Riding (driving) with a broken speedometer
Discussion
On the way to a mid-week tour of mid-Wales, my speedo failed as I crossed the Welsh border. My main concerned was about passing speed cameras, but in the event I was able to follow the traffic ahead so it wasn't really an issue.
On the move, having no speedo was a fairly liberating experience. It became apparent that I glanced at it more often than I realised -When riding on twisting, undulating roads I must almost sub-consciously look "to see how fast I'm going" at the low-mounted dial which does detract from the concentration on the actual riding.
I quickly got used to the speed reading not being there and based my decisions purely on visibility, conditions and feel/sensibility, without any input from from the speedo needle. I try to ride smoothly and competently, which leads to brisk progress where appropriate. I don't go mad on straight bits, though, and have a rough idea of rpm/mph in 6th gear, but I do like tight twisties and carving through sweeping bends, which are typically 2nd, 3rd and maybe 4th gear.
Obviously, I did not exceed any speed limits at any point...
Around town, the many 30mph and 40mph cameras make a speedo more necessary, but I think there is some truth in speedometers being a distraction.
On the move, having no speedo was a fairly liberating experience. It became apparent that I glanced at it more often than I realised -When riding on twisting, undulating roads I must almost sub-consciously look "to see how fast I'm going" at the low-mounted dial which does detract from the concentration on the actual riding.
I quickly got used to the speed reading not being there and based my decisions purely on visibility, conditions and feel/sensibility, without any input from from the speedo needle. I try to ride smoothly and competently, which leads to brisk progress where appropriate. I don't go mad on straight bits, though, and have a rough idea of rpm/mph in 6th gear, but I do like tight twisties and carving through sweeping bends, which are typically 2nd, 3rd and maybe 4th gear.
Obviously, I did not exceed any speed limits at any point...
Around town, the many 30mph and 40mph cameras make a speedo more necessary, but I think there is some truth in speedometers being a distraction.
davepoth said:
They're a tool for the unobservant - handy to have one in a car or bike you are learning on to see how fast 30mph feels, but in the main most attentive drivers would know about how fast they were going by the feel of the suspension and tyres, the engine speed and gear.
In a car I find it easier to "know how fast I'm going", but on a bike, where conditions can change the feel quite considerably and I can sometimes forget which gear I'm in, I can sometimes find it difficult to judge speed in numerical terms.Edited by MC Bodge on Tuesday 24th May 12:04
I think the last time I drove without a speedo was at night when my dash lights had failed. I agree that the sense of freedom was really quite liberating and I recall feeling that I was driving much more according to my observation of the road and traffic, with speed being the product of the conditions, rather than an arbitrary limit that I had to keep monitoring.
It would be a fascinating experiment to see how traffic behaved if all speedos were removed! A bit like the experiment in the Netherlands (I think) where all traffic lights and priority signs were removed from a busy junction, forcing drivers and pedestrians to really think about what was happening around them. I understand that the outcomes were fewer incidents and better traffic flow.
Of course, there is the minority of idiots who, with no limits to worry about being caught breaking, would drive like lunatics but I suspect that 95% of the traffic would get along very well, with drivers taking greater responsibility to decide on their correct speed which would sometimes be faster than the current limits, but sometimes slower.
It would be a fascinating experiment to see how traffic behaved if all speedos were removed! A bit like the experiment in the Netherlands (I think) where all traffic lights and priority signs were removed from a busy junction, forcing drivers and pedestrians to really think about what was happening around them. I understand that the outcomes were fewer incidents and better traffic flow.
Of course, there is the minority of idiots who, with no limits to worry about being caught breaking, would drive like lunatics but I suspect that 95% of the traffic would get along very well, with drivers taking greater responsibility to decide on their correct speed which would sometimes be faster than the current limits, but sometimes slower.
I've driven for a while without a speedo before and you soon learn you don't need it..
You can work out your speed against other drivers.. And you soon learn how fast you're going from gear and rpm. I knew for instance that 2200 revs in 6th gear was 50mph
I found that even without looking at the rev counter I could tell roughly how fast I was going from the engine tone and gear..
I will admit I missed having a quick glance at the speedo shifting whilst accelerating
You can work out your speed against other drivers.. And you soon learn how fast you're going from gear and rpm. I knew for instance that 2200 revs in 6th gear was 50mph
I found that even without looking at the rev counter I could tell roughly how fast I was going from the engine tone and gear..
I will admit I missed having a quick glance at the speedo shifting whilst accelerating
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