Well there we have it; the holier than thou attitude rejoicing in the politically correct letter of the law and ignoring the teachings of the Highway Code and advanced driving techniques. On the motorway, such drivers, affectionately known as numpties, who normally reside in the middle lane of a three lane motorway, thinking that the ‘slow lane’ is for trucks, funeral processions, tractors and glaciers, while completely oblivious to the fact that two of the lanes are technically overtaking lanes. There they sit; some with the cruise control in operation and observing the speed limit or being particularly holy, safe and secure, just under it.

All is well until they come across one truck overtaking another. Big trucks have a lower speed limit that is governed electronically, but when a fully loaded truck hits a mild incline the maximum speed is reduced when the lighter truck can overtake but with a speed differential of just a few paltry miles per hour. Such overtaking can take ages; sometimes over a mile or so.

Enter numpy. Aha, a truck ahead, although still a hundred metres away they can’t be too careful and so just to be on the safe side, they move to the outside lane in preparation for this complicated manoeuvre into the grown-ups land speed record lane. Within seconds, already numpty has a hitherto unimagined and unseen entourage comprising BMW and Audi up its tailpipe including a bunch of hooligan wannabes that are joined by other numpties each with a car’s length between ‘em; ten, fifteen, twenty cars in an accident waiting to happen. Meanwhile the truck drivers are chatting as their cabs come alongside each other during this ballet in diesel smoke. Eventually numpty passes the truck yet, just to be super safe, continues on the outside lane for a considerable distance not knowing where the end of their car is. Meanwhile the BMW is flashing lights wishing that they were laser guns that might evaporate this St. Christopher fan that should realise that overtaking is a manoeuvre best achieved as quickly as possible; particularly when it’s a heavy truck.

Alas, the law is the law. [you know who makes these laws, don’t you? Yeah, that’s right, the wise and prudent politicians that are lobbied by numpties]. And so in addition to the police and the cameras we have the vigilante numpty, the instigator of road rage, the tut tut tutting, ‘I’m going to heaven in my own good time’ self-appointed holier than thou misguided person that cannot help impinging on the lives of others. Such misguided souls should look inward at their motives and learn to drive in a competent and safe manner showing due consideration for all other road users.

In a world increasingly oppressed by the banning brigade and the job’s worth along with all the rules & regulations that crush the human spirit, can I say to those who appreciate a certain point of view that I recommend the Brazilian experience and their driving attitudes at least once in a lifetime. It’s not that Brazilians know any better but they do appreciate the truth that laws are for the strict adherence of fools and the guidance of wise men. And so they don’t bother with mirrors, signals, speed limits, overtaking rules, flashing lights, horn blowing; no, just forget all that and get to where you’re going in total ‘me first’ Darwinian anarchy. In defence I can attest to a vastly greater sense of awareness by all drivers that are deprived of the feeling that they can daydream through a journey secure in the knowledge that while obeying the law nothing can possibly happen to them [God really does have a sense of humour].

On the rare occasion when joining the commuters morning stampede, I press the throttle accelerating down a slip road to join the fray when I’m often tempted to yell, ‘Oh angel of death where is thy sting!’ Hell, the world is overpopulated anyway.
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Twofilas 

I don't agree with your Twofilas and find it disrespectful that you call someone who respects the law a numpty.

Come and live in France, drive here and then you can insult people driving on the motorways.

Yes, there are all sorts of drivers out there but to generalise as you have done is not the type of fair play attitude I would expect on a forum.
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Piglet in France - pigletinfrance.wordpress.com 

OK 2F if respecting speed limits labels me a PC Numpty so be it.

Speed limits, as I have said before, are there for a purpose and they should apply to everyone, regardless of nationality, country, car or creed.

My post was made to draw peoples attention to the fact "Speeding fines to cross EU borders"

Carole
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Having driven in most countries, France included, and like most drivers, I have experienced the best standards of discipline, common sense and skills including the automaton [numpty] that fails to, or is incapable of developing further skills beyond those required to get a licence. Such people can be recognised in car parks when their lack of spatial awareness is obvious as are the myriad of minor dents and scratches on their cars; the self same people that are quite surprised at having horns blown or lights flashed at them by what they consider rude and aggressive drivers that fail to read their minds or cope with their antics. Much the same can be said of conflicts on a forum when the written word can be misinterpreted by variance in cognitive skills [insert smiley face].

As has already been pointed out, maximum speed limits vary from country to country; typically in the range of between a tad under 70mph to 80mph however in some locations there are no maximum limits. Therefore these limits or lack thereof are considered safe and reasonable by respective legislators and are enacted into law. Since the laws vary and therefore opinion, we are left wanting as to what is actually a safe maximum in the strict sense of imposing punitive fines on those that break the law as opposed to driving in an unsafe manner.

Reasonable opinion should conclude that the consensus may be to accept the safe maximum limit to be within the speed range of 70 to 80mph. Many police forces do not prosecute when a limit is exceeded by less than 10%; such margin being a reasonable allowance for inaccuracies in the instrumentation of private vehicles combined with tyre diameters at different stages of wear. The speed cameras are different in this respect and can be set to exact limits when they can maximise revenues.
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Twofilas 

Friendly Holiday Advice

Please, take care of yourself this Christmas. A recent joint study conducted by the Department of Health and the Department of Motor Vehicles indicates that 23% of traffic accidents are alcohol related. This means that the remaining 77% are caused by those that just drink coffee, carbonated drinks, juices, milk, water, and stuff like that. Therefore, beware of those who do not drink alcohol. They cause three times as many accidents.
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Twofilas