[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Why is speeding bad? (Page 1 of 3)
Posted: 8/27/2009 6:17:08 PM EDT
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Do you think speeding 10-15 miles per hour over the speed limit is bad? And if so why?
I got caught speeding in a government vehicle on the interstate doing 80 in a 65 but I was going as fast as the traffic was flowing. I personally think that its more dangerous to go slower than the flow of traffic. My Ssgt is making me make a 30 min power point presentation to present to the guys I work with for my punishment. It was my first offense and i received a verbal counseling next time its a NJP. Anyone got some pictures of what happens when you speed? I remember a few days ago seeing a thread of guy on a motorcycle that got his head rammed into the back of a semi. |
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Quoted: I thibk someone is going to fast when they change lanes every five seconds. After years of having a sticker on the back of my work truck that invited every dickhead running late to call and try to get me fired for being in there way, I drive slow and easy. As long as you are in the right hand lane, no one should ever have a problem with you. When folks do that in the left hand lane, they should be shot dead in front of their children as a message. |
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It's all about relative speed.
If everyone could drive 100mph then there won't even be problems. However, if you have people doing 55, 75, 95 then there will be issues. I think the people that drive a little faster are actually paying more attention to what's going on. The people that drive slow just can't handle driving in traffic and are scared and make rash decisions. My pet peeve are idiots that want to merge onto a busy interstate at 40 mph when everyone is going at least 75mph +. Edit: Overall I really don't have much of a problem with Texas speed limits. The roads are built for it. Some 2 lane roads have 70mph speed limits. I-10 West of San Antonio has 80 mph speed limits. I really hate their night time speed limit though. |
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Simply put, higher speed equals longer braking distance and slower reaction time. WRONG!!!! Longer stopping distance, yes. Longer distance traveled during the same reaction time as at 60 MPH, yes... Slower reaction time... NO. Alcohol, drugs, and fatigue are about the only things that can do that. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Some roads are designed with certain speeds in mind. In all the worst possible vehicles that might come down that road. Would it be fair to say that what is safe and prudent in a semi-tractor might be ingloriously slow in a BMW 330i ZHP? Wasn't the national speed limit in 1957 75 mph? And that was in an all steel car with regular glass windows, no seat belts, drum brakes, and old shitty tires. Now we have traction control systems, rack and pinion steering, seat and lap belts, air bags, z rated tires, cut and drilled rotors with ceramic brake pads, automatic transmissions... Traffic laws do nothing for safety and everything for creating criminals out of law abiding citizens that are comfortable driving at higher speeds in certain ideal conditions. And I'll toss seat belt laws in that category too. |
| Not to mention that most people don't drive nearly as well as they think they do. I have never met a single person with a high performance car that wasn't capable of safely driving down a mountain at 200MPH at night in the snow. Not to mention that most peoples cars aren't nearly as good as they think they are, you do realize that the kid with the three foot wing on the trunk of his Civic really believes that not only is he an ace driver, but that the three foot wing, lowering springs and 22 inch wheels allow his car to defy not only speed limits but the very laws of nature? |
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If speeding were bad and dangerous then there would be no Germans left.
The Autobahn is statistically the safest road in the world, and they enforce the left lane is for passing only rule. They don't have dumb-asses creating a rolling roadblock causing other drivers to make more dangerous lane changes. |
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Quoted: It's all about relative speed. If everyone could drive 100mph then there won't even be problems. However, if you have people doing 55, 75, 95 then there will be issues. I think the people that drive a little faster are actually paying more attention to what's going on. The people that drive slow just can't handle driving in traffic and are scared and make rash decisions. My pet peeve are idiots that want to merge onto a busy interstate at 40 mph when everyone is going at least 75mph +. Edit: Overall I really don't have much of a problem with Texas speed limits. The roads are built for it. Some 2 lane roads have 70mph speed limits. I-10 West of San Antonio has 80 mph speed limits. I really hate their night time speed limit though. +1 |
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Roadways are designed with a certain speed in mind. The geometries involved are selected to for vehicles to travel over them safely at a certain speed. Yes, as with anything in engineering there is a factor of safety, but the point is they are not arbitrary, and in certain cases...are very important for you to follow.
Things other than geometry like traffic, frequency of intersections, type of access, accident history, lateral clearance etc also factor in to selecting an appropriate speed limit. Quoted:
If speeding were bad and dangerous then there would be no Germans left. The Autobahn is statistically the safest road in the world, and they enforce the left lane is for passing only rule. They don't have dumb-asses creating a rolling roadblock causing other drivers to make more dangerous lane changes. Incorrect, the Autobahn is designed for higher speeds, our highways are generally not. Also, driver population and attitude probably has something to do with it as well (this, while inconvenient is a reality and has to be taken into account by designers). For example: Did you know signal timings can be different in rural vs urban areas to allow people less familiar with traffic lights more time to react. |
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Because F = M x A Calculate your self... http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/Hbase/carcr2.html there is a fill in the blanks calculator at the bottom. So, take your weight, put it in there, then start changing the speed... and watch the change in the force exerted upon your body. When you reach the level of force you wish to impart on your body, and you really dont think you want to take any more than say... you know... 100 tons or so  ... thats about as fast as you should drive.
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Are you in control of your vehicle and otherwise driving safely (maintaining a suitable stopping distance, no weaving through lanes, etc)?
If you are, then great. If you're tailgating people, doing 20 over, and changing lanes every 10 seconds (without even using your turn signals), then your ass shouldn't be on the road. Thanks for ruining it for the rest of us. Also, for whomever brought up the Autobahn, Germany has much stricter standards for drivers licenses than we do in the States. Here, Mary Jane Rottencrotch can get a license after a 10 minute driving exam at the DMV, a multiple choice test, and 40 bucks in fees when she turns 16. Then she can hop in the SUV that her parents bought her and go on a killing spree because she's too fucking stupid to put down the cell phone and too inexperienced to handle the car. In Germany, you have to pay a couple grand to get a license and go through a few dozen hours of professional instruction. Comparing the German Autobahn to US driving conditions is not a valid comparison, because they have much stricter standards there. |
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Simple.
The majority of folks in the states don't DRIVE. They RIDE in a car while doing everything else possible, because they have become complacent with their and others safety while driving. I read a really well written piece that suggested that the safer you make a stretch of road, the more accidents you will have, because people here will always compensate for the perception of safety by multitasking and paying less attention. I have been in some countries that scare the crap out of me, but those folks can DRIVE, because they all but strap a helmet on when they start rolling, and all they do is pilot their vehicle. |
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Quoted:
If speeding were bad and dangerous then there would be no Germans left. The Autobahn is statistically the safest road in the world, and they enforce the left lane is for passing only rule. They don't have dumb-asses creating a rolling roadblock causing other drivers to make more dangerous lane changes. Neither did I see soccer mom putting on makeup while eating a chalupa, while turned 180 in her seat fiddling with junior in the backseat. Or business dad reading a newspaper, while smoking a cig, while brokering a deal over the phone. In Germany, that is. |
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You weren’t speeding. Speed limits are apparently determined like this…
Someone decides how fast a road can be driven assuming moderate traffic, decent weather, decent equipment, and with a sober and competent driver behind the wheel. But not everyone has decent equipment, the weather is often bad, and there are a lot of drunk, stoned, and incompetent drivers out there. So they reduce the speed by 10mph. Then they reduce it another 10mph because everyone drives 10mph over the posted limit anyway. That means the posted speed is 20mph below what the real speed limit is. (Residential areas are another matter. They should be driven at the posted speed or at 25mph, whichever is faster.) The posted speed is what’s known as “Dope Smoking Speed” or sometimes “Geezer Speed” because the only people that would willingly drive that slow are either stoned off their ass or they are escapees from the Alzheimer’s ward at the nursing home. Driving at or right below the posted speed is a good tip off to the cops that you are up to something. You’re either stoned, drunk and pretending to be stoned, have warrants out, have contraband in your trunk, or are on your way to avenge Pearl Harbor. Whatever the reason, you are someone the cops need to have a chat with. Speed limits are also a source of revenue enhancement. With the posted speed set so low the cops can just pull over anyone and ticket them. Unless they saw the cops first or fall into one of the above categories they will be driving above that speed. Remember, speeding tickets are not about safety, they are simply another tax that you randomly have to pay. This isn’t to say that all speeding tickets are simply revenue enhancement. Real speeding is called reckless driving and it is something you should never do. One unfortunate side effect of lower speeds is the fact that drivers who are stuck behind a stoner or geezer have the time to get bored. Bored drivers get distracted and start text messaging people or they take a nap. Neither one is a safe thing to do when driving. |
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Nissan Armada, 9 kids, 17 year old driver, crowded i-10, 100 MPH, only 3 were wearing seatbelt.
1 fatality,4 serious injuries, numerous broken bones, blood everywhere, and a bunch of traumatized 12-17 year old kids. It was like someone dragged a slab of beef across the highway. |
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Quoted:
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If speeding were bad and dangerous then there would be no Germans left. The Autobahn is statistically the safest road in the world, and they enforce the left lane is for passing only rule. They don't have dumb-asses creating a rolling roadblock causing other drivers to make more dangerous lane changes. Neither did I see soccer mom putting on makeup while eating a chalupa, while turned 180 in her seat fiddling with junior in the backseat. Or business dad reading a newspaper, while smoking a cig, while brokering a deal over the phone. In Germany, that is. The question was "Why is speeding bad?" Speeding is not bad if the conditions are right. What you are talking about are distracted drivers. They are not even the same thing. |
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Quoted:
See I agree with you all but I gotta be all fake and shit for this power point because if its not good enough my ssgt is going to give me a page 11 that fucker just another cock sucker on a power trip but oh well So you are admitting that you will do whatever you have to to keep your police/military job even if you don't agree with it. SSGT: "Ok Spyider, We need you to do some gun confinscations." |
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Pretty damn simple... if you are in a Cobra / Porsche / etc AND CAN HANDLE it, get it on... just watch out for the fucking soccer moms with 19 Big Mac's in their mouths while texting and tryiong to beat 5 illegitamate kids in the back seat.
The speed limit is nothing more than <1> a revenue generator <2> for the few turns that need caution. Common sense, which most lack, should be the limit. |
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Quoted:
You weren’t speeding. Speed limits are apparently determined like this… Someone decides how fast a road can be driven assuming moderate traffic, decent weather, decent equipment, and with a sober and competent driver behind the wheel. But not everyone has decent equipment, the weather is often bad, and there are a lot of drunk, stoned, and incompetent drivers out there. So they reduce the speed by 10mph. Then they reduce it another 10mph because everyone drives 10mph over the posted limit anyway. That means the posted speed is 20mph below what the real speed limit is. (Residential areas are another matter. They should be driven at the posted speed or at 25mph, whichever is faster.) The posted speed is what’s known as “Dope Smoking Speed” or sometimes “Geezer Speed” because the only people that would willingly drive that slow are either stoned off their ass or they are escapees from the Alzheimer’s ward at the nursing home. Driving at or right below the posted speed is a good tip off to the cops that you are up to something. You’re either stoned, drunk and pretending to be stoned, have warrants out, have contraband in your trunk, or are on your way to avenge Pearl Harbor. Whatever the reason, you are someone the cops need to have a chat with. Speed limits are also a source of revenue enhancement. With the posted speed set so low the cops can just pull over anyone and ticket them. Unless they saw the cops first or fall into one of the above categories they will be driving above that speed. Remember, speeding tickets are not about safety, they are simply another tax that you randomly have to pay. This isn’t to say that all speeding tickets are simply revenue enhancement. Real speeding is called reckless driving and it is something you should never do. One unfortunate side effect of lower speeds is the fact that drivers who are stuck behind a stoner or geezer have the time to get bored. Bored drivers get distracted and start text messaging people or they take a nap. Neither one is a safe thing to do when driving. I really would like to know where you got this information...what highway manual or set of standards it is from, what which states use such standards. Really, I'm not kidding. Please be specific. I'd like to further my knowledge, since this is a work related topic. |
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If speeding were bad and dangerous then there would be no Germans left. The Autobahn is statistically the safest road in the world, and they enforce the left lane is for passing only rule. They don't have dumb-asses creating a rolling roadblock causing other drivers to make more dangerous lane changes. Neither did I see soccer mom putting on makeup while eating a chalupa, while turned 180 in her seat fiddling with junior in the backseat. Or business dad reading a newspaper, while smoking a cig, while brokering a deal over the phone. In Germany, that is. The question was "Why is speeding bad?" Speeding is not bad if the conditions are right. What you are talking about are distracted drivers. They are not even the same thing. Let me translate: Speeding in and of itself is not bad. As proven by the capabilities of other countries to effectively navigate highways at speed, safely. Speeding HERE is bad because of the huge number of distracted drivers. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Some roads are designed with certain speeds in mind. In all the worst possible vehicles that might come down that road. Would it be fair to say that what is safe and prudent in a semi-tractor might be ingloriously slow in a BMW 330i ZHP? Wasn't the national speed limit in 1957 75 mph? And that was in an all steel car with regular glass windows, no seat belts, drum brakes, and old shitty tires. Now we have traction control systems, rack and pinion steering, seat and lap belts, air bags, z rated tires, cut and drilled rotors with ceramic brake pads, automatic transmissions... Traffic laws do nothing for safety and everything for creating criminals out of law abiding citizens that are comfortable driving at higher speeds in certain ideal conditions. And I'll toss seat belt laws in that category too.  |
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If speeding were bad and dangerous then there would be no Germans left. The Autobahn is statistically the safest road in the world, and they enforce the left lane is for passing only rule. They don't have dumb-asses creating a rolling roadblock causing other drivers to make more dangerous lane changes. Neither did I see soccer mom putting on makeup while eating a chalupa, while turned 180 in her seat fiddling with junior in the backseat. Or business dad reading a newspaper, while smoking a cig, while brokering a deal over the phone. In Germany, that is. The question was "Why is speeding bad?" Speeding is not bad if the conditions are right. What you are talking about are distracted drivers. They are not even the same thing. Let me translate: Speeding in and of itself is not bad. As proven by the capabilities of other countries to effectively navigate highways at speed, safely. Speeding HERE is bad because of the huge number of distracted drivers. So, police need to crack down on distracted drivers if they are also giving speeding tickets. Just a thought 
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See I agree with you all but I gotta be all fake and shit for this power point because if its not good enough my ssgt is going to give me a page 11 that fucker just another cock sucker on a power trip but oh well So you are admitting that you will do whatever you have to to keep your police/military job even if you don't agree with it. SSGT: "Ok Spyider, We need you to do some gun confinscations." Oh trust me, if it came time for martial law I would refuse and if I had to I would go UA. my oath is to protect the constitution of the United States of America, and if for whatever reason the government decides to make a decision that they want to get rid of our 2nd amendment that would be unconstitutional. In my terms they would be attacking the thing I took an oath for so that means I would have to... protect it and fight back if you catch my drift. |
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I used to speed a lot. On open highways or the interstate, and I'd go a little faster than the flow of traffic. If I had to use my phone, I'd have it plugged in to the car so it was hands free. If I had to eat, I got in the slow lane and did the speed limit until I finished. Rarely ate and drove on the interstate though. I've driven the same two cars since I started driving at 15 (I'm 19 now) and I know their limitations pretty well. Never wrecked any vehicle or gotten a ticket. I think it's all about the ability of the driver.. Some teenagers think they're invincible, I never have and never will because I've had four friends killed in car or motorcycle accidents and I really took those losses to heart.
I don't text, eat, mess around with my friends, talk on the phone, listen to the radio and try to change lanes all at the same time. I plan out what I'm doing when I drive. Now watch, since I said my piece I'll go and get a ticket and then wreck later tonight.
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All I am going to say is when you guys who drive really fast put the wrong guy in danger dont be surprised when some mother fucker haveing a bad day chases you down runs you off the road and draws down on your ass, or starts stalking you and finds out everything about you then goes from there weather its kill your dogs or beat the hell out of you.
Regardles of how safe you think you are at fast speed you really need to consider other peoples safety be it other drivers or someone who works/ lives near a road. I deal with this shit on a daily basis, thing is with my job chances are I can find you many days later at your home. |
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Quoted: All I am going to say is when you guys who drive really fast put the wrong guy in danger dont be surprised when some mother fucker haveing a bad day chases you down runs you off the road and draws down on your ass, or starts stalking you and finds out everything about you then goes from there weather its kill your dogs or beat the hell out of you. Regardles of how safe you think you are at fast speed you really need to consider other peoples safety be it other drivers or someone who works/ lives near a road. I deal with this shit on a daily basis, thing is with my job chances are I can find you many days later at your home. I believe this is why there is a right lane and a passing lane on most roads. You should NOT drive in the left lane, it is ONLY for passing and for emergency vehicles. If people would use this novel concept, "traffic" would refer to the flow of vehicles in one direction and not a line of pissed off drivers who need to get some place but joe blow has decided to own the left lane at 10 under the speed limit. |