Is it time to punish ALL law breakers

[Oneeyedvic]

There are (and have been for the last 10 years) between 200-220 knife victims a year.

There are around 3000 deaths through car accidents per year.

Is it time to have a zero tolerance approach on speeding (which is often a contributing factor).

Cars should be restricted to 70mph and anyone caught going over the speed limit should be put in prison for 5 years.

Anyone agree?

[luckyman]

bit too harsh for a speeding offence isnt it???? are you a politician???? obviously havent a clue,i mean 4 yrs for speeding???

[naomi24]

Ah, thanks sp.

[jake-the-peg]

Flip-flop

That's why it makes sense to implement a radio signal speed limiter that can be imposed when conditions are bad. (or cars are stolen).

But regardless of whether 70 is safe or not - it's the law!

Saying that 70 is safe is just claiming that it's a victimless crime.

It's not that different from a drunk driver saying "So what nobody was hurt!"

[nedflanders]

Speed restrictors in cars? Somehow I dont think that will ever happen, think how much tax the government would lose. I think some of the posters on here want a demolition man type society.

[Quinlad]

This reminds me of a question from a university entrance interview.

"If the punishment for parking on double yellow lines was death, nobody would do it. Does this make it a just law? Discuss."

I didn't get in.

[ludwig]

Deliberately running someone over in a car is a serious a crime as deliberately sticking a knife into someone. That's where the similarities end.

[ludwig]

..now I think of it, didn't some chief constable of somewhere or other famously say something like 'Slipping a couple of miles per hour over the speed limit is just as much a crime as slipping a knife into someone'.
It was rightly condemned as a halfwitted remark at the time.

To be fair to him, the point he was trying to make (I think) is that there are no degrees of illegality - something's either illegal or it isn't, but to equate knife crime with speeding just doesn't work, in my opinion.

[flip_flop]

It doesn't work ludwig because it is an absurd premise to begin with.

[Oneeyedvic]

It doesn't work, because despite the fact that road deaths are over ten times higher than knife deaths, people see speeding as socially acceptable.

[BigDogsWang]

How can you compare knife victims with car accident victims?

Do as many people carry a knife as drive cars? I don't think so.

[flip_flop]

Exactly BDW, as I say, it is an utterly absurd premise, it doesn't stand up to any scrutiny.

The OP can hypothesise as many scenarios or suggest as many analogies as he pleases, but ultimately it is a foolish premise.

[Oneeyedvic]

Yes, it must be foolish because it is socially acceptable.

Sadly, people don't seem to be able to take responsibility for speeding in their vehicles and putting people at risk.

Why not ask the family of the victim of a speeding car and ask them how they feel? Isn't that the usual response to talking about knife crime.

[nedflanders]

If you drive dangerously are you not more likely going to kill yourself, i dont have the time to look up the stats, and i do accept that innocent drivers and pedestrians will be casualties but how many of the 3000 actually in theory committed suicide by stabbing themselves. How do Germanys road fatalities stack up where they have autobahns with no speed limit?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autobahn#Accident _record

[BigDogsWang]

Vic. I think we are all at odds here on your comparison rather than your suggestion.

Yes for sure there are far too many speeding drivers around. I for one am no angel on the motorway (and do you mean to tell me you have NEVER gone over 70mph??).

But your comparison appears to suggest that RATIO wise, as many people carry knives as drive fast. Simply not true.

One more point, very few people are killed on motorways as a result of speeding in the overall scheme of things, in comparison to people killed in 30mph zones. So a 70mph limiter on cars will not really make a difference to these figures, as you could still speed in 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60mph zones.

[jake-the-peg]

Again BDW radio controlled limiters.

You enter a housing estate there's a 30mph signal

[whiffey]

I did 138mph on the A303 near Andover, and there was LOADS more to come. Perfectly safe, no police in sight, hardly anybody on the road except me.

[BigDogsWang]

Without defending speeding Jake, isn't that a bit Big Brother?

What is your opinon on CCTV cameras on the high street?

[flip_flop]

Not all Muslims are terrorists.

Not all young black men are knife wielding stabbers.

Not all acountants are boring.

Not all lawyers are bottom feeders.

Not all speeders are killers.

But, But, you have to ask why people choose to walk the streets with knives.

Ridiculous premise.

[Oneeyedvic]

But, But, you have to ask why people choose to walk the streets with knives.

You and your mates that hand around together.

One day, one of them who is walking by himself, minding his own business, is attacked by a gang of other kids. He is put in hospital.

A few weeks later, another mate is attacked. A few weeks later, another one.

You have to frequently walk by yourself, your mates have been attacked.

You can make sure, that if anyone attacks you, you can at least defend yourself though......

[thegreenman]

Not really,knife victims are from a diliberate intention to maim or killcarriers of knives should be jailed.
Do you live on a motorway because most speed limits are 30mph and you can even have accidents at that speed never mind 70mph