New Record for a UK Speeding Offence

[Leftie]

Ayrton Senna was caught doing 120mph+ on the M25 at Chertsey in his red Porker.

The cop walked to Senna's car and said to Senna...   'Who do you think you are... Nigel Mansell?'

Also just outside Chertsey about 2 / 3 months ago....

Bugatti Veyron on wet road spun and smashed itself!
Damage - more than my house is worth.
Driver OK but had never driven over 70 before.

Lesson - Learn on a track.


There is a time and place for doing speeds like this.  Any public road whether A road or motorway ain't one of them.

But as has been put by another poster, who hasn't broken the limit.  My 155 in my Cossie on the M62 scared the sh*t out of me in 1991.

[Lazy B'stard]

Before we hang the poor bloke (and look at the state of him at 33 for gawds sake) do we know all the facts? I've never been on the A420 so can't comment, but what time of day was it? Dry or wet? Good vis? Amount of other traffic? His driving standard/ ability level?etc.
 Speed does not kill- crap driving, poor anticipation, lack of attention, inexperience etc are the killers. 
 It worries me that so called yummy mummys are tooling past schools at 35 in 2 tonnes of RR more than what this chap got up to.

[Paddy_NL]

Ayrton Senna was caught doing 120mph+ on the M25 at Chertsey in his red Porker.

The cop walked to Senna's car and said to Senna...   'Who do you think you are... Nigel Mansell?'

[Nobby Diesel]

Before we hang the poor bloke (and look at the state of him at 33 for gawds sake) do we know all the facts? I've never been on the A420 so can't comment, but what time of day was it? Dry or wet? Good vis? Amount of other traffic? His driving standard/ ability level?etc.
 Speed does not kill- crap driving, poor anticipation, lack of attention, inexperience etc are the killers. 
 It worries me that so called yummy mummys are tooling past schools at 35 in 2 tonnes of RR more than what this chap got up to.

Why does 35MPH worry you if speed isn't the problem?

I can only think that the chap wasn't particularly experienced at driving at 170MPH. Obviously, his anticipation skills were inadequate, or he would have had time to slow before contacting the hazzard(speed gun).
I do happen to know the road in question. Whilst it's not one I use regularly, I struggle to see how, even with superb observation, anticipation and concerntration skills, 170MPH can be considered acceptable and suitable for the actual and/or likely hazzards that may develop.

Coupled with the fact that the fella probably has limited experience of the vehicle (he was also charged with aggravated vehicle taking), I would put my money on him not being up to the task, if all went wrong at 170MPH

[Paddy_NL]

I would put my money on him not being up to the task, if all went wrong at 170MPH

Absolutely. If experienced racing drivers have difficulties with bends at that speed on a circuit, anyone else is bound to have difficulties on a public road. No matter how wide the road is, it's not suitable for speeds in access of 120 mph. Hence his way of bringing the car to a stop.

[alibongo]

Before we hang the poor bloke (and look at the state of him at 33 for gawds sake) do we know all the facts? I've never been on the A420 so can't comment, but what time of day was it? Dry or wet? Good vis? Amount of other traffic? His driving standard/ ability level?etc.
 Speed does not kill- crap driving, poor anticipation, lack of attention, inexperience etc are the killers. 
 It worries me that so called yummy mummys are tooling past schools at 35 in 2 tonnes of RR more than what this chap got up to.

Well said bud, I did not say I thought it was ok to do silly speeds on A roads but what I was trying to get across was the crap driving standards (In my opinion) of many drivers on the roads today, they seem to have total disregard for other road users and a f--k you attitude to everybody else on the road! ie I will pull out in front of you and then stop and wait to turn right even tho there is nobody behind you, and I will do 30mph on A roads totally oblivious to the mile of trafic behind etc etc etc, try going up and down the A31 on a regular basis and then say the slow drivers dont cause problems!   brings to mind the saying " I've never had an accident but I've seen loads in my mirror"      Statistics stink...traffic surveys everywhere Q, what do they do with all that info? A, bugger all ! yes we know that there has been a huge increase in car ownership so what has the gov done to improve the roads ......nothing! where does all that road tax and fuel duty go? not on our roads! anybody that has been to France will tell you that the roads there a brilliant........

[Nobby Diesel]

Before we hang the poor bloke (and look at the state of him at 33 for gawds sake) do we know all the facts? I've never been on the A420 so can't comment, but what time of day was it? Dry or wet? Good vis? Amount of other traffic? His driving standard/ ability level?etc.
 Speed does not kill- crap driving, poor anticipation, lack of attention, inexperience etc are the killers. 
 It worries me that so called yummy mummys are tooling past schools at 35 in 2 tonnes of RR more than what this chap got up to.

Well said bud, I did not say I thought it was ok to do silly speeds on A roads but what I was trying to get across was the crap driving standards (In my opinion) of many drivers on the roads today, they seem to have total disregard for other road users and a f--k you attitude to everybody else on the road! ie I will pull out in front of you and then stop and wait to turn right even tho there is nobody behind you, and I will do 30mph on A roads totally oblivious to the mile of trafic behind etc etc etc, try going up and down the A31 on a regular basis and then say the slow drivers dont cause problems!   brings to mind the saying " I've never had an accident but I've seen loads in my mirror"      Statistics stink...traffic surveys everywhere Q, what do they do with all that info? A, bugger all ! yes we know that there has been a huge increase in car ownership so what has the gov done to improve the roads ......nothing! where does all that road tax and fuel duty go? not on our roads! anybody that has been to France will tell you that the roads there a brilliant........

Absolutely true, driving standars are pretty poor at times.

However, the granny doing 30 in a 60 shouldn't present too much of a problem to the driver approaching at 60, if he/she is applying the suitable observation/aniticipation/concerntration techniques.
I think I had the misfortune to encounter more than my fair share of these drivers today! Infurriating to say the least.

With regard to driving standards, my feeling is that due to the fact that testing hasn't changed a whole lot for decades, it's probably totally unsuitable for the roads today. How have vehicles, vehicle performance, vehicle numbers and attitudes changed inthe last 40 years? Massively. Driving testing has barely altered, apart from the theory test addition.

Also, as far as I am aware, there is nowhere in the Highway Code or the Road Traffic Act, that says, as a driver, you need to be able to sustain your ability to hear, see properly or be able to read. Perhaps even have them in the first place!
Deafness, tunnel vision, single eye blindness and iliteracy are no bar to gaining, or maintaining a driving license.

An interesting read is here:-

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=16878

[Leftie]

Although I don't know the road in question, I do know about highways desgn and engineering.

I also know about driving through experience of FF, mINI 7 & Miglia, Sprinting & Hill Climbing at speeds unacheivable on an open public road. I Surrey about 20 yrs ago, I also attended a Police 'Driver Safety Course' over 12 weeks of evenings. That was an eye opener.

Experience and traning is paramount, anticipation, and more importantly ' Reading the Road'. Those from 'the boys in blue' that rad this site will concur with this.

Going to Highway Design. This is a black art and should only be addressed after several nectars from north of the border. So what I am about to tell, is a big secret, it wasn't me honest guv. We have a thing called the DRMB (Design Manual for Roads and Bridges). If you include Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland. We have in excess of 2000 pages. I would put the link here but the suicide rate may go up!

When I used to race, I spent hours walking the tarmac and looking at 'lines'. The 'Blues & Twos' have to rely on some local knowledge but above all anticipation (planning) and they do 'read the road'.

The speed merchants we keep hearing about that seem to be very accident prone have not gained the 'knowledge' of high speed driving.

As mentioned in an earlier post, 155 scared the sh*t out of me on an empty motorway, on a track no probs.

There is a time and a place for speed.  It aint the public highway.

Treat everyone else on the road as a F*****g suicidal maniac and you should rarely have a problem. (Police Handbook!!!)

[Nobby Diesel]

Treat everyone else on the road as a F*****g suicidal maniac and you should rarely have a problem. (Police Handbook!!!)

Yep - "Roadcraft"

A good read if you enjoy your driving.

[oldtimer]

Before we hang the poor bloke (and look at the state of him at 33 for gawds sake) do we know all the facts? I've never been on the A420 so can't comment, but what time of day was it? Dry or wet? Good vis? Amount of other traffic? His driving standard/ ability level?etc.
 Speed does not kill- crap driving, poor anticipation, lack of attention, inexperience etc are the killers. 
 It worries me that so called yummy mummys are tooling past schools at 35 in 2 tonnes of RR more than what this chap got up to.

they seem to have total disregard for other road users and a f--k you attitude to everybody else on the road!

  What could demonstrate more of a f--k you attitude than driving at those sorts of speeds on the public highway? 

Whatever the circumstances it just is not acceptable   

[mgmark]

I am pretty sure that I know the stretch of road in question, having travelled it a fair few times between home and Shrivenham - there's only one stretch that fits the bill, which is about 3 miles of dual carriageway with a roundabout a third of the way along = max of 2 miles of dual carriageway.  Otherwise, it's single carriageway, nice and winding country road.  Dry, wet, good or bad vis, it doesn't matter - it is simply not the place to be doing it. 

Granny's doing 30mph is a hazard that we're all aware of and make allowances for, no matter how much they, or combine harvesters doing 20mph, get in the way.  It happens and they have as much right to be on the road as anyone else.  At least they are probably taxed and insured.....

MG Mark   

Astonishing that anyone thainks this is acceptable

[Lazy B'stard]

Sorry if my comments have offended anyone- i was not, as I said aware of the full facts on this one. I'm just not keen on lynch mob justice. I still stand by my belief that speed does not kill. Bad driving is the killer- if that stretch of road/time/conditions were not appropriate then its bad driving practice.     
 Lets remember also that Police driving standards can be pretty poor- i have navigated for a bobby on stage events in the past and remember spending alot of time in upside down cars!

[Lorry]

I think its a matter of practice.  If I drove at 180 mph frequently I'd probably get quite good at it, but I'm used to the Bath Road at 40mph, so couldn't cope with 250 feet per second, however talented I may be.

And the locals don't expect anyone to do that speed when they pull out onto the main road.

Yes I've read "Roadcraft" and I still have accidents

[alibongo]

well I stand by what I said and this was once again confirmed (the f--k you attitude) whilst camping last w/e a shed-puller tried ripping off the front bumper of my motorhome with the back of their caravan(I was parked on my pitch and had not moved) the owners got out, inspected the damage to their shed and then buggered off......thanks! £500 of damage done to my vehicle so Mr W of Ross on Wye you think that nobody saw you do it but keep an eye on your letter box...arsehole!!!!!!!
As for the standard of police drivers well, they should be setting a good example but that is seldom the case, they also speed, dont know what indicators are for wander from lane to lane ya-de-ya-de-ya.I saw one the other day with a mobile phone stuck in his ear so....I could go on.

Hey how about a new thread? shop a cop? or how about dumb driver of the day?
I dont profess to be the worlds best driver but I struggle to cope with todays dare I call them drivers better still other road users, I do around 250km in my 26ton tanker(and work in between)a day and am usually chewing the steering wheel by lunchtime.
I used to enjoy driving but these days its rarely a pleasure, I did however enjoy my recent trip to the Dordogne and down to the Pyreneese 1700 miles at peek holiday time and never got held up once........well done France

[Lazy B'stard]

I was tootling along last week in the barge on the A19 when a focus cop car went past at around 80- no blue lights on. I got about 800 yds behind and started to track them. The road was wet and traffic was fairly heavy. Within a mile we were doing 95+. An emergency perhaps? Nope. Our girls in blue pulled into McDonalds!
 I got 3 points in North Wales last year for doing 64 on a empty A road at 7:30am. Double standards or what?