constantly surveying gauges, mirrors, the road, and my surroundings. Constantly making decisions every second. That's driving. That's my contribution to the poll.

[2011G6E]

In a modern car or even most older ones you will not even be able to "feel" the difference between 100 and 102 or 3. The difference isn't great enough to say with absolute certainty which one of those speeds you are doing.

Even your cruise control will vary by that amount as you go up and down rises and falls in the landcape and you won't even know...and in a state where the limit is set to piddling percentages, the first you will know about it is when you start getting fines in the mail.

I'd agree that "glancing" at the speedo is a more accurate term, and it's something you simply have to do now that they are lowering tolerances to stupid levels.


As for bikes, yes, something powerful like my GSX1400 needs constant monitoring of the speedo if you suspect Plod is around...one tiny twitch of the throttle on a bump in the road or when you move your hand to adjust your grip, and you're almost instantly five kph or more over the limit.

[Vincenzo]

I spend 90% of my driving with the windows down, rain hail or hot bloody humid weather. I have become so accustomed to the engine / exhaust / wind noise I would check my speed maybe once a minute. Scanning the mirrors and general surrounds on the other hand is almost done continuously without thinking.

(43 years driving on the highway - 15 years in the Ambulance Service and 8 years as an advanced / defensive driving instructor)


Cheers Vincenzo

[Auslandau]

Originally Posted by xisled

If you can't drive without being able to stay under the limit, you shouldn't be on the road. Same if you keep looking at the speedo, I think people are just trying to convince themselves and to justify why they think going a few ks over is ok.

People seem to think its ok to break the law if it is only by a small amount. They try make them selves feel better by justifying it and using excuses.

Never done 73 in a 70 zone? Really?? DAMN ..... your good Better than anyone else I would know for sure. Sorry if that sounds a little weird but really trying not to be ..... just amazing if you can do that as no one else I have met can do it. No one ..... !

Any one that can feel the difference between 80 and 83 kph ........

Try driving to the conditions, keeping alert, watching your surroundings, drive confidently as opposed to arrogantly ..... and if that entails a few K;s over ..... stiff really. Rather to have these people next to me rather than someone who thinks that keeping to the limit is all thats required with no concerns for others or their surroundings. 70 zone, 68 I live, 73 I die ..... thats all thats involved apparently

Speed awareness to me is keeping up with those around you, knowing they are there and trying to predict what they will do next. As long as I stay constant and others do too ..... I don't care if everyone is over any limit by whatever amount.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Ducati888

Generally I use the cruise control everywhere, and I mean everywhere.

hooray.

+1 for this. i use cruise all the time. all zones from 50 through to 110.

[IDT]

Don't know about anyone else but how often are you in traffic (with more than half a dozen other cars going the same way) and able to even get to the limit?
Except when I choose to ignore the limit ;-) I need only check when I see a speed limit sign or every few minutes. Unless there is a limit change I rarely have to adjust my speed by more than 2 or 3 kph. Other drivers cause me to adjust far more often than any speed limit changes.

[XR6T0Y]

Set cruise to 110 and go for it. Not hard. Go down to 50, have the slightest (microsecond) glance to see where the needle is situated and no where I am with speed. Staring at your speedo like it's a TV is idiotic (yeah flame me all you like). It's not hard to feel YOUR car speed up or start to slow down or see that you are getting closer or further away from the car ahead of you

[Bent8]

Yep, always glancing at the speedo, until I engage cruise and finally enjoy the drive.

Here in WA, drive past a speed camera at 65 in a 60 zone and you won't get flashed.... do it at 66kph and the WA Govt helps themselves to $75 from your wallet.

The word pathetic comes to mind...

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by flappist

This is a very biased poll.

The first choice has nothing to do with the second choice unless it is to imply that only reason that a speed on a sign would be exceeded is that the driver's abilities were inferior to those of one who never exceeds the number on a sign regardless of what dangers, interference and inconveniences he causes to other road users.

The poll itself isn’t biased, but the question behind it is squarely aimed at people who speed and yet claim they are “safer cos I’m not constantly looking at the speedo.” Which is analogous to claiming that drink-driving would make you safe cos you were more relaxed.

Personally I have never had a problem, but it could be because I have long arms & legs, and so drive with my seat all the way back. Consequently the speedo is practically within my line of site, so I can periodically register what it is indicating. I did find it more challenging when driving a truck, but then I am also good at maintaining speed, particularly in vehicles I am familiar with.

I have however found some people (eg my wife) who are always constantly either accelerating or braking. Not only does this give me the ***** and destroy my fuel consumption, but it means they cannot judge their speed without frequent references to the speedo.

I'm also a bit over the whole whining about speeding fines. I have never been pinged when I didn’t deserve it. If you are that worried about getting pinged at 66kph in 60 zone, then aim to stay under 60 not 65.

[uniacidz]

Most of the time i have a good sense of speed and am able to determine if speeding or going slow but in areas where I am unfamiliar with and such, will just double check the speed in case of speed cameras

With my car my stereo is more so the engine with music only in the background and so can usually determine the speed pretty well.

Engine revs/current visual speed in real time on the road, if heading uphill and downhill I may look at the speedo more to check and adjust

[tex]

In the scud I find it quite challenging to keep it held back at lower speeds with the required accuracy (tolerance) without continual and pro active inputs / monitoring by myself.

Lower speeds I mean all legal speeds, whether they be suburban or highway.

And the experts out there that have no trouble doing it by feel - jump in a properly powerful car and try! There's lots of these experts apparently, they're so, they're so full of expertise, in their whimsy little buzz boxes and near stock output vehicles lol.

[The G6ET Spot]

Originally Posted by mungdungas

The first step in making a real difference on the road toll is to remove the addiction the government has on revenue.

That will NEVER happen when all the governments actually include fine revenue into their budgets.

The NSW government has just increased their projected fine revenue in the budget by 50% above last years.

So when this is happening there is no hope, as the addiction to it is too strong. A DJ asked the treasurer the other day how they can project a 50% increase in fine revenue and put to him that to do so there must be quotas put in place. Well I have never heard someone bumbling and stumbling over their words more than him trying to weazel his way out of the question.
Quite funny to listen to.

As to the OP question I look at my speedo to check my speed, driving a truck all day you only need the slightest dip in the road and your speed will increase.

Anyone that says they can tell the difference in between 60 and 65kph without checking their speedo is just kidding themselves.

[tex]

But they're experts at driving. Accuracy within a few Kms/ hr by feel, lol.

I'm so in awe of them. .

[The G6ET Spot]

Yep me too.

[Moby Vic]

I've never had cruise control in a car. I've developed a steady foot.

[39ClevoUte]

I say no to gazing, just a quick check every now and then. Obviously your sub consious does a good job. I also note that "fly by wire" cars seem to maintain a fixed speed regardless of slight throttle movements. Some more than others, in the US recently and a Chev Impala we were driving was very obviously doing this. Our Ford Terri somewhat does this.

[kaniSS]

Lol seriously if you need to constantly look at your speedo rather than the road ahead you need to go back to putting L plates on.

[Sprint]

Originally Posted by prydey

hooray.

+1 for this. i use cruise all the time. all zones from 50 through to 110.

Dude this sounds so dangerous!!, do you have a cappacino machine on the passenger seat and classical music on as well while you read your paper?

[Blue Oval Mopar Man]

Its just my opinion , But I think this is a silly poll and some of the answers are silly as well (some funny silly , some just plain silly ! ) . The way you drive your car is affected by the mood your in when you do it , by what is happening in your surroundings as well as whats happening in your life at that time . Like I said , just my opinion !

[Maka]

Originally Posted by Sprint

Dude this sounds so dangerous!!, do you have a cappacino machine on the passenger seat and classical music on as well while you read your paper?

Using the cruise where logically possible helps me focus on the road ahead better than not using it imo, it guarantee's i dont speed. I have a steady foot too but cruise control saves me the hassle of having to glance at my speedo every minute or two especially in radar zones or school zones.

cheers, Maka

[malazn mafia]

Generally gauge speed against other cars on the road in suburbia and busy motorways, and am often below the limit by 5-10 for safety and practicality. Always drive slower than the limit when driving along a row of parked vehicles. But exit suburbia and give me an empty highway or nice straight stretch I can see the end of, no way in hell am I sticking to a legal limit.

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

In a modern car or even most older ones you will not even be able to "feel" the difference between 100 and 102 or 3. The difference isn't great enough to say with absolute certainty which one of those speeds you are doing.

Even your cruise control will vary by that amount as you go up and down rises and falls in the landcape and you won't even know...and in a state where the limit is set to piddling percentages, the first you will know about it is when you start getting fines in the mail.

I'd agree that "glancing" at the speedo is a more accurate term, and it's something you simply have to do now that they are lowering tolerances to stupid levels.


As for bikes, yes, something powerful like my GSX1400 needs constant monitoring of the speedo if you suspect Plod is around...one tiny twitch of the throttle on a bump in the road or when you move your hand to adjust your grip, and you're almost instantly five kph or more over the limit.

I live in SA, these tighter restrictions have been in place for a while now, I have received 1 fine since, it was for 68 in a 60 zone, life hasn't changed.

So now we've gone from speedo gazing to avoid fines and increasing the risks of having an accident, to glancing, which im sure many motorists, including myself would do albeit not often enough to increase my chance of an accident.

So we started off with paranoia in the tolerances thread about the risk of continually checking your speedo, to now being an occasional glance, which shouldn't increase the risk of an accident at all.

As it stands now, the poll is tied, would those who voted that they rely on their speedo to maintain a legal speed please share with us how often that simple distraction has lead to either an accident, or a near miss.

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by tex

But they're experts at driving. Accuracy within a few Kms/ hr by feel, lol.

I'm so in awe of them. .

So, with a split poll, your saying that anyone who can drive without continually checking their speedo are special, whilst the rest are ordinary?

Ever consider that perhaps we are ordinary and you are maybe lacking something.

But that couldn't be possible could it.

The fact that this poll is so even underlines my point that the ability to drive to the limits without running up some ones **** is quite normal and something that certain drivers have developed, this doesn't make us special, but you may be in awe of it if its something unnatural to YOU.

I once went target shooting with a mate, for the life of me I couldn't hit the target, my hand was too unsteady.
He told me it was easy, and then reeled off half a dozen hits.
I wasn't in awe of him, he had a steady hand and I don't.
Could I develop the skills to shoot better, probably, as I understand that his precision is more about practice and technique as opposed to some unearthly power of concentration.
It is the same with driving, we automatically think that when we get a license we are all equal on the road, this isn't true as everyone develops at different rates.
What comes natural to me may not to you.

Try driving around without continuously checking your speedo and see how you go, it may just work for you.