I looked in the mirror & saw the police following

Golfgar4 · Aug 12, 2004

Stephen,

I know you realized that you said deserved the ticket, why would you be angry about getting stopped?

Sure, no one wants to get a ticket. But by your own admission, you were day dreaming and didn't even realize that you were speeding. Operating a vehicle in traffic is no place to be day dreaming. I know it's hard to avoid sometimes. I'm as gulity as anyone else.

But you should've been happy the officer stopped you. He may have just saved your, or someone else's, life. And I bet you weren't day dreaming anymore after your conversation with him. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif I just hope you weren't steaming mad either, because that can be even worse.

What you should have done was thank the officer for what he did, which would have been very hard to do. I know! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

cowboydoc · Aug 12, 2004

no one will ever be able to convince me that speed is any more dangerous than someone doing 60 on a interstate posted 65 

I won't disagree with you about the 60 part but I sure do on the speed part. The interstates are getting ridiculously dangerous in my opinion. You have people going 65-70 and then people going 75-85. This creates constant land changing, tailgating, cut ins, cut outs. If you're in a car not as big of a deal but try hauling a 40' horse trailer with a one ton dually and these idiots out there zooming in and around you while you're trying to keep safe distances, etc. I've been driving horses and cattle up and down the interstates for 20 some years now and it is getting worse and the fast drivers are very dangerous. Just my opinion from the standpoint of driving a truck and trailer not trying to convince you otherwise.

MicroPilot · Aug 12, 2004

( no one will ever be able to convince me that speed is any more dangerous than someone doing 60 on a interstate posted 65 )

( I won't disagree with you about the 60 part but I sure do on the speed part. ....You have people going 65-70 and then people going 75-85. This creates constant land changing, tailgating, cut ins, cut outs. ....these idiots out there zooming in and around you while you're trying to keep safe distances, etc. I've been driving horses and cattle up and down the interstates for 20 some years now and it is getting worse and the fast drivers are very dangerous. .... )

Cowboydoc, you shold have quoted Bob fully: ( Oh and no one will ever be able to convince me that speed is any more dangerous than someone doing 60 on a interstate posted 65. Speed doesn't cause accidents Idiot drivers that aren't paying attention, drunk or asleep is what causes accidents.) emaphasis added

He and you seem to have come to the same conlcusion. It's not how fast you are going, it's how safe you are driving. If a driver has to weave and change lanes then they are going to fast for the road conditions.

BobReeves · Aug 12, 2004

Richard,

I completely agree with you, I drive fast but am careful and pay attention, you will not see me zooming in and out or making stupid lane changes. When I see an idiot driving like that I put as much distance as possible between us even if it means slowing down to the speed limit for a couple of miles. You might see me tailgating a slower car in the left lane but I am looking 1/4 mile ahead to see what might make the idiot hit his breaks. I only pass on the right if the idiot doesn't move over when he has had plenty of opportunity to do so. I would love to put a big sign on the rear of my van that says "Slower Traffic Keep Right". /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

What really urks me is the 18 wheelers that will pull out into the left lane to pass another 18 wheeler right in front of me, usually on a hill. I am sure he can tell I am running at a pretty good clip by my closing speed. If he would wait another couple of seconds I would be long gone. This happens allot, most of the time there isn't anything behind me so it isn't like he needs to grab the lane because this is his only chance. I feel they do it just to get on my nerves.

cowboydoc · Aug 12, 2004

I did see that part of his post but even if you are driving "safely", and I use that word loosely, at 75-85 in a 65 zone you are still creating a danger because you are coming up on drivers quickly, darting in and out of traffic, etc. You can't speed and not drive like that. I don't see where you drew that conclusion? I understand what he's saying. I'm not talking about people not paying attention, drunk, asleep, etc. That's a whole other issue. Talk to some truckers and see how they feel as well. Do we have any truckers on this board that could comment? I do feel that people speeding in excess of 10 mph over the limit are a danger.

Please explain to me in the situation of a person why at a posted limit of 65 that a driver that is going 60 is anymore dangerous than a driver going 75 or above. I would think the danger is slowing traffic up and causing accidents. If a good share of traffic is going 75 and a good share is going 65 wouldn't that be more of a danger? Also in alot of states like Illinois if you have a truck and trailer you can only go 60. Amazes me that you see truck after truck pulled over for speeding and rarely see a car pulled over even though they are going 80 plus. Try driving around Chicago. If you aren't going 80 you are going to get run over.

MicroPilot · Aug 12, 2004

If a driver has to make lane changes constantly, then they are driving too fast for the traffic conditions.

Bird · Aug 12, 2004

( Speed doesn't cause accidents )

That's right, but speed differential does. If some of the vehicles on the road are going slow and others fast, sooner or later, there's going to be an accident. And speed usually adds to the severity.

( Idiot drivers that aren't paying attention, drunk or asleep is what causes accidents )

Yep, and if that idiot happens to turn in front of you when you're speeding, the collision may kill you or him, but if you're violating the law at the time, too, and survive, you may find youself in prison. Even completely unintentional "accidents" can get you sent to prison if someone is killed or seriously injured.

And anyone who says he's a "careful driver" and isn't going to have an accident is kidding himself. I've been in some, even my fault, but not in the last 40 years, but even with that record, I fully expect to be in another accident someday; just try to postpone it as long as possible, and keep wearing my seatbelt, even though it's only saved my life once and that was 35 years ago.

cowboydoc · Aug 12, 2004

Now we're on the same page. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I have no problem if out in the middle of Nebraska someone wants to drive 90 where there is minimal traffic. They're only going to injure themselves if they are in an accident.

Bird · Aug 12, 2004

( The interstates are getting ridiculously dangerous in my opinion )

In my opinion, too. We've been periodically taking I-30 from Dallas to Little Rock, I-40 to east of Knoxville, I-81 to Wytheville, and I-77 into West Virginia to visit my wife's family for many years and it seems to get worse every year, and we see more accidents than we used to. And I just try to stay off the Interstates around Dallas.

Bob_Skurka · Aug 12, 2004

The interstates would be a heck of a lot safer

IF, slow cars would move the right lane (which is an unenforced law in many states).
IF, passing was illegal in the right lane (see above for the reason people do this).
IF, people would not eat and drive.
IF, people would not put on "make up" and drive.
IF, people would not read books or newspapers and drive.
IF, people would not watch videos and drive.
IF, people would not talk on the phone and drive.
IF, people would not wear headphones and drive.

In my mind, speed is far less an issue. The autobahn has many high speed drivers and few accidents, but their people pay attention to driving not foolishness.