Speeding vs. law enforcement discussion

[Fjones]

fjones, this is getting boring now. i'll leave you to your vehement intent to get more fines. i sincerely hope that they are the worst that happen to you due to your vehicle use.

It really bothers you that my speeding has not caused an accident, doesn't it? It seems to be tearing you up.

Wait, when you said "I sicnerely hope ..." you WERE being sarcastic right? If not, then disregard what I just wrote. It is what you do best anyway.

 

[Beatlebot]

...

 

[Fjones]

I'm with Fjones here. I also think that the whole world shoud be changed to suit me personally.

And I don't give a god damn about the limitations or circumstances of anyone other else OR the fact I clearly have no idea what I am talking about. So just do it ok?

Nice. Real classy. If you have nothing intelligent to add to the discussion, then don't get involved. You completely distorted everything I said. Try to address the following questions --

1) Why is it inherently dangerous to drive 80 MPH? Please explain. You have yet to do so.

2) If speed traps are about safety, why do they HIDE, such that people DO speed, when they could sit out in the open, this stopping people from speeding?

3) If speeding is so dangerous, why do they give such low fines for it? Why do they allow you to do it so many times without losing your license? Why don't they stop speeding altogether by enforcing draconian penalties that no one would risk receiving?

4) Why do different states have different speed limits? If the governments cannot even agree with each other about what a safe speed is, why should I assume any of them are correct?

5) If speeding is dangerous, why is the autobahn as safe, if not safer, than American highways?

 

[Fjones]

I'm with Fjones here. I also think that the whole world shoud be changed to suit me personally.

And I don't give a god damn about the limitations or circumstances of anyone other else OR the fact I clearly have no idea what I am talking about. So just do it ok?

I'll ask you the same question I asked Impacto Profundo. Are you consistent in your beliefs? Do you think all drugs should be illegal? After all, if anyone wants any of them to be legal, someone could say to you, "Oh, sure, ok, the world should just change its ways to suit your selfish needs."

For those who are too dense to figure this out, there are likely millions of people out there who agree with me. Several of them have posted here and in other threads. So no, I am not asking the world to change on my behalf, I speak for all who agree with me, just like drug reformists speak for ALL The drug reformists.

But continue with your mindless insults. I can handle it. It has not affected my ability to present a logical argument.

You people are scared of logic and reason. You don't like it because your only reply is to just launch insults.

 

[Fjones]

I frequently drive quite fast...well above the speed limit. I'm not the type of person to rush, in fact I'm quite a lagger, I don't rush for shit. But I love driving, and faster is funner, but I would never intentionally endanger somebody, and the only problems I've had on the road were times when I've relied on other drivers to make quick and accurate judgments.(don't every do this!!)

I know I'm not really contributing to the thread, Fjones, I don't really care to debate the topic, I drive how I drive regardless of what people say is right or wrong.

What I don't understand is how you keep getting caught! When I drive faster than the flow of traffic I'm in a hyper aware state, looking far/close ahead and planning out my path, and always have an escape route. I always see cops loong before I approach them, or in my rear-view before they come up behind me.

for starters, My radar detector was stolen, I got 4 or 5 in the last year since that happened.

ALso, I just don't see them. Most are at night, and the daytime ones are when they are well hidden behind a bush, such that I see them, but they already have me.

The fact that you can say what you just said and get nary a single angry response, whereas I am getting flamed relentlessly, just proves my point that my opponents are just carrying out a personal grudge here. They don't like me, they don't like the way I debate, and so they attack.

Keep in mind I have driven nearly 200,000 miles. Maybe you have too, I don't know.

I wish I knew your secret to not getting caught. I cannot afford any more. Even when I TRY not to speed though, sometimes is just happens. I am focusing on being a good driver, not how fast I go.

 

[Beatlebot]

...

 

[Fjones]

^^^ I appreciate the response. I don't want you to think I am bailing on the conversation, but I need to get some sleep. I have to be awake In a few hours. Also my wrists are sore from typing (I have poor typing mechanics).

 

[DarkCode]

Going 95 on some roads is perfectly safe. Going 45 on some roads is extremely dangerous.

It just depends on environmental conditions, like weather, curvatures in road, surrounding trees or building obscuring view...etc etc...


*on the assumption that your car is not a piece of shit

qft

Hahahahahaha, on the assumption... I like your thinking.

I'm a speeder, I've gotten my share of tickets, and I've got a few points on my license to show. But I did beat the Operating to Endanger charge I got a while ago.

Anyways, if you look at Germany and see how they have their system setup. You can go as fast as you want, within reason, but as soon as you get around a metropolitan area, you gotta slow it down. Its all relative to where the traffic will be greatest, so the less traffic on a road, the less "subjectiveness" we need to decide our speed limits. There are places in my home state, of Massachusetts, where speed limits are in fact set contrary to laws. You need surveyors and civil engineers to determine the appropriate speed for a road, but politicians often lower speed limits due to public outcry from all the mothers who have gone MADD. lol (had to poke at them, I wrote an op-ed piece that went against the Executive Director of Students Against Destructive Decisions when referring to Prop 2 in Massachusetts - was a huge thing in my local paper, made it to the front page).

I liked that idea AfterGlow had about a high speed driver's license. God damn grandma's in the left lane! They're the reason why my license got suspended for 15 months. Fucking Junior Operator Law in Massachusetts (under 18, 1 speeding ticket = 90 day suspension, every one after that is an additional 1 year suspension + fines).

 

[papa]

good thread bluelighters.....carry on

 

[atri]

you claim to be such an excellent driver and then you said this

^^^ That is a fair point (What amorroark said. Every time I try to use ^^^ instead of quoting, someone jumps in between with a post and then my ^^^ is confusing ) . In cases where there is a legitimate reason for the decrease, I can go along with that.

I also agree with many that said "Speeding isn't dangerous, driving too fast for conditions is."

I get most of my tickets when there are FEW cars on the road. Without other cars for context, it is easy for my speed to creep up toward 85 MPH without really realizing it.

And, on an empty highway, I don't think that is dangerous! But that's when I get most of my tickets.

Meanwhile, ten cars can go by a cop on a busy highway, all tailgating each other, and the cop does nothing.

if you were the great driver you say you are, your speed wouldnt "creep" up on you because you would be paying attention to it and lower it to avoid getting tickets.
you shouldnt need other cars for context, that what speed limit signs are for.
speed limits are in place to keep all drivers on the same page. simple lane changes can result in accidents if someone is going faster than the posted limit.
Time saved every 10 miles by going:
65 instead of 55 1:41
75 instead of 65 1:14
75 instead of 55 2:55
youre really not saving that much time by going a little faster anyways

 

[papa]

what state is it, that a person with 23 convictions for moving viotations, still has a license?
In my state (Texas), 3 moving violations in a 3 year period and you're on probation. One more, and you're suspended.

*edit* you may have mentioned it in an earlier post and I missed it. If so, My apologies.

 

[Fjones]

you claim to be such an excellent driver and then you said this

if you were the great driver you say you are, your speed wouldnt "creep" up on you because you would be paying attention to it and lower it to avoid getting tickets.
you shouldnt need other cars for context, that what speed limit signs are for.
speed limits are in place to keep all drivers on the same page. simple lane changes can result in accidents if someone is going faster than the posted limit.
Time saved every 10 miles by going:
65 instead of 55 1:41
75 instead of 65 1:14
75 instead of 55 2:55
youre really not saving that much time by going a little faster anyways

Atri --

I do not consider the phrases "good driver" and "speeder" mutually exclusive.

I consider myself a good driver and a speeder.

I do not look at my speedometer while I drive. This would require me to not be looking at the road, and that is not safe.

With other cars around, It is much easier to maintain a constant speed.

If there are few cars around, a slight change in speed (like 5 MPH difference between 80 and 85) is that very perceptible, nor is it that important. Does it really make much of a difference? For practical purposes, it does not, but, it does in terms of likelihood of getting pulled over.


Also, you don't think saving 3 minutes per 10 miles is significant? I do.

But again, I didn't say solely I speed because of a desire to get where I am going faster. There are many reasons why I speed. This is not really on topic though, as I wasn't trying to debate whether speeding saves time or not.

You say, "simple lane changes can result in accidents if someone is going faster than the posted limit. "

Yes, anything CAN result in an accident. So what? When was the last time a simple lane change resulted in an accident just because someone was speeding?

 

[rickolasnice]

Alot of speeding laws are there because of the chances of death from being hit by a car at one speed is GREATLY less than that of a speed just a few miles per hour faster.. and people do get hit, you know.

Also, you don't think saving 3 minutes per 10 miles is significant? I do.

And if someone steps out in front of your car? They're dead.

Slow down 10mph.

And if someone steps out in front of your car? They live.

Still worth it?

 

[Fjones]

what state is it, that a person with 23 convictions for moving viotations, still has a license?
In my state (Texas), 3 moving violations in a 3 year period and you're on probation. One more, and you're suspended.

*edit* you may have mentioned it in an earlier post and I missed it. If so, My apologies.

Most of my tickets have been out of state. Also, they have been accumulating for 12 years. Most states are only concerned with the last three or five years.

 

[atri]

looking at the speedometer isnt safe?
i guess youve got me, cause youre just making shit up now.
speeding is dangerous because the faster you go, the more impact youre going to suffer when you hit something. there, argument over.

 

[Fjones]

Alot of speeding laws are there because of the chances of death from being hit by a car at one speed is GREATLY less than that of a speed just a few miles per hour faster.. and people do get hit, you know.

By "People," do you mean pedestrians, or other cars?

If you mean pedestrians, what are they doing on the highway?

If you mean other cars -- Death as a result of being hit by a car is not likely to happen on a highway. Most highway accidents are sideswipes or rear-endings. In the case of a rear-ending, the rear car is usually braking and not going all that fast at the time of impact. And sideswipings are minor.

Yes, if a car is going 80 MPH and T-Bones another car full speed, the driver in the other car is almost certainly going to die. How many times has that scenario Actually happened though? When was the last time someone was T-Boned on a highway by a car going full speed? Cars do have emergency maneuverability. Between the brakes and the steering, full speed collisions are just not that common.

 

[zephyr]

Speeding is dangerous. Driving without attention is even worse. Being distracted, drunk, talking on the phone, not staying in your lane , wieving in and out of traffic, racing trains at crossings. All dumb.

BUT. . . A lot of speed cameras are revenue raising to be honest. They are positioned a lot in places where there is no history of a lot of accidents and on straight stretches of road. Driving 5 kilometres over costs about $100 and while you should not speed, the calibration of cameras and speedometres are sometimes out.

A lot of money comes from fines. Its not put back into safe driving or roads either.

Everyone speeds every now and then but to make a habit of it is stupid. Whats the hurry ? Just leave earlier. If you think its okay as you are a safe driver, not everyone is and if you speed someone can turn in front of you assuming they will make it if you are going the allowed speed but you will smash as you are not.

There are idiots on the roads everywhere. You need to allow for other peoples mistakes. Speeding wont give you time to avoid an idiot changing lanes in front of you, a hidden stop sign , a drunk pedestrian
Wandering on the street, but if getting to point B 5 minutes earlier is so important, go right ahead and be an idiot driver others have to watch out for.

 

[rickolasnice]

I meant pedestrians..

Are we only talking about on the highway?

 

[Fjones]

looking at the speedometer isnt safe?
i guess youve got me, cause youre just making shit up now.
speeding is dangerous because the faster you go, the more impact youre going to suffer when you hit something. there, argument over.

"Argument over?" Wow. THat's not arrogant or anything.

Yes, looking at the speedometer is not safe. Which part of that are you having trouble understanding? Every second you take your eyes off the road, your car travels 100 feet. I think we can all agree that it is safer to look at the road than to NOT look at the road, right?

Your logic is severly flawed. By your logic, airplanes should be illegal, because if they were to hit something, the impact would be severe.

No one is denying that impact at 80 MPH is worse than impact at 65 MPH. But, people don't hit things on the highway going full speed. When does that happen ever?

Atri, you don't like me and I don't like you. You never say anything constructive to me. Perhaps we could just ignore each other?

 

[Fjones]

I meant pedestrians..

Are we only talking about on the highway?

Yes. I have reiterated that point dozens of times.

I am talking about speeding, within reason, on multilane highways with adequate tires in dry conditions.

Apparently I am a horrible and dangerous person because I think 80 - 85 MPH is a safe speed for those conditions.

No one has really given any proof that it isn't, though they have had no problem attacking me and insulting me.