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I always say," would you do that to me in line at the grocery store"? I didn't think so.

I grew up in the country, I have been driving things since I could remember. It's second nature.

I generally avoid ever being a passenger in most vehicles--and even my partner's sometimes-aggressive driving has started making me insist that I drive more often.

My job unfortunately requires me to review lots of police photographs, including those from fatality car accidents.  It definitely makes you think twice when you get into a car.

I generally don't speed more than 5 mph in the city with the car.  The speed limits are generally reasonable, and I don't like not having the overview of the road that I get on say... my Motorcycle.
When I'm on the motorcycle, then I pretty much by definition go 10-15 mph over, but not recklessly.  I don't ride where there is traffic, and when I'm on the motorbike, I put all my attention towards riding and keeping people from running into me, and when there is traffic, I ride more slowly.  At least that's my theory... and so far the most dangerous riding I do is down Texas Avenue, surrounded by a bunch of mindless cagers.

iSeamas wrote:

There are two types of drivers; maniacs and idiots.
If they are driving faster than me, they are maniacs.

If they are driving slower than me, they are idiots.

Carlin used another word for those who drive slower but the sentiment was similar.

If someone can legally drive 55 in a 55 while talking on the phone and eating while it's pouring or snowing ... why is it so wrong for someone to drive say 10 to 15 over the 55 limit while actually paying attention in dry sunny conditions.  particularly if the said driver who was paying attention is driving a car designed for the autobahn.

Shadowless wrote:

mrreet2001 wrote:

If someone can legally drive 55 in a 55 while talking on the phone and eating while it's pouring or snowing ... why is it so wrong for someone to drive say 10 to 15 over the 55 limit while actually paying attention in dry sunny conditions.  particularly if the said driver who was paying attention is driving a car designed for the autobahn.

Just because it's legally okay doesn't make it okay in practice.

And in many states (and especially on military installations as my friends have found out) you are not allowed to talk on the phone while driving. On base you can't even be eating or drinking.

I am not talking about "on base" ... I am talking about something that is legal in many if not most states.
... and frankly I see that almost everyday on workdays. talking AND eating or drinking ... and some cases reading a newspaper


What I ask is what is so dangerous about "10 to 15" over.

If it's the actual speed ... I claim bs ... in Ohio the limit is 65 on the interstate 10 to 15 over would be 75 to 80 ... There are highways out west with a speed limit of 75... and 80 would be the "5 over" If it's safe out there then it is safe here.

If it's the variance in speed ... I claim bs... On my way to work I drive on a Interstate with a speed limit of 65. In the morning MANY of the drivers go about 45~ to 55. I fly past them at GPS clocked 65 MPH which is legal but still a 10 to 20 MPH difference.

Last edited by mrreet2001 (2009-04-21 7:10 pm)

mrreet2001 wrote:

The person driving 45 in a 65 is going to cause more problems by far.

She shouldn't drive, but damn it, I love my grandma!!!

mrreet2001 wrote:

If someone can legally drive 55 in a 55 while talking on the phone and eating while it's pouring or snowing ... why is it so wrong for someone to drive say 10 to 15 over the 55 limit while actually paying attention in dry sunny conditions.  particularly if the said driver who was paying attention is driving a car designed for the autobahn.

Me driving 10-15 over the limit with both hands on the wheel at all times and actually paying attention is a hell of lot safer that some jackass talking on the phone, texting and/or putting makeup on while driving.

Of course I have a 2 seater convertible roadster -- they don't let you buy one unless you promise to drive it like you mean it.

The sad thing about highway driving is that I was much safer pulling 100 mph on the straight and 45-50 in the corners on the road course with the car club.

People really need to stop tailgating.  At speeds like 70-80 mph, when someone stops in front of you -- they come up damn fast.

-mark

"I was paying attention, Jenny Haggar."

Pithecanthropus wrote:

See?  These "but I pay attention while going 15 mph over the speed limit" things are exactly what I was talking about.  It's exactly the same thing as saying, "my co-workers are on eBay and Facebook all day, but they don't steal, I do my job very well, and I only steal a few dollars from the till."  Nobody in that scenario is doing the right thing.

It's not about how good a driver you are, or how good you think you are, things happen that are beyond your control and your excessive speed could wind up injuring or killing someone, or at the very least doing damage to your vehicle and costing you a bunch of money.

People seem to feel entitled to ignore the speed limit and I just don't understand that. If the speed limit is 30 they want to go 40, if it's 50 they want to go 60 and it if's 70 they want to go 80.  What's wrong with traveling at the posted speed limit?

mrreet2001 wrote:

What I ask is what is so dangerous about "10 to 15" over.

If it's the actual speed ... I claim bs ... in Ohio the limit is 65 on the interstate 10 to 15 over would be 75 to 80 ... There are highways out west with a speed limit of 75... and 80 would be the "5 over" If it's safe out there then it is safe here.

If it's the variance in speed ... I claim bs... On my way to work I drive on a Interstate with a speed limit of 65. In the morning MANY of the drivers go about 45~ to 55. I fly past them at GPS clocked 65 MPH which is legal but still a 10 to 20 MPH difference.

Pithecanthropus wrote:

It's not about how good a driver you are, or how good you think you are, things happen that are beyond your control and your excessive speed could wind up injuring or killing someone, or at the very least doing damage to your vehicle and costing you a bunch of money.

If they actually started ticketing drivers who are eating, talking on the phone, putting on makeup, lighting cigarettes reading the paper ... and get those people off the friggen road... It would make the roads ALOT safer than everyone driving the speed limit.

Pithecanthropus wrote:

My point is that it is ILLEGAL to speed, regardless of your personal point of view.

It's also wasteful of fuel, but perhaps some enjoy melting glaciers. Clearly there are no legitimate reasons for posted limits, and there's fun to be had.

It's so unfair to ticket speeders when others go unticketed. Until then, all bets are off.