mlecher
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posted on May 31, 2002 08:12:40 AM new
4) The overwhelming majority of speed related accidents are caused, as yeager said, by a disparity in speed, not the speed. This is when you come over the hill on an empty hghwy doing 60 and there's a mope in the left lane doing 35 or when the same mope gets to the end of the onramp of a superhighway doing 30. These people could never pass a driving test in Europe, but are rampant here.
So accidents are caused by speeders running into non-speeders? And that is the non-speeder's fault? I suppose murder victims are responsible because they get in the way of the muder instrument?
There are only 10 types of people in the world
Those who understand binary and those who don't
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DeSquirrel
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posted on May 31, 2002 08:22:11 AM new
mlecher
I don't know where YOU live, but such "non-speeders" are given tickets in NJ.
Perhaps in your analogy "murder victim" should be replaced by "those bent on suicide", from whom, of course, there is no protection.
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auroranorth
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posted on May 31, 2002 08:55:58 AM new
it is a form of revenue collection and petty harassement and government intimidation, on the other hand the stress that pushes some speeders will kill them long before speeding if they dont relax a litle more often.
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saabsister
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posted on May 31, 2002 09:40:18 AM new
mlecher, I,too,believe that the disparity in speeds may cause accidents. In heavy interstate traffic a slow motorist in any lane - but particularly in the fast lanes - can cause a lot of lane jumping in order to get around him/her. I'm talking about the geezer doing 35mph or 40mph on an interstate where the rest of the traffic is moving at least 55mph. When I learned to drive in Georgia there was a minimum speed posted as well as a maximum on highways.
I'm reminded of an older woman I knew who asked me for directions to Virginia Beach. As I explained the connection near Richmond, I told her she'd have to be prepared to make an exit from the left at a certain point. She said that was alright - she'd get in the left lane when she got on the interstate and stay there so that she wouldn't miss the exit. This was 90 miles from the exit!!! I told her not to use this tactic if she wanted to survive the trip.
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gravid
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posted on May 31, 2002 02:14:33 PM new
By the way some people here think we should just make a national max. speed of 35 mph.
Where do you have to go that would not get you there soon enough? If it takes a week to drive to Florida look at the extra economic stimulation from motel rooms and meals! And you will enjoy so much more time in the car interacting with your loved ones.
If slow is safer how many thousands of people would be saved by that law? You folks that love to squeeze every penny out of your tires by running them bald will be SO much safer.
Just to be safe lets drop the sped to 25 after dark. Why do you need to drive long distance after dark anyway? If you have driven 35 all day you are too tired to drive safe after dark anyway.
OK turtles tell us why more of your medicine is not bette. I am sure you can find a politician to pass it and make speeding at the old death rate of 55 mph a huge fine -
for safety of course.
What? You feel comphortable driving 55 and think this is silly? Now you know how we feel .
[ edited by gravid on May 31, 2002 02:18 PM ]
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Borillar
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posted on May 31, 2002 02:17:13 PM new
There are some stetches of highway out here in the West where they put a toll-booth like thing at both ends of a stretch of highway. You get a ticket punched with the date and time on one end and present the ticket on the other end. They compute the speed that you went by the amount of time that has passed since the initial punching. If you arive to soon, they know that you were speeding.
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gravid
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posted on May 31, 2002 02:23:45 PM new
In Texas they set up a German style camera and the first day they mailed out tickets someone shot the camera with a high powered rifle.
They put the camera in a 1-1/4 steel plate box looking out through a mirror.
Someone came back and used an antitank weapon on it.
I do like Texans.
I feel the same about cameras tracking your every move in an area where you are on foot.
Just a question of how to take them out. I do have a very nice laser that shoould simply fry them. It is not portable but the new ultrcapacitors should change that.
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yeager
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posted on May 31, 2002 03:08:41 PM new
The real question here is, do you want to live in an organized society or not. Do you want your rights protected or not?
Do you roll through the stop sign when no one else in at the intersection?
If the parking sign say 30 minute parking, do you park there for 3 hours?
If the sign say handicapped parking, do you park there if you don't have the proper permit taking the right away from someone who deserves it and needs it?
If the traffic light turns red, do you stop or do you floor the gas?
If the ambulance is traveling down the road with it's lights and siren, do you pull over, or do you continue to drive in the roadway?
Do you throw your fast food trash out your car window when going down the road because you don't want it cluttering up your car?
Do you blast you stereo equipment in your car so loud that the people one block down
the street can hear it? After all, it's yours, you paid for it and it sounds better loud. Right?
Are you like a child stealing a cookie from the cookie jar when his mother isn't looking? Do you obey traffic laws only when the police are in sight of you?
These examples are of people who don't respect simple laws. They have excuses and try to rationalize their conduct. If they were caught by the police they would have a perfectly good reason for doing what they have done.
And the final questions.
Do you own a car with a high powered engine and a high performance braking system? Do you have a right to disobey the same traffic laws that everyone else is required to obey? If so what is your reason for this thinking? Are you a good driver?
Even thought you may not like cartain traffic laws, they are STILL the law! Do you want ot live in an organizied society or not?
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stusi
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posted on May 31, 2002 03:47:04 PM new
One of the car magazines proposed a few years ago the creation of a special "master" driver's license. To qualify one would have to pass a grueling driving test showing the ability to handle a vehicle at high speeds, around sharp curves, and through an obstacle course. If passed, it would grant the driver exemption from speeding tickets if not more than 20 MPH over the speed limit. The concept never got off the ground.
[ edited by stusi on May 31, 2002 03:47 PM ]
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scrabblegod
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posted on May 31, 2002 04:40:28 PM new
Stusi asked "scrabblegod- your 4 cylinder gets 10-12 MPG in town and your 8 cylinder gets 27-29 at the posted limits? I don't think so! Would you mind telling me what these miracle cars are?"
The 4 cyl is a 1986 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe with an aero package and a VERY large turbo, 2 intercoolers, methanol injection for intake cooling and many intake, exhaust and internal engine mods of my own.
Under 62 mph (2900 rpm) the engine computer stays in closed loop and has eked out 32 mpg. Over that, it drops rather quickly.
The V-8 is a 1985 S10 Blazer with a modified LT1 350 from a 95 Corvette.
Both cars weight is under 2800 pounds so the performance is exceptional.
I built both of them myself with my own goals in mind. They both have oversized 4 wheel disk brakes and upgraded suspension components including 5 point harnesses (NASCAR style seat belts) and ZR rated tires (for speeds over 150mph).
I drive the TBird and my wife drives the Blazer.
Our fuel bill is whatever the current price for super high test x 40 gallons per week.
The is proves the saying;
The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.
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auroranorth
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posted on May 31, 2002 05:07:51 PM new
remember the Alamo !
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auroranorth
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posted on May 31, 2002 05:15:06 PM new
I my old lady kept saying it was the size of our toys.
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stusi
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posted on May 31, 2002 05:17:08 PM new
scrabblegod- 2 intercoolers?!!!! The LT-1 gets 27-29 MPG? ZR rated tires? You are a madman and as such you have my utmost respect!!!!
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scrabblegod
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posted on May 31, 2002 07:14:36 PM new
Stusi,
The each intercooler is as large as the radiator and I have them in a double stack formation. They came off a Saab 9000 Aero Turbo.
Want crazy, look at my web page to the Pinto I am building. There is nothing fancy about the page, just a few pictures.
The Cougar in the picture is one of only 1400 built. My best friend backed it into a guardrail ending its current incarnation, however it will be revived in a new form.
Consider that in the 3800 pound Cougar the top speed from the factory in stock form was around 145mph documented by Ford and various driver magazines. The Pinto should come in around 2500 pounds.
www.scrabblegod.com
[ edited by scrabblegod on May 31, 2002 07:18 PM ]
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stusi
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posted on May 31, 2002 07:44:10 PM new
Great stuff! I always admire a guy who can tear one car down and use the parts to make another kick ass, particularly a car like a Pinto. Great for winning bets!
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gravid
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posted on May 31, 2002 10:18:24 PM new
"Do you want to live in an organizied society or not?"
Not.
Not THIS organized.
This is micromanaging by people who are not qualified to have an opinion on the subject and make laws for appearance and for financial gain.
It is hall monitors for adults.
I don't do any of the selfish things you try to tie to speeding. But I don't have a reverance for rules for the sake of rules and blind adoration for the rule makers. Sometimes they are petty little tyrants.
Please explain what public need parking limits and meters serve? Are the businesses getting too many customers? Are all the spaces full and you can't go down town?
Will a cop see a car at an expired meter and let it go because it is the only car parked on the block so he is not keeping anyone else from having a spot? No - the city wants the money is the bottom line. And they have the power to make you do what they want.
Once I parked at a spot and got out and the meter was broken. It would not take the coin. I pointed that out to the cop working the block and he said in that case you can't park there because the meter there will still say expired. I grabbed the meter and ripped the sucker out of the ground - had a cylinder of concrete on the pipe about the size of a 5 gallon bucket. I took it over to the cop and said "Please take this down and have it repaired." When I got back there was no ticket on my windshield.
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yeager
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posted on May 31, 2002 11:37:00 PM new
I don't feel that paying for traffic tickets are another form of taxation. They are a fine for the brief pleasure that you gained for breaking a traffic law. The municipality take your money because they, governments, run on money. What else would they take? Your watch, wedding ring or something else of your percieved value? What would they do with these items, put them on ebay?
Everyone values money, some more than others. The people who don't have to worry about paying fines, are the ones who follow the rules. It's really pretty simple. Some people realize this , while others don't.
As far as paying ofr parking meters, I really don't like it. However it's the law. The cost of not paying for the meter is lesser than the cost of the ticket. In Detroit, the cost of overdue meter is 20.00. A lot a money of staying that extra amount of time.
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gravid
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posted on June 1, 2002 04:26:25 AM new
It is a mental difference. Some people are content to be told what to do and were conditioned early to be passive and obedient. Other people doubt what they are told and resist.
If you had ever been stopped as I was and given a ticket for doing something hours ago on a street miles away you were not familiar with it might have taken a chip out of your warm fuzzy trust in the benevolence of your masters. Or perhaps you are so deeply conditioned you would think it an honest mistake - or be fearful to say anything because all your family and friends are as obedient and trusting as you and they would believe the police over you.
I used to live in Columbus Ohio and the tiny city of Whitehall was only a couple blocks long surrounded by Columbus. Several main roads passed through and the speed limit would drop from 40 to 25 for those few blocks and the city basically financed itself by writing speeding tickets all day long by 3 or 4 officers. Did they contribute ANYTHING to public safety? No. It was simply a legal protection racket and it cost them the hardest coin in the world to gain - respect.
When I lived there I would not buy anything from a business in Whitehall because they didn't get rid of the corrupt system. They same way I won't work or live in Detroit because it is run like a third world dictatorship.
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