Path: utzoo!lsuc!sickkids!dptcdc!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!dgp.toronto.edu!elf
From: elf@dgp.toronto.edu (Eugene Fiume)
Newsgroups: ont.general
Subject: Re: Highway Driving Rules
Message-ID: <8904281925.AA08164@explorer.dgp.toronto.edu>
Date: 28 Apr 89 19:25:15 GMT
References: <89Apr26.134028edt.9320@ois.db.toronto.edu> <440@bnr-fos.UUCP> <89Apr28.142013edt.9324@ois.db.toronto.edu>
Distribution: ont
Organization: University of Toronto, CSRI
Lines: 23

In article <89Apr28.142013edt.9324@ois.db.toronto.edu> jdd@db.toronto.edu ("John D. DiMarco") writes:
>
>North American roads are not designed for very high-speed traffic. Curves
>are too sharp, on/offramps are too short, grades are too steep, warning signs
>are too close to what they signify... The 401 is NOT designed like a German
>Autobahn (or so my uncle, who has driven in Germany, tells me).
>
You need roads that, in general, are fairly straight and that don't have
a lot of ramps.  I guess Highway 400 fits the bill in some stretches.
There are lots of fairly dangerous highways in Europe that have very high
speed limits.  Those along the coast in southern France and northern Italy
are good examples--great scenery, but if you turn your head for a split
second you'll go for a nice little tumble.  It's pretty common to go
150kph on those curvy roads and over 160 on the "real" autostrada's.
It's not safe, but it sure is fun.  It's a real exercise in humility
to be tooling along at your top speed of 170, say, in your nifty little
Lancia and be passed so quickly by someone in a real sports car that
you are actually sucked toward the passing lane.
-- 
Eugene Fiume
Dynamic Graphics Project
University of Toronto
elf@dgp.toronto.edu