Videos Of Why I Dont Like to Ride on Street

[SunFlower]

i hope these guys got hurt badly.....

http://tunertrader.vidiac.com/video/ff569167-74eb-4dfc-9e5f-984600d843a8.htm

watch how close this guy comes to hitting the motorcyclist....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddf_Vmt9U5A&NR

[Blue Order]

I blame the cops. If the cops were doing *their* job, these guys wouldn't be out there.

[SunFlower]

I blame the cops. If the cops were doing *their* job, these guys wouldn't be out there.

i blame the people driving their cars in a reckless manner. Besides, if a cop gives a ticket then the motorists are just back doing it again. tickets dont bother idiots.

[deputyjones]

i blame the people driving their cars in a reckless manner. Besides, if a cop gives a ticket then the motorists are just back doing it again. tickets dont bother idiots.

I understand Blue Order's frustration, but feel his/her (?) anger is directed in the wrong place. Sunflower is exactly correct here. This quote by Blue Order in another post is more appropriate, "First a teenager texting, now a teenager downloading ring tones. WHEN are our legislators going to take distracted driving seriously?"

Even writing them enough tickets that they lose their license does not work, and that takes 3, 4 maybe 5 times that they are ticketed. I arrest someone almost every shift for driving on a suspended license.

[kill.cactus]

Don't go out and blame the cops without knowing the area. You'd be right when considering some of the many places with too little traffic patrolling, however usually it is just the stupidity and recklessness of the drivers at hand.

[Bikepacker67]

I think the auto industry is culpable....

All those "Professional Driver Closed Track" disclaimers, while their latest coupe races through a crowded cityscape at 70MPH.

[deputyjones]

I think the auto industry is culpable....

All those "Professional Driver Closed Track" disclaimers, while their latest coupe races through a crowded cityscape at 70MPH.
I agree. I just had a conversation with a colleague last night about how ridiculous it is that we as a nation spend so much time and money on "traffic safety" when our cars are continually designed to go faster and faster on roads that cannot handle the speed. You can buy mini-vans now that are governed at 110 MPH.

Also, the government as a whole and NHTSA more specifically bare a lot of blame as well. The whole traffic system in this country is out of whack, and of course instead of making practical, logical choices we just throw money at the issue. I recently returned from the NL where they have very few officers doing any type of traffic enforcement involving cars. The road systems are designed well, and they use technology like cameras, etc. to enforce speed.

[Blue Order]

I understand Blue Order's frustration, but feel his/her (?) anger is directed in the wrong place. Sunflower is exactly correct here. This quote by Blue Order in another post is more appropriate, "First a teenager texting, now a teenager downloading ring tones. WHEN are our legislators going to take distracted driving seriously?"

Even writing them enough tickets that they lose their license does not work, and that takes 3, 4 maybe 5 times that they are ticketed. I arrest someone almost every shift for driving on a suspended license.When Blue Order was younger, he received that letter from the California DMV-- my license was suspended, and please send it in. Four speeding tickets will do that. Well, I hadn't taken the driver's course yet, so I took it, and got one of the tickets removed, and thus, kept my license. Between the fines I couldn't really afford to pay, and the near loss of my license, I straightened myself out.

That's why "I blame the cops." I know from experience that young people like to take powerful cars (and motorcycles) out and drive them fast. And the cops know it too. If these guys still have licenses, it's because they haven't been ticketed enough, and that's something the Police Departments can do if they have the will.**

But realistically, how many Police Departments enforce the speed limits? Think about it, the "speed limit" means that the posted speed is maximum speed allowed. And yet most drivers treat that as the minimum speed allowed. When I drive the speed limit, other drivers are annoyed because I'm impeding their travel. From my observation, the average speed tends to be about 20 MPH over the speed limit. there's a tolerance for mass disregarding of the maximum speed limit, and that tolerance begins with the law enforcement agencies. If they were doing their jobs, people would slow down.


**EDIT: The courts are to blame as well; everybody knows you can plead your fine down on the rare occasion when you do get caught.

[Blue Order]

Even writing them enough tickets that they lose their license does not work, and that takes 3, 4 maybe 5 times that they are ticketed. I arrest someone almost every shift for driving on a suspended license.I think that's another thing the courts have to take seriously. Our society seems to have developed the notion that driving is a right, rather than a privilege. The way to change that, in my opinion, is to enforce the traffic laws, to take away driving privileges for serious or multiple violations, and to start handing out jail time for driving while suspended. Or maybe, alternatively, make driving while suspended grounds for a long term, maybe even permanent loss of driving privileges.

[CrosseyedCrickt]

Count me amongst those that blame the auto industry. Every add tells our kids that the faster they go the more blow jobs they'll get... maybe not in those exact words but you get the point. Why make a car that can travel at those speeds? What I find funny is that the cars marketed towards our mothers for toting children around come with over 200HP and can travel 150mph... why??? Talk about a waste of money, no wonder this entire area is going to hell and every place is shutting down. bleh!

[deputyjones]

Julia Rietz (the Prosecutor), shame on you! Shame, shame shame. I'm a graduating law student, and *I* could have made the case for "willful and wanton behavior." Time to find a more suitable career, Ms. Rietz.

Is another quote of yours from that same post. I am glad to see that you are a spirited new lawyer. You will need much of that idealism and fervor in your chosen profession.

To address some points from your posts here:

That's why "I blame the cops." I know from experience that young people like to take powerful cars (and motorcycles) out and drive them fast. And the cops know it too. If these guys still have licenses, it's because they haven't been ticketed enough, and that's something the Police Departments can do if they have the will.**
I work in an area of about 50 square miles with a population of about 50,000 people that is patrolled by 3 cops overnight. I work a 12 hour shift with an average 12-15 calls for service a night and drive 100 miles a night. I write as many tickets to unsafe drivers as I can, but I am too busy and there is too much area to be everywhere at once. If the legislature or DMV/SOS took the violations more seriously it would not take 4 tickets to the same person to see action taken.

Or maybe, alternatively, make driving while suspended grounds for a long term, maybe even permanent loss of driving privileges.
This is already the case, but if they are already driving suspended what will suspending them for longer do?

Ah well, the rest of your post is mostly generalizations based on where you live that do not apply everywhere, and from someone who has lived in CT, MI, TX, CO and FL they are not true in most places.

EDIT: BTW, I don't disagree with you about the problem just the solution. Maybe someday when you are a legislator you can fix it because if you are going to do it through enforcement it will take a LOT more money.

[Blue Order]

Well, I'm glad to see you're out there doing what you can, Deputy Jones. I agree, the legislatures aren't making enforcement a priority.

[Treespeed]

Blue Order, first off, please no speaking about yourself in the third person, really annoying.
And you seriously blame the police for not busting these kids, really? Do you blame the security guard at the mall if they don't keep you from shoplifting?

Looks like one of the canyon roads in Los Angeles to me. Do you have any idea how many miles of roads there are down here and what kind of limited resources the cops have to keep everything under control down here, not to mention in every other city where the rule of the day is budget cuts. You seriously think with gangs and drugs that the priority of the cops should be traffic? It looks like you want to spread all sorts of blame around, do you want to pay the taxes that would have a cop at every corner of every road.

[fordfasterr]

aha !

The mark of the devil rears its head again ...


Here is an idea...


Insert a subdermal chip into people who are banned from driving... all new cars would have a sensor that scans for the specific code in the chip and then allows/disallows the person from starting the car when sitting in the drivers seat.

=)

YESH !!!!!

LOL << I bet someone will call me a communist now... Jeebus, I hate communists !!!!!!

[San Rensho]

If we are talking about stupid kids going fast, one effective, but not very practical solution is to take the kids out to a race track.

In my old age, I got a Ducati and was blasting around a little. After I went to the track and saw how fast you can go around corners and how far over the bikes leans, and also, how easy it is to crash (I did, but I was on a track with nothing to hit, just slid, so no injury), I really calmed down on the street because I had nothing to prove, I had gone much faster on the track than I ever could on the street.

[MarkS]

Why make a car that can travel at those speeds? What I find funny is that the cars marketed towards our mothers for toting children around come with over 200HP and can travel 150mph... why??? Talk about a waste of money, no wonder this entire area is going to hell and every place is shutting down. bleh!Yes, yes, yes. +10
And I'm sure we've all noticed that car adds always show the vehicle shooting around corners on a nearly abandoned mountain road -- not stuck in bumper to bumper traffic. I don't want that car -- I want that road.

[derath]

I hope you don't drive on the road either, cause you are more likely to be in the accident with those kids that way.

Or walk on the sidewalk, cause they could just as easily swerve right onto the sidewalk during that as well.

I suggest a job where you can work from home and get a grocery deliery service. That way you should be able to just stay home. The only way to truly be safe. Well, you might want to turn off the utilities too, they could start a fire...


-D

[genec]

I think the auto industry is culpable....

All those "Professional Driver Closed Track" disclaimers, while their latest coupe races through a crowded cityscape at 70MPH.

+10

I tend to agree... make the car harder to drive, not easier, and folks will pay more attention.

[GGDub]

I'm surprised no one has pointed this out:

"3 civic Hatches street racing and 2 of them crashes."

I think it gives you an idea of how much glue they sniffed in kindergarten.

Don't worry, Darwin will sort them out, either in the form of dying while mounting a rocket to their "hatches" or using the butt of a loaded handgun to pound nails into a two-by-four.

[slowandsteady]

I blame the roads and the scenery. I mean if the roads weren't so much fun to drive on, people wouldn't be driving so fast.

Come on now people! The drivers are responsible for their actions and no one else.

But, let's face it people enjoy driving fast and aggressively. That will never go away. So why not create an outlet for that desire for fun? I am sure plenty of people would love to pay for a few laps around a curvy banked track.

[Pippin]

Yes, let's blame someone else for the actions of idiots. Being responsible for ones own actions---there's a concept.

[genec]

That's why "I blame the cops." I know from experience that young people like to take powerful cars (and motorcycles) out and drive them fast. And the cops know it too.


Seems to me a bit part of the problem (besides the immature attitude of "the young people") is the "powerful cars."

No one has ever realistically been able to tell me why cars are designed to do well over 100+MPH when the national speed limits pretty much peak at 70MPH. And why does anyone ever need to do 0-60 in 6 seconds or less... other that to waste fuel?


But realistically, how many Police Departments enforce the speed limits? Think about it, the "speed limit" means that the posted speed is maximum speed allowed. And yet most drivers treat that as the minimum speed allowed. When I drive the speed limit, other drivers are annoyed because I'm impeding their travel. From my observation, the average speed tends to be about 20 MPH over the speed limit. there's a tolerance for mass disregarding of the maximum speed limit, and that tolerance begins with the law enforcement agencies. If they were doing their jobs, people would slow down.



That whole issue of "impeding travel" because you are doing the posted speed limit just makes no sense. Sorry, but if you are at or just under the speed limit and everyone is passing you... they are wrong, not you.

[genec]

I'm surprised no one has pointed this out:

"3 civic Hatches street racing and 2 of them crashes."

I think it gives you an idea of how much glue they sniffed in kindergarten.

Don't worry, Darwin will sort them out, either in the form of dying while mounting a rocket to their "hatches" or using the butt of a loaded handgun to pound nails into a two-by-four.

Yeah but along the way they might also take out a few of our two wheeled brothers and sisters. And no doubt some idiot judge will then sentence them to a "harsh" 6 weeks of civic duty.

[Shiznaz]

People invloved in street racing should have their licenses revoked permanently, and have any injury caused by their reckless driving count as a felony offense. If you are robbing a store and accidentally kill someone it counts as murder. It should be the same when breaking the laws of the road and killing or injuring someone.

[SunFlower]

People invloved in street racing should have their licenses revoked permanently, and have any injury caused by their reckless driving count as a felony offense. If you are robbing a store and accidentally kill someone it counts as murder. It should be the same when breaking the laws of the road and killing or injuring someone.

same for drunk drivers

[Shiznaz]

same for drunk drivers

I certainly agree, although there has at least been alot of lobbying to make drunk driving a more serious offense, and it has been working, but its one of those things thats hard to stop, because it impairs judgement. You could say the same thing about street racing, they let their testosterone impair their judgment. Or maybe they just have permanently impaired judgement.

Either way, reckless driving and racing, as well as inattentive driving, need to be attacked like MADD and other groups did with drunk driving. I really hope that 'Matt's Law' (in relation to the ring tone tragedy) gets alot of exposure and helps to change our views on inattentive driving, then at least his death would not be meaningless.

The main problem is the burden of proof. With drinking and driving a breathalizer can prove almost without doubt that a person was driving under the influence. Also an impaired driver remains impaired their whole journey. You can't do a blood test for racers or inattentive drivers, or most of the time even catch them, as most people only race or stop paying attention for a fraction of their journey. Without evidence there can be no punishment.

There have already been too many tragedies because of street racing. Its such a waste.

[genec]

Is there a proposed Matt's Law?

[San Rensho]

I certainly agree, although there has at least been alot of lobbying to make drunk driving a more serious offense, and it has been working, but its one of those things thats hard to stop, because it impairs judgement. You could say the same thing about street racing, they let their testosterone impair their judgment. Or maybe they just have permanently impaired judgement.

Either way, reckless driving and racing, as well as inattentive driving, need to be attacked like MADD and other groups did with drunk driving. I really hope that 'Matt's Law' (in relation to the ring tone tragedy) gets alot of exposure and helps to change our views on inattentive driving, then at least his death would not be meaningless.

The main problem is the burden of proof. With drinking and driving a breathalizer can prove almost without doubt that a person was driving under the influence. Also an impaired driver remains impaired their whole journey. You can't do a blood test for racers or inattentive drivers, or most of the time even catch them, as most people only race or stop paying attention for a fraction of their journey. Without evidence there can be no punishment.

There have already been too many tragedies because of street racing. Its such a waste.

In most states it is a felony to cause serious bodily injury to another while driving drunk. http://www.flsenate.gov/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0316/SEC193.HTM&Title=->2006->Ch0316->Section%20193#0316.193

[trackhub]

Count me amongst those that blame the auto industry. Every add tells our kids that the faster they go the more blow jobs they'll get...

I think you have a valid point. Police can write ticket after ticket, and it won't change the behavior of these types of idiots. Police cannot change the way people think. The auto industry does get a piece of the blame pie, but there are plenty of pieces to go around. The biggest piece goes to the drivers.

You must also remember that most young males are controlled by hormones, not grey cells. ("Search your feelings, you know it to be true!")

Hot-headed young females (I've dubbed them "Honda Chicks") have gotten a lot more aggressive with their cars, but their numbers are nowhere near that of young aggressive males.

In Massachusetts, the un-official state race track is I-95, from peabody to the NH border. It's wide, and it's almost perfectly straight it's entire distance. It was built in the 60's, to accommodate the high volume of weekend traffic, heading up to New Hampshire and Maine. It has become synonymous with deadly drivers. State police are overwhelemed with drivers, ususally hot-shot young males, driving and racing at speeds over 100 MPH. Often, they pull over the same drivers again and again. In this state, it's difficult to lose a license permanently, and there are plenty of lawyers just waiting to get it back for you. (For a good sized wad of cash, of course.)

[Blue Order]

Blue Order, first off, please no speaking about yourself in the third person, really annoying.Well, aren't you special.

If i must explain, Blue Order was speaking in the third person because he was asked his gender....

And you seriously blame the police for not busting these kids, really? Do you blame the security guard at the mall if they don't keep you from shoplifting? If the security guard was hanging out at the fast food place flirting with the cute new cashier, and everybody knew they could shoplift with impunity because he wasn't out looking for shoplifters, yes, I'd blame the security guard.

Think of it another way. How many accounts have we read here or elsewhere where a bicyclist is assaulted or cutoff or nearly run down by a blatantly illegal move, and the cops decline to ticket. Do you think the motorist in question is entirely to blame for a society in which it is safe to blatantly violate the law?

Looks like one of the canyon roads in Los Angeles to me. Do you have any idea how many miles of roads there are down here and what kind of limited resources the cops have to keep everything under control down here, not to mention in every other city where the rule of the day is budget cuts. You seriously think with gangs and drugs that the priority of the cops should be traffic? It looks like you want to spread all sorts of blame around, do you want to pay the taxes that would have a cop at every corner of every road.Do you seriously believe that the average cop fights gangs and drugs?

[Blue Order]

People invloved in street racing should have their licenses revoked permanently, and have any injury caused by their reckless driving count as a felony offense. If you are robbing a store and accidentally kill someone it counts as murder. It should be the same when breaking the laws of the road and killing or injuring someone.Even writing them enough tickets that they lose their license does not work, and that takes 3, 4 maybe 5 times that they are ticketed. I arrest someone almost every shift for driving on a suspended license.do you want to pay the taxes that would have a cop at every corner of every road. If we can't have a cop on every corner, people will play a numbers game and risk the occasional fine. And some people continue to play a numbers game, and drive while suspended. So maybe we need to get creative with enforcement. Generally, I don't approve of this solution, but....

Get caught driving a certain amount over the limit-- say more than 25 MPH over the limit-- and your car is forfeited, sold at police auction, and the proceeds go into paying for traffic enforcement. Get caught driving while suspended, same thing. Young street racers who are willing to pay the occasional fine might be less willing to have their cars forfeited.

[chipcom]

RE: the subject line of the thread - how many of you actually let this keep you from riding on the roads?

[Blue Order]

RE: the subject line of the thread - how many of you actually let this keep you from riding on the roads?Not me.

I think if I were to pick out the single greatest hazard on the roads, it's the pampered wife in a massive sport ute, with her cell glued to her ear. The road's full of them.

And that doesn't keep me off the road either. I wish it would keep them off the road, though. There oughta be a law....

[derath]

RE: the subject line of the thread - how many of you actually let this keep you from riding on the roads?


IMO I am in much greater danger of a serious accident when I have to drive my car for work than on my bike.

-D

[bmclaughlin807]

I hope you don't drive on the road either, cause you are more likely to be in the accident with those kids that way.

Or walk on the sidewalk, cause they could just as easily swerve right onto the sidewalk during that as well.

I suggest a job where you can work from home and get a grocery deliery service. That way you should be able to just stay home. The only way to truly be safe. Well, you might want to turn off the utilities too, they could start a fire...


-D

Oh, I dunno... we just had two different news stories about people driving into other people's houses in just the last couple weeks.

[noisebeam]

wait a minute... advertising of alcohol on TV is severly limited and controlled. alcohol is blamed for 20-100k deaths per yr. in US (depending on if you count direct or indirect), motor vehicles cause 40k (inc. those involving alc.) in addition to the health problems they cause (pollution, maiming people for life) so why can't motor vehicle ads be severely restricted?

Why allow these adds showing behavior that would be illegal if on public streets but 'accepetable' because of fine print disclaimers. Would it be acceptable showing beer being chugged in excesss with a disclaimer at bottom of add 'these are actors are in a controlled enviroment and under dr. supervision'

Al

[derath]

wait a minute... advertising of alcohol on TV is severly limited and controlled. alcohol is blamed for 20-100k deaths per yr. in US (depending on if you count direct or indirect), motor vehicles cause 40k (inc. those involving alc.) in addition to the health problems they cause (pollution, maiming people for life) so why can't motor vehicle ads be severely restricted?

Why allow these adds showing behavior that would be illegal if on public streets but 'accepetable' because of fine print disclaimers. Would it be acceptable showing beer being chugged in excesss with a disclaimer at bottom of add 'these are actors are in a controlled enviroment and under dr. supervision'

Al

Ah c'mon. Do you honestly believe this kind of driving is due to commercials? People have been illegal road racing for decades upon decades. Heck I would bet they have been doing this back to the horseback riding days. It is in some people's nature.

Kinda like alchohol. Not many ads but it is still an epidemic in certain segments of the population.

-D

[Blue Order]

The ad doesn't give people ideas about how to behave. But it does glamorize certain behaviors, and is marketing the product to people who want to engage in those behaviors.

[Blue Order]

I remember seeing a sport ute ad not too long ago, an upscale sport ute is driving along a road and comes upon an accident or stalled car (can't remember which), and swerves around the other car before continuing on without even slowing. The ad was marketing the "safety" features of an SUV that could roll right around trouble in the road. I was appalled that somebody would swerve like that and keep driving. Somebody else must have been appallled to, because within a few weeks, they added a voiceover: "Let's go back and see if they're OK."

Manufacturers will do or say anything to get you to buy their product. If anti-social behavior triggers a backlash, they suddenly discover how to show "responsible" behavior.

[Cadfael]

I can remember seeing a video on YouTube of teens juvies in a car driving along the road and they thought it would be fun to drive by kids on bikes (and I do mean kids, 11-14) and spook them, either by screaming at them or pushing them. The bloke having the fun could not reach his target and opened the rear door to have a better reach and fell out of the car right under the wheels of an oncoming car.

It was a shocking video to see, but the first time I saw it I almost yelled in triumph to see him fall and 'be wasted'. As it happened he survived, but he spent years in hospital. I don't think he deserved what he got, but I also think the young kids had no reason to be spooked.

EDIT: I have tried to find the video on You-Tube, but it has either gone or my search criteria is a load of poo.

[pyze-guy]

That's why "I blame the cops." I know from experience that young people like to take powerful cars (and motorcycles) out and drive them fast. And the cops know it too. If these guys still have licenses, it's because they haven't been ticketed enough, and that's something the Police Departments can do if they have the will.**


Moronic.

I love the way society is headed, blame others for everything so we don't have to take responsibility for it. Funny, when I was young I had a car and didn't drive it fast. But then I actually took some responisibility for my own actions and didn't pass the buck to someone else. And what makes you the expert on what young kids do? Your own experience translates to all? I hope not.
What about the older people who drive powerful cars and motorcycles and drive them fast. Should they be ignored by the police because they are not young, why discriminate?

I blame the cops. If the cops were doing *their* job, these guys wouldn't be out there.

I never realized that ticketing speeders was *their* job. I guess all that other stuff they do, like oh I don't know, serve and protect stuff, was not actually their job. Wow.

[Falkon]

If we are talking about stupid kids going fast, one effective, but not very practical solution is to take the kids out to a race track.

In my old age, I got a Ducati and was blasting around a little. After I went to the track and saw how fast you can go around corners and how far over the bikes leans, and also, how easy it is to crash (I did, but I was on a track with nothing to hit, just slid, so no injury), I really calmed down on the street because I had nothing to prove, I had gone much faster on the track than I ever could on the street.
Yes. Once I started autocross, I really didn't have any need for speed on the surface streets. Since gas prices have been up, I've really had no reason. Yet, I live in a city where people like to floor it at every light and handle their vehicles in a dangerous manner even though most of them don't even know the limits of their vehicles. The two I mostly see are japanese compact cars driven by teenagers and SUV drivers. The SUV drivers that do drive recklessly make me more nervous, because most of them don't even know where half there behemoth is on the road.

[joejack951]

From personal experience, car ads have nothing to do with the desire to go street racing. A lot of it stems from boredom and a desire to one-up someone else by being faster. A large part of the influence is parents who drive fast as it seems fun while in the car with them and going even faster is more fun (provided you have the teenage never-gonna-die mentality).

I had a half healthy/unhealthy obsession with cars from the age of 16 until around 24 (I'm only 28 now). The healthy part was the desire to know how they worked and to repair and modify them. I learned a whole lot doing that and those skills come in handy for fixing just about anything. I also met a lot of great people and found some fun ways of making money (buying and selling parts). The unhealthy part was the desire to go fast and lacking the responsibility to not do it on public streets. It took two wrecks and one slap on the wrist speeding ticket (where I should have lost my license but got let off) before I figured out that public streets were not my playground. If I had to do it all over again, I'd still have let myself get involved with fast cars as it certainly kept me out of a lot of other troublesome things, but I wish my parents had taught me more responsible behavior on the street and encouraged me to taking my "racing" to the track.

I've since transferred all of that energy into bikes where repairing and modifying is just as much fun, plus a whole lot cheaper. I can also get my speed kicks but in general, doing so only affects me as the speeds are a fraction of what they used to be.

If I had to make recommendations on how to keep teenagers from doing stupid things in automobiles, first I'd suggest that those who are just driving their parents' cars or bought with their parents' money, go find some hobbies. You aren't learning anything just driving fast. For those who enjoy the mechanical complexity of cars, if going fast is your thing, find a local race track and go have fun there. For parents, your kids will drive like you only faster and with less regard for everyone else around them. If you don't want to find them in a hospital after a high speed wreck (BTDT), don't encourage it with your own driving.

[catatonic]

I used to be one of these a-holes, until I had to serve jury duty for a criminal case....it was a DUI (alochol/cocaine) manslaughter case, where a 16 year old was dragged in the wheelweel of his truck for over two blocks. Disgusting doesn't even begin to describe it. After seeing pics of what careless driving can do, it made me think twice about actions that threaten others like my old street-racerish ways.

Given, I was still a bad driver for a while, but I wasn't outright reckless....it takes a while to un-train yourself of bad habits sometimes.

The real fix here is keeping fast cars out of the hands of those who cannot use them responsibly. I think a 200hp limit for anyone without a racing license of some flavor is a great starting point. Many racing organizations will revoke your racing licenses if you are known for on-road infractions, so this is self-policing.....lose your race license, can't drive your sports car on the road. Get caught, car gets impounded, go drive your leaf-blower. I also think this should entail mandatory dyno-testing of cars at a state facility yearly. It would help to spot "modified" cars and deal with those accordingly.

At the least it would get rid of some of the cars here that are pushing at least 120 on wekeend nights.

[Wogsterca]

I agree. I just had a conversation with a colleague last night about how ridiculous it is that we as a nation spend so much time and money on "traffic safety" when our cars are continually designed to go faster and faster on roads that cannot handle the speed. You can buy mini-vans now that are governed at 110 MPH.

Also, the government as a whole and NHTSA more specifically bare a lot of blame as well. The whole traffic system in this country is out of whack, and of course instead of making practical, logical choices we just throw money at the issue. I recently returned from the NL where they have very few officers doing any type of traffic enforcement involving cars. The road systems are designed well, and they use technology like cameras, etc. to enforce speed.

It really comes down to VPH, or vehicles per hour, traffic engineers seem to be posessed on this one number, the easiest ways to raise this number is to increase speed, and to increase the number of lanes, and traffic engineers are happy with both. The problem is that roads can be designed well, for motor vehicle traffic or they can be designed well for people, these are mutually exclusive though. A road well designed for people, will accomodate pedestrians and cyclists without needing segregated facilities. A road well designed for motor vehicle traffic, will not accomodate anything else. Sounds like a lot of roads in the US, doesn't it?

[slowandsteady]

Seems to me a bit part of the problem (besides the immature attitude of "the young people") is the "powerful cars."

No one has ever realistically been able to tell me why cars are designed to do well over 100+MPH when the national speed limits pretty much peak at 70MPH. And why does anyone ever need to do 0-60 in 6 seconds or less... other that to waste fuel?



That whole issue of "impeding travel" because you are doing the posted speed limit just makes no sense. Sorry, but if you are at or just under the speed limit and everyone is passing you... they are wrong, not you.


Well, you obviously never had to merge into highway traffic(route 309 in PA specifically)with a car that had 90 hp. Sure you don't ever need to go 140 mph. But having more horsepower enables you to safely get up to highway speed in the short distance provided. Also assuming the speed limit is 70 and your car is designed to only go 80 you will be maxing that poor thing at near red line for the distance of your trip. Not a good idea.

[N_C]

First of all this is definatly a troll post. But I'm going to respond anyway. What does this have to do with cyclists & riding on the roadways? Where are the cyclists on bike in the video? Why show something in a&s this stupid if there were no cyclists involved? Why are you letting the bad habits of 2 motorists influence where you ride? BFD 2 moronic motorist/cagers are reckless. That should not keep you from riding on the roadway.

Why do you keep implying cycling is dangerous with these troll posts.

Maybe you should take up a "safer" sport, like golf. Then again maybe not, a golf cart might run you over or a ball might hit you in the head. :rolleyes:

This should be moved to Foo. Admins./mods, would you do the honors?

[sgtsmile]

Yes. Once I started autocross, I really didn't have any need for speed on the surface streets. Since gas prices have been up, I've really had no reason. Yet, I live in a city where people like to floor it at every light and handle their vehicles in a dangerous manner even though most of them don't even know the limits of their vehicles. The two I mostly see are japanese compact cars driven by teenagers and SUV drivers. The SUV drivers that do drive recklessly make me more nervous, because most of them don't even know where half there behemoth is on the road.

Autocross is a gas yes, every try car rallying? I think it is much more fun:) (much more costly too :( )

I get my speed kicks off road on my mtn bike. Nothing like ripping down a trail at over 40kmph that is only about 20 inches wide to make you yell yehaa....

[joejack951]

Well, you obviously never had to merge into highway traffic(route 309 in PA specifically)with a car that had 90 hp. Sure you don't ever need to go 140 mph. But having more horsepower enables you to safely get up to highway speed in the short distance provided. Also assuming the speed limit is 70 and your car is designed to only go 80 you will be maxing that poor thing at near red line for the distance of your trip. Not a good idea.

Where on 309 is the speed limit anywhere near 70? The freeway-style section near the Turnpike is between 45 and 55mph (can't remember exactly). I've driven I76 around Philly in a 1 liter, 3 cylinder Geo Metro. It's all about timing. If you have to fall back on power, you aren't doing it right :)

[genec]

Well, you obviously never had to merge into highway traffic(route 309 in PA specifically)with a car that had 90 hp. Sure you don't ever need to go 140 mph. But having more horsepower enables you to safely get up to highway speed in the short distance provided. Also assuming the speed limit is 70 and your car is designed to only go 80 you will be maxing that poor thing at near red line for the distance of your trip. Not a good idea.

But the only reason it is an "issue" is because all the other cars out there are not 90HP vehicles, so of course it is a "problem." Now imagine if cars were designed not to satisfy egos, but as true economical transportation... and everyone had about 90HP or less. And ads on TV did not go "Zoom Zoom," but discussed in earnest the milage one got, and how far you could go between fill ups...

Imagine that autos only went 70MPH vice 140MPH... then suddenly it would be quite easy to merge onto your "route 309," as everyone would be moving at about the same speed, and have about the same acceleration. A great example are European cities; places like France, or Spain, where folks drive little 4 banger diesel cars that have about 90HP or so.

But instead, here in the US, autos are about egos, and horsepower, and burning natural resources is the national pasttime... We are ADDICTED to oil.

BTW regarding that 90HP merging issue... I used to drive a VW campervan... so don't talk to me about "never had to merge on a hiway with a power limited vehicle." :rolleyes: