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

Well that's sixty quid well spent; three hours of lecturing and a free Highway Code booklet thrown in for good measure. I've just come home after attending a Speed Awareness Course, the alternative to three penalty points on my licence.

Has it had any effect?
It's made me paranoid about speed cameras.

I bet you rushed home after it was over.

Welcome to the club. You must have been one of the last few people in the UK without points. Are there speed limits on the autobahns now? Perhaps our German friends can advise?

Hi Mistadong,

sorry about the speeding fine. I have only been caught onece, for going at 33 miles per hour in a 30 mile an hour zone. !! That was yoincks ago when I lived in south africa and had only had my icence about one year.

I actually no longer drive, but I did drive for 64 years. I passed my driving test when i was 16 in south africa. I learnt to drive on a three ton lorry on the farm and had to double declutch each time. that was fascinating.

well try not to speed. It is not you who is the problem. It is the other drivers on the road; some of them are really bad drivers. !!

Kind regards,

christiane
AR80

I have a feeling that there are speed limits everywhere now since it's obviously a
"nice little earner", as Arthur Daley would say.

The last big vehicle I drove was a fire engine and although it had synchromesh still benefitted from double-declutching,
especially getting down into first.

I used to drive articulated lorries up in a granite quarry at one time
and the clutches were practically non-existent so double-declutching was a must.

I just realised that I've driven a variety of things in my lifetime, from bicycles to locomotives.

Now I just drive people nuts.

How many things do I drive?

--I drive people away.
--I drive a hard bargain

Dear Paul.

No you do not. !!

So you will have to try and think of something else that you drive. !!

You drive a motor car I know, because you drive your parents to visit your relatives at Christmas. !!

I just try and get some sleep.

Christiane.

Oops!

You caught me, Alsoran!

I drive on a parkway, and park on a driveway.

I've been driven to drink quite a few times,
and driven off the fairway.

Oh dar Paul H. and Mistadong,

You are boos so clevaire wis your double entendre!1/

Verree goot.

A bientot

Christiane
alsoran80

I always wanted a sticker for my car that says "I can't play golf either"

As I get older, I get s l o w e r .

I don't have points. Nor do I have a licence. So there!

You may be the wisest one of all, Elly.

Thank you, Master, but I am only a small ant at the feet of your wisdom ...

Back when I lived in the UK, I had 6 points. (both my own fault, entirely) I now live in Germany and yes there are speed limits on the autobahn where it is near a junction. When you get out into the countryside there is no limit. I've driven at 200km/h(130mph?) legally but don't do that very often. It's a bit odd to be driving at 100mph and seeing someone whizz past you in a Porsche/Mercedes.

Lot's of speed cameras here too. I also drive a lot slower than I did when I was younger.

(Shuffles off to get newspaper and slippers)

I saw something on the news the other night about a motorcyclist
speeding.
The reaction from everyone was, "oh, shock horror, he was doing
122 miles an hour! in the rain! with his son on the back! and on a bend too!"

Going by their comments I thought he had a toddler on but it turned out to be a teenager.
As for the speeding, well I'm in no position to condemn
since I've done 120 on a motor cycle myself.(way back and going downhill)
Motor cycle tyres are extremely efficient these days and the bend in question was
pretty tame even in the wet.
I'm not condoning speeding at all, just annoyed with newspeople who dramatise things.