[Tim Deegan]

Originally Posted by Gary L

I want to ban the car altogether because it kills at all speeds. are you with me?

Now you are just being stupid.....we can have an intelligent debate, but I'm not going to debate anything with someone who just comes out with stupid statement to cause an argument.....that is known as trolling.

Originally Posted by Gary L

Ok, who taught the first person that started the teaching of the rest?

As with most traning, it has been developed and improved over many years, mainly learning from mistakes that have been made previously (often with fatalities).

Originally Posted by Gary L

was it just a common sense approach put into action?
if that 'policeman' was able to teach others then there has to be others that are capable of fitting the grade without having to get the training.

As you have never done the training, then you can't possibly comment. But I can tell you that it isn't just a case of using common sense. There is a lot more to it than that. And it is the sort of course that you do really need to go on to understand. Although it is very difficult to describe to someone who has no experience of it.

Originally Posted by Gary L

I was watching someone play a game on the Xbox the other day. Halo3 I think it was. he had to go through training.
"look up.. good" "look down..excellent. I think you're ready"

Well if you were stuck at that level, then you wouldn't have even passed your driving test. And certainly wouldn't be on the highest level of driving course for public roads.

Originally Posted by Gary L

We'll just call it a piece of paper then for arguments sake.

No we won't, because it isn't. It's one of those things that if you don't keep your competence up, then you will lose it, and be taken off driving.

Originally Posted by Gary L

Surely you mean trained.

No I mean tested. Anyone can do a training course, but not anyone can reach the required level, and then maintain it.

Remember these courses are designed to stop you killing either yourself or another member of the public, when you are in an extremely dangerous situation.

Originally Posted by Gary L

Ok, so it doesn't look silly. both sides can have the blue ones.

You completely miss the point....it's not just about blue lights or sirens. It's about a combination of driving skills, progressive driving skills, vehicle handling skills, observation skills, combined with an audible and visual warning to other road users.

Originally Posted by Gary L

Of course it is. it's a big difference.
just the saame as it would be a big difference if it was 40 compared to 30.

Have you ever seen the state of a car or motorcycle that was travelling at 100mph+ when it drove into the back of a HGV doing 50 or 60mph? It's the same as driving into a brick wall at over 50mph. Do you have any idea what injuries that causes?

As other people keep repeating, the wider the speed differential, the greater the impact, and the less the reaction time.

Originally Posted by Gary L

Compared to what, 80?
so when does speed become dangerous then. you've lost me.

SPEED DIFFERENTIAL.....as we keep saying.

Originally Posted by Gary L

And please don't say anything about certificates, blue flashing lights, sirens or training.

Why not? you did!!!

---------- Post added at 18:21 ---------- Previous post was at 18:19 ----------

Originally Posted by Osem

There's a very big difference between believing and arguing that limits could/should be raised and ignoring the current legal limits on the basis that it suits. I'd be all for more driver education and better enforcement of both reckless speeding and other aspects of damgerous driving but until that happens and those speeders who tailgate and try to intimidate other drivers out of their way are forced off the roads one way or another, higher speed limits arern't what's required. That prospect may annoy those who feel they're the better drivers amongst us but I'm afraid it's a price we all have to pay for using public roads upon which there are drivers of varying abilities/attitudes and a wide range of vehicles some of which are far better/safer/better maintained than others. Adjusting national limits upwards to suit those who believe they're la creme de la creme and their vehicles simply puts everyone else at extra risk and I have to say that, when it comes to driving, some folks I have met not only have a very inflated opinion of their own abilities but a correspondingly low opinion of everyone else's.

Are you a traffic police officer by any chance??