Cops Step-up Thruway Speed Enforcement

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Cops Step-up Thruway Speed Enforcement

Posted: 3/28/2006 7:41:14 AM EDT

Cops Step-up Thruway Speed Enforcement

SLOATSBURG, N.Y. (1010 WINS) -- State police have stepped up enforcement along the New York State Thruway between Rockland and Orange counties since there have been three fatal accidents since February Seventh.

Although speeding was not considered to be a factor in two of the three accidents, police are looking for speeders, agressive drivers and improper lane changers. (Could that be because giving out tickets raises money for NYS??)

The state police patrols comes at the same time that Thruway engineers have determined the highway between Exits 15A in Sloatsburg and Exit 16 in Harriman is safe.

Thruway engineer Chris Waite says while a team was looking at sight distances, highway geometry, pavement conditions and guardrails, they noticed many drivers going too fast.

Nine people, including five children, have been killed near the Rockland-Orange border on the Thruway since February 7th.

Despite the accidents, the rate of deaths on the Thruway is well below the national average.

According to the most recent state Thruway Authority data, 2004 was the fifth-safest year in the highway's 50-year history. More than 281 million vehicles traveled on the 641-mile road in 2004.

There were 35 fatal accidents, resulting in 44 deaths.

The fatality rate, measured as deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, was zero-point-four, compared with the national rate of 1.44.

Posted: 3/28/2006 8:51:05 AM EDT

[#1]

Phil

I don't think the stepped up enforcement was the SP's idea. After all, none of the accidents were caused by speeding or anything like that.

In one accident, a dumb lady thought she had a flat so she stopped in the DRIVING LANE to check it out... whammo from behind.

In another, a trucker fell asleep (or had a heart attack) at the wheel, hit the center guardrail, traveled 1/4 mile until there was a turnaround opening in the guardrail, and sailed accross into oncoming traffic.

The reason for the stepped up partols is because of the POS rag of a "newspaper" the Times-Herald Record. In the interest in sensationalism, they are painting it out to be a "dangerous road" that is the cause of all this.

Just co-incidences, bad luck, and tragic fate.

Posted: 3/28/2006 9:04:51 AM EDT

[#2]

Nice! Now they will give tickets to all the poor bastards that travel that road everyday to get to work and already spend a fortune on gas and tolls.

Posted: 3/28/2006 11:46:04 AM EDT

[#3]

Quoted:
Phil

I don't think the stepped up enforcement was the SP's idea. After all, none of the accidents were caused by speeding or anything like that.

In one accident, a dumb lady thought she had a flat so she stopped in the DRIVING LANE to check it out... whammo from behind.

In another, a trucker fell asleep (or had a heart attack) at the wheel, hit the center guardrail, traveled 1/4 mile until there was a turnaround opening in the guardrail, and sailed accross into oncoming traffic.

The reason for the stepped up partols is because of the POS rag of a "newspaper" the Times-Herald Record. In the interest in sensationalism, they are painting it out to be a "dangerous road" that is the cause of all this.

Just co-incidences, bad luck, and tragic fate.

It is not worth the paper it is printed on. I could not take that Liberal rag any more. I cancelled my subscription late last year.

Posted: 3/28/2006 1:23:57 PM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
Cops Step-up Thruway Speed Enforcement

Does that mean they have to keep it under 90 mph?

Nothing like doing 70MPH and having people go by you like your standing still.

Posted: 3/28/2006 6:59:46 PM EDT

[#5]

NYSP using radar or moved up to laser?

I'm there all the time. wtf. btw, i believe the posted speed limit is 65. I'll check tomorrow.

Posted: 3/28/2006 7:28:06 PM EDT

[#6]

NYSP Troop T has Lasers. I work for the thruway authority in Syracuse and got to shoulder one one afternoon. Its just a rectangular box with a metal "stock" and a red dot on top.

Speaking from personal experience when they are doing setabelt/cell phone/regisration check's 85% of the time they let people off with a warning. They dont want to have to write tickets as much as you dont want to get a ticket. They get orders from the middle and do as they have to. Tickets are written when they run a file check and somebody has a felony bench warrant, is intoxicated, or has narcotics in the vehicle. IN the 5 years i have worked with the TWY and the hundreds of troopers i have met, i can honestly say that i have only met 2 where i walked away saying "shit, i hope that guy never pulls me over"

Its just another case of some state commisioner or legislator looking for good press by passing some "feel good" initiative or legislation.

Posted: 3/28/2006 8:41:43 PM EDT

[#7]

POS rag of a "newspaper" the Times-Herald Record

+1, not my favorite either

Posted: 3/28/2006 10:31:53 PM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
NYSP using radar or moved up to laser?

I'm there all the time. wtf. btw, i believe the posted speed limit is 65. I'll check tomorrow.

They are using lasers from your neck of the woods straight up to Albany and beyond. They have them on the Quickway also. BTW, the 65mph speed limit starts northbound just before the Ramapo rest stop. Southbound it ends just south of the Sloatsburg rest stop.

Posted: 3/29/2006 3:12:08 AM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
Nice! Now they will give tickets to all the poor bastards that travel that road everyday to get to work and already spend a fortune on gas and tolls.

Waitaminute! If you aren't breaking any laws you'll have no problems, but then again I see LOTS of drivers that the State Troopers miss on a daily basis. Trust me, there are way more assholes out on the roads than LEO's to catch them.

Posted: 3/29/2006 4:10:14 AM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Nice! Now they will give tickets to all the poor bastards that travel that road everyday to get to work and already spend a fortune on gas and tolls.

Waitaminute! If you aren't breaking any laws you'll have no problems, but then again I see LOTS of drivers that the State Troopers miss on a daily basis. Trust me, there are way more assholes out on the roads than LEO's to catch them.

\

Point taken, Wave. However, I think its wrong that they use this as an excuse to "crack down" when in both recent serious accidents there was no speeding or reckless driving. There are many people that live in Orange county that commute into the city. They are the ones that will accidently go 73 mph and will now get a ticket because of the "crackdown"

Posted: 3/29/2006 4:10:48 AM EDT

[#11]

Tell me why the LIE in Suffolk is a 55 zone. If your answer is for any other reason than to give tickets, you're wrong.

Posted: 3/29/2006 4:29:14 AM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:
Tell me why the LIE in Suffolk is a 55 zone. If your answer is for any other reason than to give tickets, you're wrong.

Its "for the children".

BTW +1

Posted: 3/29/2006 5:27:15 AM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Nice! Now they will give tickets to all the poor bastards that travel that road everyday to get to work and already spend a fortune on gas and tolls.

Waitaminute! If you aren't breaking any laws you'll have no problems, but then again I see LOTS of drivers that the State Troopers miss on a daily basis. Trust me, there are way more assholes out on the roads than LEO's to catch them.

Personally I think the single most important traffic law that needs to be enforced is the keep right except to pass regulation. Get the damn trucks out of the middle lane and the left lane open and you will cut reckless driving dramatically. It should also make catching speeders easier too if that’s a priority.
Rich V

Posted: 3/29/2006 8:19:42 AM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
Get the damn trucks out of the middle lane and the left lane open and you will cut reckless driving dramatically.

It's my experience that the overwhelming percentage of "truck accidents" aren't caused by the trucks themselves, but rather stupid car drivers that cut in front of them, with no realization of what they've done, or creep along in the middle forcing others to make evasive maneuvers. Most people have no clue what they do to trucks on a regular basis.

I think the highways are too crowded to institute real German style "drive right" laws. If you want to stop accidents, and more someone out of the middle lane, get the "put-put" "I feel safer here in the middle" drivers off to the side. THAT'S what I wish the troopers would do more of, like they did many years ago. Drive down the middle and get on the PA system moving those drivers over to the right where they belong. I do most of my driving in the right lane... away from the nuts on the left doing 30mph over, and less traffic and faster than those creeping along "safely" in the middle. Those same people the trucks have to get around.

Posted: 3/29/2006 8:39:17 AM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
Personally I think the single most important traffic law that needs to be enforced is the keep right except to pass regulation. Get the damn trucks out of the middle lane and the left lane open and you will cut reckless driving dramatically. It should also make catching speeders easier too if that’s a priority.
Rich V

New Yorks is poorly written when compared to that of other states.

Posted: 3/30/2006 5:36:51 AM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:
Nice! Now they will give tickets to all the poor bastards that travel that road everyday to get to work and already spend a fortune on gas and tolls.

Like someone else mentioned, they aren't just handing out tickets to everyone. The article mentioned, in addition to speeding, that they would target aggressive drivers and improper lane changers as well. This means all the ROAD RAGERS out there who don't bother to signal, those who run one car-length off someone's rear bumper at 80 MPH, and the ones who like to exit from the fast lane because they were on the phone (which is illegal in NY).

It's pretty much understood that you can do 70 all day and the Troopers won't give you a second glance. Start pushing this upper limit and it's just a matter of time before you cause a wreck or get a citation. I can't count the number of times I have been going 65-70 and a whole string of cars passes at speeds in excess of 80 MPH tailgating each other as if they're drafting the high banking at Darlington or something... sometimes while reading a magazine. A lot of them are SUVs, too; not the best-handling vehicles for high-speed maneuvers (not to mention questionable driver skill level...).

Maybe it IS about time they start cracking down. It's really getting out of hand.

Posted: 3/30/2006 1:00:24 PM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
Trust me, there are way more assholes out on the roads than LEO's to catch them.

That's the sad truth.

Like the asshole who stopped dead in the middle lane with his right turn signal on because he'd almost driven past his exit. I don't know how that didn't end in a plie-up.

Posted: 3/30/2006 9:54:19 PM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
Tell me why the LIE in Suffolk is a 55 zone. If your answer is for any other reason than to give tickets, you're wrong.

Really, I usually get to park on the LIE.

Posted: 3/31/2006 1:23:17 AM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Trust me, there are way more assholes out on the roads than LEO's to catch them.

That's the sad truth.

Like the asshole who stopped dead in the middle lane with his right turn signal on because he'd almost driven past his exit. I don't know how that didn't end in a plie-up.

Preach it Sister! What the hell ever happened to "missed your exit, take the next one and backtrack"?

Idiots zoom along in th efast lane and cut across all three to zoom into an exit.

Also, plus one on "contributing to your own demise"...while tragic, the dummy was driving along and stops IN THE RIGHT LANE to "inspect" a suspected flat!!??!?!? I drive the area regularly..there are flat shoulders on both sides fer chrissake....This was Darwinism, sadly her kids got killed too.

Posted: 3/31/2006 3:09:33 AM EDT

[#20]

Apparently Somebody handed out a pile of cash for Speed Enforcement patrols.

They are all over the I-81 corridor also , and even the locals here along the NY -PA border
are gettin in the act

Posted: 3/31/2006 3:56:37 AM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Tell me why the LIE in Suffolk is a 55 zone. If your answer is for any other reason than to give tickets, you're wrong.

Really, I usually get to park on the LIE.

If I could get out of work when the rest of the world does I could be stuck in traffic too but instead I find wide open lanes when I take the LIE.

Posted: 3/31/2006 5:49:42 AM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:
Tell me why the LIE in Suffolk is a 55 zone. If your answer is for any other reason than to give tickets, you're wrong.

If you are doing under 70 on the LIE you usually will not get a ticket. Unless you are driving like an ass or you are driving a flashy car that sticks out. I agree Phil_A_Steen they should raise the speed limit on the LIE to 65 from exit 68 on out at least. There is probably some law on population densitiy or something that prevents it.

One thing I would highly recommend is the V1. It is the best radar detector you can buy. I may be expensive but it is a lot cheaper than a speeding ticket and your insurance going up.

Great site to check out on radar detectors and other stuff is Radar Busters. It is run by a retired LEO. They also sell Blinder Laser Jammers. These things actually work. I think you have to be in an area where there is a lot of laser to justify the expense.

Disclaimer... this post and the above links in no way endorse speeding. They are intended for information purposes only!

Posted: 3/31/2006 6:25:41 AM EDT

[#23]

I see people on the LIE routinely get tickets for going 70. Further, I see about 1 SCPD or NCPD unit per every other mile on the LIE. And lastly, they all use laser, against which the V1 is defenseless.

Posted: 3/31/2006 7:12:59 AM EDT

[#24]

I've been driving the stretch of the thruway from Harriman to Tarrytown almost daily for almost the last 12 years and it seems the latest crackdown is concentrating on the Northbound side. Every morning this week at around 7:15 there are 2 troopers with someone pulled over almost at the exact spot where 2 of the 3 fatal traffic accidents occurred.

In my experience, this stretch, at least the part from Harriman to the Sloatsburg rest stop has been pretty safe in that there are no on/off ramps the entire stretch of about 15 to 18 miles. There's no traffic trying to merge on or slowing down to get off. For the most part traffic just flows along nicely at 70 to 75 with the occasional jerk doing 80+ but it seems most just move over and let them go.

Whisky19

Posted: 3/31/2006 2:11:27 PM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:
I see people on the LIE routinely get tickets for going 70. Further, I see about 1 SCPD or NCPD unit per every other mile on the LIE. And lastly, they all use laser, against which the V1 is defenseless.

Phil_A_Steen,
Check out the link in my above post for the Blinder laser jammer. They work great but they are not cheap! Or spray paint your car with the same paint they use on the B2 bomber

Posted: 3/31/2006 2:57:48 PM EDT

[#26]

I have a buddy who swears by the Blinder. I may have to shell out for one to test it.

Posted: 4/1/2006 1:19:25 PM EDT

[#27]

Quoted:
I see people on the LIE routinely get tickets for going 70. Further, I see about 1 SCPD or NCPD unit per every other mile on the LIE. And lastly, they all use laser, against which the V1 is defenseless.

Are you sure they use laser in LI? In my experience, I have only picked up only KA band radar in LI. Its been a while since I used my Passport x50 www.escortradar.com/x50.htm so Im just wondering. I can detect laser but its almost impossible to avoid without a jammer.

Posted: 4/1/2006 1:27:18 PM EDT

[#28]

Very sure it's laser, I see the cops aiming it from their cars. It looks totally different than radar and it's held differently.

Posted: 4/1/2006 7:40:58 PM EDT

[#29]

Quoted:
Very sure it's laser, I see the cops aiming it from their cars. It looks totally different than radar and it's held differently.

Phil_A_Steen,
Do you have a radar/laser detector now? I have the V1 and mostly see Ka which is from the hand held gun. I don't get to many laser hits on the LIE. But I usually drive in traffic and rarely see speed enforcement. In NJ there are TONS of State Police with laser everywhere. If you do have a detector make it is mounted up high by the rear view mirror.