Justice for an idiot driver

[4X4]

Finally! Someone [else] who understands... TY fivehole.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by 4X4

I really don't think that it's too much to ask that people glance in their mirrors every 10 seconds or so. If you see a faster vehicle approaching, move over. If there are alot of cars on the road, just keep pace with your lane. It's so simple. Yet so many people think they're the police. People want to take matters into their own hands and "hit the brakes" and whatnot. It really baffles me.

Valid points.

Being a defensive driver I try to be aware of what's happening around me in regards to other drivers. And you're right about the moving over. Drivers who try to make a point are a danger to themselves and others.

How about that........

We agree on something

[peter12]

Originally Posted by V

Those are the guys that really, really tick me off. You were perfectly happy doing whatever speed you were doing, but when you see that someone might want to occupy that couple-car-length space in front of you, you have to pin it and close the gap. There is absolutely no reason for it.

I'm not a big speeder, and there's little that drives me nuts on the road, but this is one of them.

That's what really annoys me about highway driving. Going 90 kph behind someone in the slow lane, then when you try to pass them, they are right up to 110.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by 4X4

I like what Ro wrote... Sums it up very well. It's all about respect, folks. In the morning and the evening, there are too many cars on the road for the lead footed to get their kicks. Just keep pace with traffic and everyone's happy.

In the mid afternoon and after dinner, there are few cars on the road. This is the time that we return to highway mode. Vacate the fast lane if someone is going faster than you. It's really not that difficult. I know you all think I'm a psychopath that goes warp 9 in a one-ton, but really, I'm speaking for the people in the world that are capable of going 10 or 20 over on long, flat, wide roads.

I really don't think that it's too much to ask that people glance in their mirrors every 10 seconds or so. If you see a faster vehicle approaching, move over. If there are alot of cars on the road, just keep pace with your lane. It's so simple. Yet so many people think they're the police. People want to take matters into their own hands and "hit the brakes" and whatnot. It really baffles me.

But keeping pace is totally different. Sorry, let me clarify what I was saying before, I think we both misunderstood each other. I have no problem with people keeping pace with traffic. Keeping pace doesn't mean keeping up with the fastest vehicle in your lane though. If I do get pissed off at other drivers, it's the guys who are going well above the traffic's speed and start to weave in and among other lanes.

Those drivers should have to face the consequences of whatever happens, they are the ones putting other people's lives at risk.

By the way, I don't drive a Hyundai.

[Antithesis]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

My whole point in this thread, and I hope people understand that, is that I am on the top limit of speeding and confident driving that gets me places, lets me change lanes, and causes me no nervousness or aprehension about driving. I think lots of drivers on here like to go the speed limit and then complain when someone else choses to speed. Get over yourself, what makes you the boss? Just because you like going the speed limit doesn't mean you have to vilify (sp?) those who like to speed a bit. If you go under the speed limit in perfectly clear conditions, then you need to be aware you are disrupting traffic more than someone who is speeding by the same value.

I don't know if I want to get myself into an argument here, but let me begin by saying bravo, Ro, you seemed to be the first to break through the massive e-peen contest that was prevailing in this thread. Excellently stated, and that is the same way that I am as a driver.

Regarding the bolded part, don't you think it's kind of funny that you are asking people what makes them the boss and then you turn around and try to tell them what to do? This kind of attitude, I'm sorry to say, is what I believe to be the center of almost every problem we have in interpersonal relations: believing that "everyone else", whether it is on the road, in a shopping mall, in a lineup, whatever, is just an obstacle and not another person.

To be Devil's Advocate, if you travel along the entire stretch of Deerfoot, from say, 22X to Country Hills, that would be, what, 50km? So, the person going 100km/h (aka The Speed Limit) would take 30 minutes to get there ... the person going 120km/h would take 25 ... a person going 140km/h takes 20 minutes. I just wonder if being in such a hurry, doing things like flashing your highbeams at someone (which really is a very dangerous, and aggressive road-rage type thing ... kind of scary, really, 4x4, but I have to admit, I've given out my share of fingers ...) to maintain a high average speed is worth it ... getting all worked up, being stressed out, angry at another person ...

It was said before that it is the people going 90-100km/h that cause all of the stress on speeders, therefore, road rage and aggressive driving is all their fault, but this is a glaring example of faulty logic. It is the speeder who chooses to become frustrated by this person's actions (and technically and literally, they are doing nothing wrong ... far too many people consider the speed LIMIT actually a speed MINIMUM) who is at fault.

I really wish people could have more regard for their fellow man/woman. Take a deep breath, they are a person too ... and in all likelyhood they are not going out of their way to waste 20 seconds of your life. Blasting them with your highbeams is such a dangerous thing to do.

[Regorium]

Originally Posted by 4X4

I like what Ro wrote... Sums it up very well. It's all about respect, folks. In the morning and the evening, there are too many cars on the road for the lead footed to get their kicks. Just keep pace with traffic and everyone's happy.

In the mid afternoon and after dinner, there are few cars on the road. This is the time that we return to highway mode. Vacate the fast lane if someone is going faster than you. It's really not that difficult. I know you all think I'm a psychopath that goes warp 9 in a one-ton, but really, I'm speaking for the people in the world that are capable of going 10 or 20 over on long, flat, wide roads.

I really don't think that it's too much to ask that people glance in their mirrors every 10 seconds or so. If you see a faster vehicle approaching, move over. If there are alot of cars on the road, just keep pace with your lane. It's so simple. Yet so many people think they're the police. People want to take matters into their own hands and "hit the brakes" and whatnot. It really baffles me.

Another situation is the following, what if I'm doing 115 and cruising in the "fast" lane, the lane beside me has a bunch of semi's going 90 or so. Why should I have to immediately let you go by me if you want to do 140 and slow my own driving time down?

I'm not going to pull behind them, just so you can get ahead of me. What I would do is pass the semi's at 115, and then pull over afterwards. Even so, as long as I'm going the limit, I don't have to do anything if I didn't want to but I do because of respect for fellow driver. Of course this goes out the window when the other driver doesn't respect me back and flashes their highbeams, weaves back and forth and makes rude gestures that I can see in my mirror.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Regorium

Another situation is the following, what if I'm doing 115 and cruising in the "fast" lane, the lane beside me has a bunch of semi's going 90 or so. Why should I have to immediately let you go by me if you want to do 140 and slow my own driving time down?

I'm not going to pull behind them, just so you can get ahead of me. What I would do is pass the semi's at 115, and then pull over afterwards. Even so, as long as I'm going the limit, I don't have to do anything if I didn't want to but I do because of respect for fellow driver. Of course this goes out the window when the other driver doesn't respect me back and flashes their highbeams, weaves back and forth and makes rude gestures that I can see in my mirror.

Thats perfectly reasonable. As I said before, when there traffic, at least keep pace. When there are only a few cars, keep the left lane open.

[rockstar]

Trying to justify excessive speeding is like trying to justify smoking. You really can't justify either to someone else, but someone else will never convince you to change your ways.

I smoke, and occasionally I speed*, too. I'll try not to blow smoke in your face, and I will definitely try not to endanger you on the road.

On some level, both these activities are wrong. But for those speeders out there, stop trying to convince everyone (including yourselves) that it is your right to drive as fast in excess of the posted speed limits. It isn't. But you do it anyway, and that's fine. Just don't be too excessive, and always be aware of other drivers around you.


*It should be noted that I drive a s**tbox, and thus use the term "speed" very loosely.

[Ford Prefect]

These threads are always interesting. In my opinion, speed limits will never work effectively because they're a one-size-fits-all rule, when in reality not everyone is safe at the same speed. I have a buddy who is unsafe at any speed, and he tends to drive too slow and be too cautious behind the wheel. I feel safer with many drivers who travel at 20 or 30 clicks over the speed limit than I do with this guy, who usually is 10 or 20 clicks under. Age, experience, volume of traffic, condition of vehicle, road conditions ... all of these things factor into what is a safe speed for each individual driver. Factor in that everybody thinks they're a good driver, mix it all together and you have a great recipe for road rage. It's amazing that speed limits, which I presume try to factor in all these variables, work as well as they do. Now, if everybody would just get the hell out of my way when I'm on the road the world would be a perfect place.

[vfrcowboy]

Who decides the speed limit? There is actually a speed limit order that is supposed to set it but it appears subjective. For example, Barlow Trail north of the airport had a 80km speed limit as a two lane road. It is now four lane divided and the speed limit has reduced to 60, why? Stoney Trail, speed limit was 90 km as a two lane road, as a 5 lane divided freeway it varies from 50 to 80km, why? It drops to 50 km approaching Country Hills so it is a frequent radar trap. Country Hills Blvd was 80 west of Deerfoot and a big interchange was put in. Traffic travelling eastbound now has a highly enforced 70km speed limit and are limited to 80 km fpr the merge lane onto Deerfoot. How do you safely merge 30km BELOW the speed limit?? (It is 110 there). So again, is it safety, or revenue?

In some US states, the signs "Slower traffic keep right" are on all roads except their signs state "Drive in right lane except to pass by law" and similar and they enforce that instead of speeding.

I am not endorcing 30km over the speed limit. I believe in speed limits where obstacles or pedestrians or animals or dangerous situations might exist, such as construction, National Parks, school zones, playground zones, residential areas, etc. However, those places must be effective. There are several playground zones in this city that serve no purpose due to fencing and lack of access to the road. However, the radio reported a few days ago that City administrators have not been able to go forward on elimintating some of those zones as it is not a City Council. However, enforcement is in full effect in the meantime at those zones. The four lane divided road into my subdivision has a heavily enforced speed limit of 50 but so does my residential street not wide enough for 2 opposite direction cars to pass each other. Safety or revenue?

As I said, go check the actual police stats. Unfortunately, they won't show you my observations. Most of the 15-20km over speeders I see on Calgary streets are some of the few that use their turn signals, have functioning equipment such as brake lights, and are courteous to other drivers. They generally follow all the other rules of the road. Look around you next time you see one if you don't believe me. Other than speeding, I find them generally the most concientious drivers - they aren't doing their makeup, reading a book, or eating their lunch while they drive. I think we have all seen flying jerks 30 or 40 over that weave in and out and cause near misses and they deserve whatever they get. But it is just as against the law to drive below the speed limit and how often do you see cars below the speed limit on Deerfoot? Believe it or not, it was also in the Alberta Highway Traffic Act that you must drive in the right lane except to pass - I don't know if it is in the new Safety Act. These drivers cause frustration and people do stupid things they otherwise normally wouldn't.

Think about the facts and reality and look around you when you drive. Revenue? or Safety? And why have so many other jurisdictions gone away from speed enforcement except in Canada? And why did the Province of BC have an entire commission to research increasing speed limits in the province?

Need more proof? http://sense.bc.ca/research.htm You will notice that it makes reference to AVERAGE SPEED, not the speed limit. Or one of several studies done for the US Department of Transport and individual States: http://www.ibiblio.org/rdu/sl-irrel.html .

Now go ahead, start yelling at me, lol.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by vfrcowboy

Who decides the speed limit? There is actually a speed limit order that is supposed to set it but it appears subjective. For example, Barlow Trail north of the airport had a 80km speed limit as a two lane road. It is now four lane divided and the speed limit has reduced to 60, why?

Because there are now intersections on that stretch of Barlow. It used to just be an empty road with no cross-traffic.