Wish I would see this more often

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 4:53 pm

Its as simple as respect, you get what you give

Often refered to as Karma.

but you can not exceed the speed limit to pass

Not legally, a mere technicality. I'm sure you break a few other seemingly minor traffic laws from time to time.

RubberDuckie · Post by **RubberDuckie** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:45 pm

I've never endangered anyones safety by my driving

technically speaking if you are speeding by 5, 10 or whatever you are endangering others. The roads are designed at a speed due to sight distance, super elevation in turns, and other factors. Thus if you are speeding you are exceeding the safe design of the road.

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:13 pm

I disagree. Speed limits are there to be generally safe for the masses, the average cars, average drivers with basic skills, average power trains, mediocre tires and substandard suspensions. If you knew much about modern cars, you'd know that some cars handle better than others and that some people can drive better than others too. That being said, I'm as safe as anyone else if I opt to slightly exceed the limits. Matter of fact, on many freeways most people are exceeding the posted limits. What about driving on the same type roads in states where the limits are 75+? No less safe than elsewhere unless the car or driver isn't able to do that.

normalicy · Post by **normalicy** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 11:30 pm

I've been on roads that are 80 mph that are exactly like the roads that are 60 mph around me. Looks like there's at least 20 mph leniency on the speeds. But yeah, the main reason speeds are low is actually for fuel consumption control & safety of older vehicles. Hard to mess up too much on a highway unless you're going stupid fast.

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 7:28 am

If you're old enough, you might remember when the government made all freeway speed limits from 65-70 to 55mph everywhere to try keeping fuel consumption lower, ask Sammy Hagar ("I can't drive....55!"). The roads didn't change.

Then too, IMO most people lack driving skills, drive poorly maintained POS cars and don't have a clue as to the limits of their own cars. My cars are well maintained, good tires, properly inflated and I know the limits of every car I've ever owned. I've raced cars on race tracks too, repaired cars for a living for 34 yrs now so yes, I know a few things about cars.

renovation · Post by **renovation** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 10:04 am

Those who think they like being "in control" of the road, what do you do with the crotch rockets that race by at over 90mph and go in between cars? Move over to block them, see what happens next?

these a$$holes really are scarry when your on the road.and then they decide to pop a wheelie to show off. seen that more then once.

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 10:20 am

No doubt, seen that too and I just shake my head as I doubt that they'll live long.

I'll add that I'm not condoning

going stupid fast

by any means. Doing that definitely compremises everyones safety, no doubt but I'm quite sure that everyone here occasionally exceeds posted speed limits as I've NEVER been in a car where the driver doesn't, unless the person's 90 yrs old (and that's yet another story).

When I was 16 and my mother remarried, I observed my stepfather (who as a lawyer and claimed to never break any traffic law ever in his life) driving at 80mph as we were going up north to our cabin. The posted limit then was 55mph.

b-man1 · Post by **b-man1** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 1:24 pm

the bottom line is common sense and both offensive/defensive driving. i do not sit in the far left lane and drive the speed limit, but if i happen to be in that lane and doing 5-10 over (moving with traffic), i don't hurry to get out of someone's way that flies up on my ass either. once i can safely move over, i do, but the person speeding gets no special favors from me. if they are playing frogger and changing lanes every 10 seconds trying to pass everyone else, then they can sit behind me. no way in hell am i going to speed up just to appease them and possibly get a ticket out of it. i doubt the officer will accept an excuse such as "the guy behind me wanted to go faster and i couldn't move over".

in the end, it's a lose-lose situation for most normal drivers. if you drive the speed limit, people seem to think you are in the way and obstructing traffic. if you speed, you may get a ticket. the law is the law (and yes, i admit to going 5 over on average just to keep some idiots off my bumper).

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 1:43 pm

but if i happen to be in that lane and doing 5-10 over (moving with traffic)

If I'm moving with traffic and there's a car directly in front of me, close but I'm not tailgating, I don't move over at all.

RubberDuckie · Post by **RubberDuckie** » Sat Jan 07, 2012 12:04 am

this thread makes me laugh.

"I am a good driver. I have kick ass car. my tires grip the road better. Therefore I can go faster then anyone else and be safe. "

Blah blah blah. The speed limits are there by design based on roadway factors, It is what I do for a living as a professional engineer who designs roadways for a living.

Simple rule ... Speeding is against the law. and that is a fact.

I dont care if you Think you are a kick ass driver who has skills above average. It is still against the law.

following at a 3 second rule is not a suggestion it is simple physics... do your math.

65 in a 55 is against the law and is reckless. End of story.

renovation · Post by **renovation** » Sat Jan 07, 2012 12:11 am

RubberDuckie wrote:this thread makes me laugh.

"I am a good driver. I have kick ass car. my tires grip the road better. Therefore I can go faster then anyone else. "

Blah blah blah. The speed limits are there by design based on roadway factors, It is what I do for a living as a professional engineer who designs roadways for a living.

Simple rule ... Speeding is against the law. and that is a fact.

I dont care if you Think you are a kick ass driver who has skills above average. It is still against the law.

following at a 3 second rule is not a suggestion it is simple physics... do your math.

65 in a 55 is against the law and is reckless. End of story.

so your the A-HOLE I want to Bitch at for all those new ROUNDABOUTS that im seeing being installed.

hehehehe

normalicy · Post by **normalicy** » Sat Jan 07, 2012 2:42 am

I like roundabouts. They're efficient when people know how to use them.

Koo Koo Mouse · Post by **Koo Koo Mouse** » Sat Jan 07, 2012 11:48 am

Here what I do.. Go with the flow. If I'm in the middle of the pack going 70 in a 55 I feel pretty safe from a ticket a not a hazzerd to anyone. IF I slow down to 55 in the middle of that THEN I AM a hazzrd. I, as many of you have to get around a slow car every day and I hate it.
Also I occasionally take a trip to Iowa. Average speed is about 85. Just going with the flow in the middle of it, I don't want to be the leader of it or the tail of it for the above reason.
Ya I know lets not raise the speed limit. Give 55 we'll do 70. Give us 70 we'll do 85.
Roads disigned for 55? HUH? A curve ya. A flat out stretch NO.
Just sayin I'm 51 and have never gotten a speeding ticket. Just pay attention
to your sorroundings is rule number 1!!!!

Norm, I like roundabouts too!!

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Sat Jan 07, 2012 1:44 pm

Makes me laugh too:

The speed limits are there by design based on roadway factors, It is what I do for a living as a professional engineer who designs roadways for a living.

So, if you're driving 55mph on a perfectly straight section of freeway in a city area with a 50mph speed limit with no other traffic, you're somehow over running the design of that road as compared to the same section of straight freeway (also w/o traffic) as the same freeway becomes more rural?
Doubt that.

I understand slower speeds for curves, heavy traffic and construction but that's not what I'm refering too. I still say that anyone here who says they never exceed any posted speed limits anywhere, anytime by 5mph is just BSing us now.

Roundabouts only make sense where there's 3 or more roads intersecting, not 2 to replace what use to have a stop light.

RubberDuckie · Post by **RubberDuckie** » Sat Jan 07, 2012 1:47 pm

I am not a roundabout fan. They work when people are use to using them but they are too odd in the states to be successful. We put 3 in and have since taken them out due to the number of accidents. The intersections now have stop signs.

BTW you can actually get a ticket for impeding the flow of traffic. So it is safer to 'go with the flow' but that is not where this tread started. It started with the idea of speeding in the 'fast lane'. The car in the video was going with the flow of traffic and doing nothing wrong. The left lane doesnt have to remain open for speeders.

Keep in mind that even if the road is straight and open there are still other hazards that can cause a reason to maintain a safe speed: Wildlife, debris, potholes, .... We have Interstate Highways here in TX with speed limits of 85. I personally think that is too fast because there are many cars and even drivers that are uncomfortable at those speeds and go slower. The closure speed at 85 when someone is going slower at 65 has a big impact on reaction time.