h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The national speed limit of the UK is 70mph.

So why do most speed dials measure up to about 140mph?
Why do manufacturers make it possible to go faster than 70mph in their cars?

Something else I don't get:
Why do manufacturers allow the volume control on car radios to go higher than the volume that annoys everyone nearby?

Mine goes to eleven!


What I want to know is Who is breaking into my car after I've been to the pub? They break in and the only thing they do is turn up the volume to 'way-to-loud'.

11mph? What sort of car do you have?

Cars & trucks in the US have speed governors on them. So even though the speedometer might have markings for up to 140, the vehicle won't go that fast. For example, my husband's truck has a speedometer that goes to 120 but it's governed at 101.

Ah but you see, the speed limit is different from country to country, just look at BMW, Mercedes and Porsche etc etc, German cars, and there are certain stretches of Autobahn which are de-restricted, so you can go as fast as you like !

But anyway, life would be dull as hell if all cars couldnt go more than the respective national speed limit


As for the volume of car stereos, depends whats being played, usually its the 'Boom,boom,boom' brigade litening to Dance and RnB rubbish with the windows down that gets me............ i condemn them to spend eternity stuck on the M25 !

Speed limit variations are another point. There isn't one in Montana, USA. Of course, they have one of the highest per capita incidents of fatal auto accidents.

I may get some stick for this but speed doesnt kill, its the drivers that manage that, of course im not condoning it, especially going nuts in built up areas, thats a no no for me, but their seems this fallicy of blaming everything but the drivers,and speed usually gets it, i know its what everyone says, but 'if' i had the power to, the driving test would be so much more difficult, it would include high speed driving, skid control, car mechanical awareness, observation testing, the works, i did an advanced driving course in the army that was basically all this, plus other stuff that wouldnt make it into a civilian test , and if everyone had to do it, there would be less accidents i can tell you...........rant over

Well, per capita in Montana... That's about 2000 not including cattle right?

Yep.

Part of the problem for states like Wyoming (close to the top of the list if I remember right) & Montana is that the roads are mostly 2 lane highway with lots of distance in between towns. Plus, both states have tourists for the scenery - people who don't know the roads or who underestimate the effect of adverse weather conditions on drive quality.

Oh... and lots of cattle too...


MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSPLAT.

T-bone, anyone?

Most models of cars these days come with a chip in the management system that prevents you from going above a certain speed. I believe that this could be taken further, for not much more in terms of cost. In fact in the long run it would save the motorist money.

With current GPS technology it's almost certainly possible to have an intelligent speed limiter fitted to your car. Such a device would prevent it from going above the speed limit of the road it is currently on, because the would know where it is. Such a system would have additional benefits, it makes your car easier to track if it is reported stolen for example.

A similar system is already being trialled by UK insurer, Norwich Union, as a method of providing a Pay As You Go car insurance system to its customers (see http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/18/per_mile_insurance/ and http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3573912.stm ). That system will tell your insurer immediately if you go over the limit and give you higher premiums (and if they inform the authorities, points on your licence).

If this GPS controlled PAYG car insurance system was tied into the speed limiter of the car, not only would it result in you not being able to exceed the speed limit of the road you're currently on, but it would prevent you from being issued with speeding tickets and keep your insurance premiums lower.

Sounds like hell on earth to me , there would be riots if they tried to introduce that, this gps plan they have to charge tolls is already kicking up a fuss.

If it keeps your premiums low and reduces the chance of your car being stolen, what's the problem? As with all "big brother" tech, the only people who are against it are those with something to hide.

Thats fair enough, but i prefer to be in control myself, as for something to hide ??...........Limiting the car to whatever the speed limit is would take the fun out of driving, you put your money where your mouth is, if you get caught, take it, and if it increases your insurance premium.......s**t happens

And ive got a novel idea too, instead of piling money received from the already ridiculous amount of speed cameras back into more speed cameras and the police works do, why not use it to put more patrol cars and police on the beat, which i would say is a better way of reducing the risk of your car being stolen wouldnt you ?

Or they could go after the aggressive driver - more likely to cause an accident than a speeder - changes lanes quickly & without indicating, tailgates, etc.

"So why do most speed dials measure up to about 140mph?"

Speedometers are usually wildly optomistic about the cars potential performance (by about 30mph in my car). I suppose no one would buy a car these days that had a speed dial that went only to say, 65mph.

"Why do manufacturers make it possible to go faster than 70mph in their cars?"

Not all cars have chips which can be used to control the speed. If you have the 'oomph' to get past that tractor which has been in front of you for the last 12 miles then you probably have a car capable of exceeding the speed limit. Remember also, that emergencies might dictate the need for high speed, though admitedly I have yet to think of a suitable scenario for this eventuality. A chip installed in every car limiting speed to 70mph electronically would make most libertarians shudder, but a password protected chip which could be set by the owner would I think allow parents of teenage drivers to sleep a little easier at night and could become a selling point for quite a few.

"Why do manufacturers allow the volume control on car radios to go higher than the volume that annoys everyone nearby?"

Ha! Easily answered: Because they are scumbags.

Someone mentioned German autobahns on here. It is true, if your car could only go 65mph you wouldn´t be allowed driving there. And I think it also just gives people a sense of power, knowing their engine can go that fast even if they aren´t supposed to use it.

Croz, please.

Sorry Xan, I should remember not to get on a soapbox about something when I've had a couple.