Standard Dave wrote:I'm sure some of the other members from the North, Wales and Scotland would agree that there are roads in their area where you can drive to the system and reach the maximum safe speed without breaking the national speed limit.
Like TripleS, I'm not convinced. I accept there are sections where you'd be under the speed limit a fair proportion of the time, but that's down to short distances between successive hazards. Thinking about roads around Peterborough, for an example that's not where I live, there are large number of minor A-roads, B-roads and other unnumbered roads that would only get interesting between the bends or corners if you are going above the speed limit.
Standard Dave wrote:While talking to a passenger in the same vehicle they can see hazards or other road factors, you also don't need to hold the passenger in your hand or alter your grip on the controls to speak to them.
I also agree with TripleS - 'normal' passengers pay very little attention to whether or not the driver has a high workload. From the second part of your comment I presume you're completely OK with handsfree mobiles and voice activated dialing?
Standard Dave wrote:How long does it take you to adjust the radio or heater controls? no where near as long as people converse on the phone I would hope.
Seconds for changing the climate control on our car to increase the heat output to maximum and increase the fan speed to direct air to the screen. Since I have to reach beyond the gearstick and then select and press the correct sequence of buttons, some buttons repeatedly until a visual feedback indicator is reached, it means to effectively operate the controls I need to take my eyes off the road, and therefore I need to pick a good time to do this.
Similarly if I could be bothered to play a CD - a button push to select the CD player, another to select the desired CD, repeated pushes of another button to select the track I want to hear. Actually it's easier to ignore all that and just be content to listen to the dulcet tones of a TDi
there is only the road, nothing but the road ...