Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site pyuxa.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!eagle!mhuxl!mhuxm!pyuxww!pyuxa!wetcw From: wetcw@pyuxa.UUCP (T C Wheeler) Newsgroups: net.followup Subject: Re: Fast driving Message-ID: <490@pyuxa.UUCP> Date: Fri, 13-Jan-84 11:34:03 EST Article-I.D.: pyuxa.490 Posted: Fri Jan 13 11:34:03 1984 Date-Received: Mon, 16-Jan-84 01:40:55 EST References: <3617@hp-pcd.UUCP> <603@dciem.UUCP>, <740@ut-sally.UUCP> Organization: Central Services Org., Piscataway N.J. Lines: 61 Hoorah for Prentiss, My sentiments exactly. Here in N. J., the Garden State Parkway is becoming a disaster waiting to happen. Every morning, the general traffic pattern moves at a steady 65 to 70. However, for every 50 autos moving at the steady pace, there is one who is doing 80 or better, zipping from lane to lane, in and out of small holes, zapping the brakes, and generally causing havoc. Just when you get a nice interval between yourself and the car in front of you, one of these idiots flies up on the right and screws it up. Of course, none of these dim-wits has a CB so you can at least yell at him/her. After the last snowstorm, there was a 1-inch coating of ice over most of the highway and it was necessary to creep in some spots, never getting over 35 mph. Ice, notwithstanding, the same nuts came flying up the fast lane doing 50 to 60. At least four of them went off the road and did I gloat. Several others found themselves spang up the tailpipes of other vehicles. Using the highways as their own special racetrack, many of these wierdos cause more problems than they think they are solving. There are times and places where fast driving might be excused, but, the following list of times and places cannot be excused and violators should have the book thrown at them. 1. Residential areas at all times. 2. Commuter highways during rush hours 3. During rainstorms. 4. Under ice conditions 5. At night. The excuse that "My car can stop faster than your car......" is a bunch of horse puckey. The stopping distances for cars is established using ideal road conditions (dry, straight, no other traffic), professional drivers, and newly adjusted brake systems. None of these conditions exist in the real world, especially under the 5 points given above. Further, when you throw in the tailgating habits of most of the rabid speeders, you throw all sembelance of safety out the window. For those of you who seem to think speeding (excessive) is your god given right, I invite you to do it any time you want to, as long as you don't do it under the conditions listed above. Or, better yet, go out to Utah and get it all out of your system on the Flats. Doing stupid things when other people may be affected is not the sign of a good driver. Any fool can push an accelerator to the floor, it takes someone with brains to know when to ease off. So, any of you who get into trouble for speeding, don't come crying to the net. Most highway patrols and police departments overlook speeding (reasonable) when the conditions permit, but heaven help you if the conditions are wrong and your caught. In New Jersey, a driver can be cited for speeding if the patrolman thinks that the conditions do not permit higher speeds. That is, if it is dark and raining, and most of the traffic is moving at 40 mph, a person can be cited for going 50 mph, EVEN IF THE POSTED SPEED IS 55 mph. On the other hand, they will often overlook speeding (65-70) when the conditions permit. Most often, this is during rush hours when it is necessary to keep the traffic moving on the commuter highways. They will still, however, pick out the nuts doing 70 to 80 and pull them over. The laws concerning speeding are not there to harass you, they are designed to protect the other guy from your stupidity.