Can you drive 55?

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 11:07 am

RTStabler51 wrote:

warp2diesel wrote:

I have seen Illinois State Police running radar and reading novels when the traffic is moving as slow as 15mph in a 55mph zone. When I see this, our tax dollars along with the officer's time and talent are going to waste. They should be ticketing and/or arresting the stupid dangerous drivers pointed out in my posting and in the other postings in this thread.

People who drive well below the posted speed limit are as dangerous as the ones going way over it.

X2..........

Actually can be more dangerous when they decide to pull into the fast lane to pass another slow driver and at the same time cutting off poeple doing the speed limit.Someday some "I'm driving slow to save 5 cents of gas" person is going to get a up and personal look at my ARB bumber because I'm almost sick and tired of slamming on my brakes for them.

chadhargis · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 11:40 am

I took a driving school (thanks to getting a ticket), and the State Trooper said that very same thing. He said speeding isn't the only danger on the interstate. That it's the "differential of speed" that causes accidents.

jinstall · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 2:09 pm

This same issue is on another board I use. I am going to say the same thing here as well. It is not the speed limit it is the lack of educated drivers on the road. Make the drivers smarter and the accident numbers will drop. Driving is a privilage not a right. Start charging $1000 for a drivers license and make people do actual driving education for 6 months and watch the numbers decrease. My wife was refused a USAREUR Motorcycle license becasue she needed a AMA safety course class before she could get the endorcement. Never mind the fact that she spent 12 months in German driving school, paid $3000 and already had a German motorcycle license in hand. That is beyond screwed up.

dgeist · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 3:00 pm

RTStabler51 wrote:

People who drive well below the posted speed limit are as dangerous as the ones going way over it.

Agreed. We're far too liberal with our law enforcement, IMHO. in Germany, once you get on the Autobahn, you're subject to additional laws that apply in high-speed corridors. For example, if you don't get out of the way to allow overtaking traffic to pass in the left lane and they hit you, it's your fault.

Pablo · **Joined:** Thu Feb 02, 2006 10:06 pm **Posts:** 1201

tjkj2002 wrote:

RTStabler51 wrote:

warp2diesel wrote:

]X2..........

Actually can be more dangerous when they decide to pull into the fast lane to pass another slow driver and at the same time cutting off poeple doing the speed limit.Someday some "I'm driving slow to save 5 cents of gas" person is going to get a up and personal look at my ARB bumber because I'm almost sick and tired of slamming on my brakes for them.

That is why I have not bought a front bumper (ARB or from you guys) yet. I can barely bring myself to brake as it is. One hundred miles a day in Phoenix traffic does that to you. Especially in the winter when we are invaded by snow birds who do 50mph in the fast lane.

On the way home I had the cruise set to 61 while traveling in the middle lane (speed limit is 55 and 61 is lowest point where I can keep the trans locked up). This guy passes me in the left passing lane (on a cell phone). He then changes lanes into the lane I am traveling in (no signal) and right in front of me starts slowing down. I had to take the cruise off and hit the brakes. I decide to pass him on the left and just do 65-70 for while till I put some space between us. As I pass he starts to speed up again, still on his cell phone. I nailed it and did not let off till he was about gone from the rear view. Just no use for aholes like that. The temptation to just leave the cruise on and just push him was SOOO great.

Later that day I see a guy decide he did not want to take an exit, so he crosses the point, drives in the emergency lane and then pulls back into freeway traffic at 30mph in his tiny Sentra. He was talking on his cell phone.

So I am against 55 mph speed limit, but I am in favor of mandatory beatings for all cell phone drivers.

geordi · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 3:55 pm

And you will have the full support of EVERYONE who rides a motorcycle. Every single time I see someone doing something moronic in their car, they have one of those darn things attached to their face. Let the beatings begin!

I get so fed up with idiots that do that accelerate-and-slow-down-but-I-won't-let-you-pass-me thing. That drives me nuts. I had some fool on a 2-lane road pull that on me when I was on my bike. He was up and down in the speed constantly, and the first opportunity I had to pass him, he starts accelerating as soon as I'm in the other lane. WHY?

RTStabler51 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 4:23 pm

jinstall wrote:

It is not the speed limit it is the lack of educated drivers on the road.

Yup. I would be so for tightening down the test and making the licensing process worth a darn. I don't understand giving people the driving test in X language when all our signs are in ENGLISH. That needs to be requirement 1.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 5:22 pm

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080711/ap_ ... gas_prices

Threeweight · **Joined:** Mon May 14, 2007 5:57 pm **Posts:** 679

Higher gas prices = fewer teenagers and people on fixed incomes being able to afford to drive a lot = fewer deaths.

Interesting theory. I'd suspect that we'll see fewer rollover accidents (one of the big sources of deaths vs. injuries in traffic accidents) as more and more soccer moms and commuter drones move out of their SUV's for their morning commute+shave+makeup+coffee+cell phone chat+reading the newspaper (no crap I saw someone doing this once).

Uffe · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 6:39 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

Actually can be more dangerous when they decide to pull into the fast lane to pass another slow driver and at the same time cutting off poeple doing the speed limit.Someday some "I'm driving slow to save 5 cents of gas" person is going to get a up and personal look at my ARB bumber because I'm almost sick and tired of slamming on my brakes for them.

Interesting case of "Brake test me, and I will airbag test you".

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 6:56 pm

Uffe wrote:

tjkj2002 wrote:

Actually can be more dangerous when they decide to pull into the fast lane to pass another slow driver and at the same time cutting off poeple doing the speed limit.Someday some "I'm driving slow to save 5 cents of gas" person is going to get a up and personal look at my ARB bumber because I'm almost sick and tired of slamming on my brakes for them.

Interesting case of "Brake test me, and I will airbag test you".

In more then 90% of the times I'll come out with less damage then you will :lol:

!

BlackLibertyCRD · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 7:23 pm

Try driving cross country at 55 and will seem to take forever. Another thing to pizz off the truckers. :evil:

KJ 119 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 7:35 pm

Go fast or get over!!!!!!!!

geordi · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 7:55 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

In more then 90% of the times I'll come out with less damage then you will :lol:

!

With a solid steel bumper, I'd hate to see the truck that causes that 10%! Against all of these plastic cars these days, My question would be 'Would you even feel the impact' when you start pushing them?

I know I want an ARB bumper too for protection against deer strikes... But I shouldn't have one for the same reason - instant pushbar.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 8:01 pm

Well, I didn’t think I would ever say this at age 32, but I’m not really interested in driving fast anymore. If I were on a race track, that would be one thing. But as far as highway driving goes, I rarely drive the maximum speed limit. I haven’t slowed down to save fuel economy, I do it because I’ve learned to slow down in life. After living in the mountains for 3 years, I learned to enjoy the solitude and I soon became accustomed to the laid back life. Now I relax, put in a good audio or music CD, and enjoy my travel time. One of these days I might have children, and if I do, I want to be a good example and keep my family safe.

chadhargis · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 8:05 pm

Happy to say that at age 36...I have not slowed down.

Especially on the racetrack.

nursecosmo · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:04 pm

There was an interesting show on history channel tonight about the autobahn. They have one of the lowest accident rates in the world even though a large part of it has no speed restriction, or rather the kind of vehicle and state of repair and tire condition determine what the speed limit is for that particular vehicle. They also have strict enforcement of traffic rules.

Threeweight · **Joined:** Mon May 14, 2007 5:57 pm **Posts:** 679

The licensing process in Germany (both the level of training/testing required, and the cost/taxes) would have an awful lot of autobahn enthusiasts here in the US ready to go burn down their local DMV.

I'd be all for eliminating the speed limit in the US, if every driver had to go through a couple weeks of training, pass rigorous testing, get retested every couple years, and lose all their diving privileges for 1 year if they are convicted of a major traffic offense (reckless driving, too fast for conditions, etc...) Three strikes and no more driving, ever.

Just too many people in America who shouldn't be allowed behind the wheel of a riding lawnmower, let alone a car or truck.

Also need to consider that auto transport is not a commuter thing in Germany. Most people there use mass transit, rail, subways, etc... They just don't have the kind of road traffic we do. And unlike the Germans, we don't maintain our existing roads and bridges worth a crap.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Sat Jul 12, 2008 7:18 pm

[quote="Threeweight"]
Just too many people in America who shouldn't be allowed behind the wheel of a riding lawnmower, let alone a car or truck.
quote]

kskj · **Posted:** Sat Jul 12, 2008 7:44 pm

Kansas is not as big as some states but I've worked on a jobsite in southeast kansas then had to go to northwest ks to the next job and its almost 500 miles. I can't drive 55 for that many miles.Idid it in the 70s and 80s and it takes for ever to get anywere.Hopefully nobody will listen to that old coot.This state is too big for 55 miles an hour!!It will just mean more time on the road and less time at home.

Can you drive 55?

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