120 MPH and no Ban

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Did anyone see the program on BBC1 last night around 10.30.

Mainly about speeding motorcyclists (in Essex I think).

Anyway various methods were used to catch these idiots who speed around country lanes in excess of 100MPH. One guy was stopped for doing 120MPH and only got a fixed penalty notice.

What kind of deterrent is that. 30mph over the speed limit in a car would normally get you a ban.
 
Were you never young ?

Simon
 

Gerry Attrick

Lincolnshire Mountain Rescue Consultant
Granted country lanes is'nt a good idea but 120mph on a modern sports bike is nothing these days

Simon
I have a B road running outside our house which is situated 100 yards from the thirty mile per hour village restriction. The road is constantly populated during the summer by eejits on your modern sports bikes who accelerate like the devil is after their a**es and ride ton plus along the straight section which is about two miles long.

This road is also used by yours truly who regularly cycles along that stretch to get to a quieter designated cycle route whch crosses said road. These eejits not only tear around at ridiculous and suicidal speeds, but they have passed me leaving so little room that thier draft has forced me onto the verge. I use "they" deliberately as these morons have a herd mentality which means they have an utter fear of venturing out alone. Consequently if the first dipstick fails to scare the living s**t out of me, then his equally IQ challenged mates can have a go. I counted thirty two of the selfish, thick-headed, sheep-brained excuses for humanity in the gaggle that passed me last week.

The frustrating thing is that the local constabulary is well aware this goes on most summer evenings, yet they do sweet nothing about it.

Oh and before you accuse me of being anti motorcycle, you should know that for many years I was a motorcycle instructor, and until a few years ago when my health precluded it, I was the owner of eight motorcycles having had at least one in my garage from the age of sixteen. I am now retired.

120mph is nothing? Sir, please do not take offence, but you are talking from an alternative orifice.
 
Granted country lanes is'nt a good idea but 120mph on a modern sports bike is nothing these days

Simon
A motorcycle can't stop in anywhere near the distance a car can pull up, cannot perform an emergency manouvre at speed and weighs enough to slice a car in half if it is going fast enough. As a former biker myself I have seen the standard of riding go rapidly downhill since motorcycling became the preserve of middle aged plonkers on overpowered toys they don't understand and only take out when the sun shines.
 
OP
OP
addictfreak
I was young once! But never quite that stupid.

The guys concerned were on the whole middle-aged.

If some wants to travel at 100+, fair enough then do it on a track. Kill yourself by all means, but don't endanger others by your reckless actions.
 
I too watched the programme. Often I turn off these 'police video' progs. but I stuck with that one. Quite salutary.

And yes, I was young once - quite a while ago now! Maybe I was stupid now and again - who am I to judge? All I can say is, I am no longer young. Some young drivers will never get to the age I now am. That's the way it is!

And quite a lot of the 'action' (if that's the right word) was on the A272 across Sussex, a road I know well and often cycle along stretches of it. And it's popular with motorcyclists - often out in force on a Sunday and, of course, 90% of them are no trouble at all. But it's a chilling thought that there might be one coming round the next bend at 130mph....

I thought the way the police dealt with the drivers they'd stopped, looked absolutely correct and hopefully got the message through. Time and again it was "I don't want to see you dead, I've already attended a fatal in the last 24 hours..." Must surely have meant something to the speeder!
 

vernon

Harder than Ronnie Pickering
Location
Meanwood, Leeds
Did anyone see the program on BBC1 last night around 10.30.

Mainly about speeding motorcyclists (in Essex I think).

Anyway various methods were used to catch these idiots who speed around country lanes in excess of 100MPH. One guy was stopped for doing 120MPH and only got a fixed penalty notice.

What kind of deterrent is that. 30mph over the speed limit in a car would normally get you a ban.

You failed to mention the issuing of Section 59 notices which meant that a further offence within a year would lead to the confiscation and probabe crushing of the motorcycles. The object of the excercise was to create a climate of 'it's not worth the risk' rather than "I'll be back on the road in x months - no bother'

I know that I could have lived with a ban in my reckless youth and to be honest in my adulthood but not with losing my pride and joy forever think about it....a couple of hundred pounds as a fine and a temporary loss of license vs the permanent loss of £8-10,000 worth of motorcycle without compensation.

The main methods of capture was the use of unmarked police motorcycles which shadowed and recorded the speeds of errant motorcyclists before radioing ahead to police roadblocks.

Creating fear and suspicion amongst the motocycling community, I think, is more effective than the banning moves. After all who's to know if the fast rider on one's tail is a civilian or the police equivalent of The Stig?
 

Cheule

New Member
Location
Coventry
Did anyone see the program on BBC1 last night around 10.30.

Yup I was watching too, I cringed for the poor cyclists on the far left when the bike overtook them probably going at least 90mph faster than them. Nothing worse than hearing a revving nutter approaching at speed.
 

Cheule

New Member
Location
Coventry
It really did disappoint and surprise me when I took up cycling last year what utter disregard motorbikers (sports bikes) have for cyclists. I have had them pass me at such speed and closeness that the air (wake) turbulence has nearly taken me off the bike.

"air (wake) turbulence" what is the correct terminology for what I'm trying to say here?


The most disturbing thing I thought in last nights documentary was the lorry driver filming himself dancing on his seat when he was supposed to be driving.

Wake is good :smile:

Yeah did anyone else wish the lorry driver would crash into a brick wall or something? peanut.
 
It really did disappoint and surprise me when I took up cycling last year what utter disregard motorbikers (sports bikes) have for cyclists. I have had them pass me at such speed and closeness that the air (wake) turbulence has nearly taken me off the bike.

"air (wake) turbulence" what is the correct terminology for what I'm trying to say here?


The most disturbing thing I thought in last nights documentary was the lorry driver filming himself dancing on his seat when he was supposed to be driving.
Draft is the word I think you are looking for reiver. I to saw that program last night and noticed that most of the stopped motercyclists were not much younger than me.
 
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