I have the right to go the speed limit.

[Jesuspaidtheprice]

[quote name='Era Might' post='1021131' date='Jul 10 2006, 12:20 PM']
Going 5 or 10 miles over the speed limit on the highway generally doesn't endanger anyone; in fact, everyone's probably breezing by you.

There are, of course, some laws that are grave, and require obedience, at least in substance. There are many administrative laws that you don't necessarily have to follow the letter to the tee, but it is enough to follow the spirit. A ban on gambling, for example. If you have a friendly 5 dollar bet with a friend over a football game, even though all gambling is illegal, it's no big deal and no sin. If you're running a gambling casino in your basement, that's another matter. Letter vs. Spirit.
[/quote]

So if one person jumps off a bridge, that means you have to also? Again, how do you know you are not increasing the risk of a serious or fatal accident by driving above the speed limit on various streets and highways? I'm not a traffic engineer, but I would wonder about a correlation between serious accidents and speeding.

[Era Might]

I don't go over the speed limit because everyone else is doing it, I go over the speed limit because it's generally pretty low (55). Going 60-65 is not a big deal, and it does not put me or anyone else in danger. If it did, I wouldn't do it. Driving on residential streets is a different matter. I do not go above the speed limit, and generally, go a few miles slower.

[scardella]

The funny thing is that the safe speed (independent of any laws) of a vehicle on a given stretch of road is dependent on
1. Driver ability
2. Raw dynamic capabilities of the car in question (given its current tire wear, etc.)
3. Environmental conditions (dry, cold, hot, sleet, snow, rain, wind, hail, day, night)
4. Likelihood of obstacles (potholes, bumps, small children)
5. Topography (curvy, straight, hilly, flat)
6. Speed of other cars, each of which depend on 1-5
7. Traffic density

For instance, on a lonely straight stretch of interstate on a bright and warm sunday afternoon, it would be safe (at least theoretically) for Michael Schumacher (F1 driver) to drive over 100 miles an hour in a Ferrari F430. However, if he was on bald tires, he wouldn't be going over 60, despite everything else.

However, for a 16 year old who just got his license, (assuming his parents are rich) he probably wouldn't be safe at any speed in a Ferrari. He'd probably be fine driving 60-70 in an A4 2.0T quattro (again, assuming rich parents).

As for me, I'd venture that in my Nissan Sentra, I'd be safe at around 90-95 given those conditions. The law caters to the lowest common denominator.

Edited July 10, 2006 by scardella

[Sojourner]

I wonder if a cop would buy that line of reasoning as an excuse?

[scardella]

[quote name='Sojourner' post='1021273' date='Jul 10 2006, 02:22 PM']
I wonder if a cop would buy that line of reasoning as an excuse?


[/quote]

Perhaps if you were Danica Patrick, Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen, Mario/Michael/Marco Andretti, Al Unser Jr., Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jeff Gordon, or some other pro, then, maybe.

The stupid thing is that cops target sports car and tuner drivers over sedans/econoboxes. If a Porche Boxter and a Dodge Caravan were both going 90 in a 55, and the cop could only pull one over, he'd likely pull over the Boxter over the Caravan, despite that the Caravan in this situation is much more dangerous.

Edited July 10, 2006 by scardella

[Era Might]

My preferred excuse of choice...

"Yes, I was speeding, but it was to save a dear friend, who wanted nothing more in life than to love, to be loved, and to be a banker."

[dUSt]

The invention of the car was the worst thing to ever happen to the world. Think of how awesome railroads would be right now if it wasn't for stupid cars.

Cities would be bigger, and the country would still be beautiful country.

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='Era Might' post='1021307' date='Jul 10 2006, 03:15 PM']
My preferred excuse of choice...

"Yes, I was speeding, but it was to save a dear friend, who wanted nothing more in life than to love, to be loved, and to be a banker."
[/quote]
I knew there'd be a Seinfeld quote in this thread somewhere... but I assumed it would come after the "other drivers" comment. Your whole business is other drivers!


BTW, I have no excuse of choice. My record is pretty clean...

[ReinnieR]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' post='1021335' date='Jul 10 2006, 03:54 PM']
I knew there'd be a Seinfeld quote in this thread somewhere... but I assumed it would come after the "other drivers" comment. Your whole business is other drivers!
BTW, I have no excuse of choice. My record is pretty clean...
[/quote]

hehe mine isn't

3 speeding tickets within the past 2 weeks 2 of them withing a week

[track2004]

[quote name='KnightofChrist' post='1020873' date='Jul 10 2006, 04:51 AM']
Thing is [color="#FF0000"]you do not have the "right" to drive at all[/color] it is a privilege. Funny isnt? We pay for the car we drive its taxes the gas that goes in that car and the gas taxes, and we pay for the road in taxes, and we pay for the police pay checks in taxes and the Judges.
[/quote]

I'm cool with the government not letting people drive no matter how much they pay in taxes becuase I don't like the blind, the drunk, epiletics, and people who don't know road signs to be on the road with me. My elderly neighbor still drives her car and I don't go out when she does because I'm scared to. She doesn't have the sight or reaction time to drive safely.

I have a 110% rule for the speed limit so in a 70 mph zone I go between 75 and 80, but in a 30 mph zone I stay below 35. I like it.

[EcceNovaFacioOmni]

I set the cruise on the speed limit and do not have a problem with it. I have never driven long distance on highways though. I also feel kinda stupid going 25. It feels like a crawling pace and I have this paranoid feeling that everyone on the road around me hates my guts.

[qfnol31]

I do the same thing.

Perhaps those of you who like to speed lack a certain non-virtue, say patience? :

[Colleen]

[quote name='qfnol31' post='1021532' date='Jul 11 2006, 12:45 AM']Perhaps those of you who like to speed lack a certain non-virtue, say patience? :
[/quote]
I know I lack it.

[Franimus]

Basically, I just do my best to not wreck and to not get caught... although in certain areas (around where i work) i prolly have impunity due to working at Sheetz, where we give all the cops free drinks and half off their food (they love to arrest people and pull them over in our parking lot now.. lol)

Typically, though, I try to go no more than 5 above, but I always take road conditions in mind... I've had 2 accidents and wrecked 3 cars, so I have an idea of what a car CAN'T take lol...

[scardella]

Part of the problem is that speed limits have become big moneymakers for law enforcement, local governments and insurance agencies. The ticket revenue either goes into the general fund or into law enforcement budgets. When the insurance company is notified that you get a moving violation, they "have the right" to increase your premium, because you're more of a risk. Furthermore, there are many states that REQUIRE auto insurance if you are to be on the road. Do you see any conflicts of interest here? I do.

Additionally, with our litigous society, nobody wants to be responsible for anything. People are too afraid that they'll be sued. There's no such concept of personal responsibility anymore. It's the law's fault that you ran off the road on a curvy section in the rain; there was no sign! It's the manufacturer's fault that you rolled over in your SUV! The cell phone that I was jabbering on distracted me.

[quote name='qfnol']Perhaps those of you who like to speed lack a certain non-virtue, say patience?[/quote]

There are also those who drive fast simply because it is more fun and/or challenging.