We were on our fortnightly visit 'up North' to cool down :P. At Caleta adjacent to Fuerteventura Golf sales office was a black saloon, not the usual VW, with darkened windows and a camera. Up the road was a line a hire cars and others getting tickets. Nice to see a warm welcome to all the new visitors just leaving the airport!!
Hello to our island, where safe drivers who abide by the law are very welcome. I'm sure if I drove through your town or village back home breaking the speed limit you would wave enthusiastically and shout "please go faster!" " We want you to put lives at risk."
Well said Spike! A speed limit is the the limit - it's there for a reason. If anyone drive faster than the limit it is their risk to take.
Wish they would put one on my road, 40 KPM limit, some people are doing double that
Speed limits are there to inform motorists that some discretion is necessary when driving along that particular stretch of the highway. Unmarked radar operating police cars are there to generate revenue. There was some information somewhere that revealed that the villagers campaigning for a reduction to the speed limit were found to be the worst offenders when the police did some spot checks. This subject was covered on here a while ago, my view is that visible police presence is a better deterrent than clandestine sting operations.
Quote from: zedzedeleven on October 24, 2014, 08:55:00 AM
Speed limits are there to inform motorists that some discretion is necessary when driving along that particular stretch of the highway.
I thought that was what the exclamation mark, the wiggly road, the men with shovels etc signs were for. IMO, the speed limit sign is nothing about informing and all about imposing, imposing an absolute top limit on the speed you drive. The only discretion is in the hands of the police, as to whether or not you get a ticket.
I agree that it isn't a very nice welcome for some of the tourists, but all they have to do is obey the laws of the land. It isn't as though the speed limit signs are written in Spanish.
Jesus complaining now that they effectively have been caught speeding just of the plane!
If their speeding when just picked up the motor, what are some going to be like once they do get the know how the car will perform \ handle and a few drinks have been consumed?
glad they were caught early on, maybe make them behave during their holidays!!
Its me supposed to be holierthanthou.
Theres a few here trying to steal my thunder
The signs can't be clearer than this. If you can't see it, you shouldn't be driving.
It says REMEMBER - 50 AROUND TOWN
From the beginning of Caleta, to Salinas Golf, is 50 kph
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/812/gr34.jpg)
Didn't think the original poster was saying any different. Just delivering a message.
Quite amusing though to see the moral high ground scrabblers jockeying for position. ;D ;D ;D
I am always very careful going through those zones, however how will a new visitor to the island react when he or she gets their first taxi all over the back of the rental car, like a cheap suit? Seasoned visitors just hold their speed & the taxi will make it's own arrangements. New visitors may be tempted to speed up as as no to annoy El Cabby.
Never had a ticket on Fuerty, but I can see that some of the driving there requires enforsement
Two things seems to happen a pedestrians when they are on holiday:
1) They wear clothes they would never been seen dead in at home - I mean some of those shorts and socks combinations - come on!
2) They seem to lose all road sense, totally ignore fast moving cars, don't see them at all or think because they are superior beings to the foreign Johnies about the place they can just walk in front of the fast moving cars and they will stop. I saw one bloke insist on crossing the road to the Caleta bus station ten meters from the pedestrian crossing only yesterday!
Caleta - roundabout on market day, any day by Mackies / Atlantico. I think there are underpasses there but but the majority of tourists insist on taking their life in their hands and crossing the busiest main road on the Island
Costa Calma - ditto on market day even after tens of thousands has been spent of pelican style crossings, speed controls, etc.
No wonder the authorities impose strict speed limits to protect the lives of the unwary!
The majority speed limit is 90kph, so just a sedentary 56mph. On dead straight billiard table smooth tarmac. It`s pathetic, it just cannot be set that low in the interests of road safety, it`s just incitement to commit crime and fill up the coffers. Why is the national speed limit 120kph (motorway) on the mainland but not on Fuerte, are Canarians deemed to be incapable at driving safely at speed?
And what is this all about, copied from an airport hire car website <Driving a rented car on Fuerteventura Island is very easy, as the roads are rarely congested, even in the main cities of the island, however, it is important to follow all the road rules. The speed limits of the island are as follows: 130 km/h or 80 mph on motorways and highways, 100 km/h or 63 mph on open roads and 50 km/h or 30 mph in urban areas.> Anyone got any idea what the true position is? Personally I`m inclined to just drive at a speed I feel comfortable with, and if that`s over the limit well so what? pay the fine if you feel like it or don`t if you think you can get away with it.
Quote from: Spike On Q on October 24, 2014, 19:28:45 PM
Two things seems to happen a pedestrians when they are on holiday:
1) They wear clothes they would never been seen dead in at home - I mean some of those shorts and socks combinations - come on!
Spike, are you on Facebook?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/542241545867598/
Autovia Jandia to Sotovento beaches is 110 kph, other roads 90 kph with clearly signed restricted zones at junctions and built up areas - you really must get out more!
110kph is still only 68mph, only 9 kilometers anyway that stretch. Or, so my sources tell me.
Quote from: Spike On Q on October 24, 2014, 23:05:53 PM
Autovia Jandia to Sotovento beaches is 110 kph, other roads 90 kph with clearly signed restricted zones at junctions and built up areas - you really must get out more!
Not all of it. The limit goes down to 90kmh in sections.
A lot of tourists don't realise that you have to wear proper shoes for driving ie(no flip flops) carry a spare set of prescription glasses 8) 8)for people who wear them to drive and for hire cars you must carry your documents with you at all times .Most people put them in the hotels safe?
Quote from: Holierthanthou on October 24, 2014, 17:06:29 PM
Didn't think the original poster was saying any different. Just delivering a message.
It seems to me that the "Original Poster" was intimating that Tourists in hire cars should get special treatment, and allowed to go on their merry "speeding" way :o
not the way i read it. But only he knows what he meant.
Looks like the do gooders frightened him off .
Quote from: archer101 on October 23, 2014, 22:11:55 PM
Up the road was a line a hire cars getting tickets. Nice to see a warm welcome to all the new visitors just leaving the airport!!
and?
Quote from: Spike On Q on October 23, 2014, 23:14:48 PM
Hello to our island
Lmao, obviously on the areuchas the night you posted this
Hope you weren't driving lol
Quote from: Holierthanthou on October 25, 2014, 10:49:38 AM
and?
archer101 was inferring that tourists shouldn't be stopped by the police, for breaking the law :o
He actually said hire cars were getting tickets, nice welcome to the island for them. No inferance they shouldn't be given a ticket.
Are you reading the same post as me?.
I agree with Zedzedeleven on this, in certain areas the speed limit is too low. We drive down south 4 times a week and to the north twice a week and the majority of the scary moments are caused by people driving to slowly. 50 through the built up areas is a fair enough though.
I agree - 90 kph or 58mph is much too slow for single carriageway roads on a small island like this where the longest distance you can drive is from Corralejo to Morro Jable, 121 kilometers or 75 miles
Let's have a vote to see what speed is much more suitable, 100kph, 110kph, 120kph, or even 160 kph, that's only 100mph - - you can get from A to B so much more quickly and safely, [just look out for the goats] [ and cyclists]
Then Michelle and Simon can stand for Parliament and get the law changed with the strength of our vote behind them
Meantime I guess we'll just have to drive at the speeds forced upon us by this useless crowd, [OH why did I move here?] - and pay the cash when we break the law and get fined by those awful men in green
By the way where are you going in such a hurry - did you not know the pace of life here is designed to be less stressful than elsewhere and it seems to make people so much happier, or haven't you noticed?
PS I'm fed up of people just stopping in the middle of the road and having a long chat with their neighbours, I was 3 minutes late for an appointment the other day. gggggrrrrrrrrrage!!!!
Understand your sentiments spike, you want the place of your retirement to be placid and tranquil. Thats fair comment.
But its also a holiday destination. Tooing and froing., coming and going, people want to get places, do things and see things. They got 1 or 2 weeks to do it. Kids in tow ,Time has a meaning. Theres no rail system its either taxi or self drive. They aren't retired ex pats who can poodle along without a care in the world , they don't have the fortune to sit back and adore the sunrise for weeks on end. Its 1 or 2 weeks period. End of story. Stop living in your retirement utopia and get real. People are there on HOLIDAY. They don't want to be stopped at every second roundabout by police looking for a second pair of spectacles or even a sack of crack cocaine. They just want a feckin' HOLIDAY.
If you want to holiday at the same breakneck speed you live your working lives in the UK then I'm afraid Fuerteventura is not for you. It's not a recent thing, until they built the airport, Caleta, Costa Calma, etc. it was even quieter, lives were lived at a much slower pace. Why not try one of the other islands with high rise blocks, miles of high speed motorways, etc. Florida is very busy, also with lots of high speed traffic, packed beaches, nightclubs, etc. I know Benidorm and Salou well and they fit your bill. The list is endless. It's the Majoraro people who just seem to poodle around, things get done - finally, celebrations are approached whole heartedly, there is always time for a smile and a chat. It's not me - it's the way it is, it ain't going to change.
(http://kiramnewman.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/bang-your-head-syndrome.png)
For Holier....
Quote from: hev on October 26, 2014, 00:09:02 AM
(http://kiramnewman.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/bang-your-head-syndrome.png)
For Holier....
:D :D :D :D
We've been back home just over a week, and I already miss the gentler pace of Fuerte roads. And we live on the Isle of Wight which you would expect to be quiet. Not so. Everyone rushing down narrow lanes, speed limits might as well not exist.
This year as an experiment I made a point of keeping to the Fuerte limits and it really wasn't difficult. Strangely enough the SDeat Ibiza ran comfortably at the 40,50,60,70 kph rates, better than it did at equivalent 30, 40, 60mph. Itseems easier to drive legally on Fuerte than UK!!!
As it happened, we never saw a single police vehicle (while I was driving) the whole holiday!! And I looked closely at any suspicious parked cars too.
As a regular visitor to the South, when I'm driving through Caleta I'm still getting used to being on the other side of the road again so it's unlikely that my hire car will be blasting through.
As others have said, all speed traps are welcomed - by the people living there.
Personally, yes I also like to pick and choose which laws I obey. Like using & selling drugs, thumping annoying people in the pub and robbing banks.
don't think anyones disputed the validity of speedtraps. Just the amount of them.
Its a revenue earner. Definitely.
Think of speeding, parking, seatbelt etc fines as am optional tax.
Newport I.O.W. during the morning rush hour - how long is the tailback on the road from Ryde these days? Poor you.
Mind you I got stuck in a traffic snarl up in the road works in Costa Calma today - - there were FOUR, yes FOUR cars in front of me! Bloody cyclists all over the place on some sort of cross country jaunt!
So you do not believe they are a "Life Saver" in any sense, including seat belts worn properly, just there to earn money for the state. So if they all these restrictions were removed and people [loosely put] were allowed to do as they please the roads would be equally as safe or alot safer?
Quote from: Spike On Q on October 26, 2014, 17:28:04 PM
Newport I.O.W. during the morning rush hour - how long is the tailback on the road from Ryde these days? Poor you.
Mind you I got stuck in a traffic snarl up in the road works in Costa Calma today - - there were FOUR, yes FOUR cars in front of me!
at the end of the day you live in practically a third world country, Poor you.
Ah BS, you've been to the Isle of Wight then
Spike you truly are a plonker.
Why - what have I done now?
I'm only 66 1/2 and still have so much to learn
Quote from: Michelle and Simon on October 27, 2014, 09:00:32 AM
Spike you truly are a plonker.
He is, isn`t he? perhaps that`s why we love him!
Actually, Spike does make some very valid points.
Doesn't always stop and think before writing, and he isn't quite as funny or 'clever' as he thinks he is, but - - - - - - - - are any of us?
Quote from: Brightspark on October 26, 2014, 18:20:12 PM
Quote from: Spike On Q on October 26, 2014, 17:28:04 PM
Newport I.O.W. during the morning rush hour - how long is the tailback on the road from Ryde these days? Poor you.
Mind you I got stuck in a traffic snarl up in the road works in Costa Calma today - - there were FOUR, yes FOUR cars in front of me!
at the end of the day you live in practically a third world country, Poor you.
The traffic is still hell so I work my hours to avoid as much as poss. Most of it is due to lack of planning by the council.
Ourq island has a lack of investment, no major infrastructure spending for years, unlike Fuerteventura which gets a lot, just not necessarily the right things or the right places.
Not exactly third world but we are near the top for unemployment, old people, low wages, illegitimate births, roads per square mile AND cars per mile of road!!!! Not all of those are connected.
They closed the railway line between the main Island gateway Ryde and the capital Newport in 1965 and never bothered to consider reopening it due to the high cost
In the late 60's it was the hippy nirvana, 20 odd night spots, major UK bands on every week [Moody Blues, Black Sabbath, The Move, even Gene Vincent, etc. etc.], the three huge festivals with Jefferson Airplane, The Who, Bob Dylan, Tiny Tim, etc, some say even bigger than Woodstock, 600,000 hippies turned up from all over the place. Now you struggle to find a good night out even at the height of the season
I loved my time on the Isle of Wight and I still love to visit. It is one of the most beautiful places in the World on an English summers day. I could reminisce about the Island for hours, in 1967 I met Scott Walker of The Walker Brothers in Hursts hardware shop at the top of Union Street buying and electric blanket, he was "in retreat" at Quarr Abbey - my best friend Roz Murphy lived and died there
My ashes are to be spread on The Solent when I die - my time on the Isle of Wight left such an impression on my life