Need some more intelligent/common-sense based input!!

http://www.newcastle411.com/2008/11/...irst-volunteer

 

I saw that on the news the other night. A resident was perched on Lake Washington Blvd. as cars were headed up/down the hill to 405. Not sure where else they were hiding. BPD is getting pretty sneaky handing these out to residents - SUCKS!

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the blog conversation. I can't believe people trust what the state says about their actions on supposedly cutting down on "speed related deaths" I personally think people who are doodling along 60-65mph while talking on their cell phone and putting in a Molly Cyrus CD pose a much greater threat to other road users then say myself who is buzzing along at 80 in the fast lane. A vast majority of road users don't pay enough attention while at the wheel, this is why accidents occur and then allowing state can use these incidences to coworst the public into thinking these accidents happen because of speeders. This gives them more support to rape honest, tax paying citizens out of more of their hard earned money which then goes to funding christine mugabe's (sic) spending habits.

 

I should get one of those. They would have to pay me with all the people I will catch speeding. Going up Lakemont Hill, people go 40+ every time.

 

It's not the "Pikes Peak Classic"-Seattle-style unless you're at 8,500rpm in 3rd!!

 

Indeed! From:
http://www.motorists.org/speedlimits/


Q. Isn't slower always safer?
A. No, federal and state studies have consistently shown that the drivers most likely to get into accidents in traffic are those traveling significantly below the average speed. According to an Institute of Transportation Engineers Study, those driving 10 mph slower than the prevailing speed are six times as likely to be involved in an accident. That means that if the average speed on an interstate is 70 mph, the person traveling at 60 mph is far more likely to be involved in an accident than someone going 70 or even 80 mph.

 

Since Paul and I live in the same neighborhood, I understand where he is coming from. But I also agree with the posted limits that were in question in the blog. Unfortunately for us, we have a year long road construction project going on and it makes us take the road with the 20MPH speed limit. And yes, I do 20 on it every day. My kids go to that school and I see many other kids I know walking up and down the road. Even the best parenting can't control kids all the time. Sometimes they just have a mind of their own.

In our neighborhood, we have a serious speed problem. Kids are always out riding bikes and I have seen some pretty crazy drivers. There is one guy that actually speeds up when he sees the kids out. I never thought I would say this, but there needs to be speed bumps in our neighborhood. I probably have one of the lowest cars in the neighborhood and wouldn't mind them at all. There is no need for anyone to go faster than the posted limit. I can't wait for my turn with the radar gun. Anyone want to do some speed runs?

 

Man, 20mph is hard to hold! While I don't like to speed in residential areas, going 25mph (what most were doing) is not some heinous crime! I agree that most people in the area have much more trouble with stop signs! I have had a couple of close calls in that area with people running stop signs. I think some of it is due to the lower speed limit, they are going so slow, they think they are almost stopped, & don't need to fully stop at the light.

 

I love this guy


Andre // Nov 11, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Paul, you just don’t get it. You’re in the minority here. I’m not going to waste any more of my time explaining it to you.
If you ever run over a kid in Newcastle, I hope you get the death penalty.

Andre -- if you mean minority in the way I think you do, then you are right... I am one of the smart people...

 

We need to keep a very close eye on Paul because according to Chris "This Paul person sounds like Timothy McVeigh. Totally anti-government. Scary." This is coming from a guy who sounds like a blind lamb being lead by a Sheppard to slaughter. What’s wrong in question the actions of our government? People forget that our government is one big business and we're its customers and its share holders. Questioning those actions shouldn't be viewed as anti-government but as someone who exercising the rights and beliefs that this country was founded on.

 

David,
20mph through Mile Post is unreasonable. 25mph is appropriate (and most drivers do this speed). I personally don't, but the prinicple irks me, a violation of my liberty. Case in point, in the infamous Newcastle Gestapo was out there this AM in her Ford Explorer. I looked down at my speedo -- phew, 20 mph -- I guess I won't be subjected to extortion this AM.

The point is, is that there isn't much stopping difference between 20 and 25 mph, and very little inertia/momentum difference. Run over a kid at 25mph and they're just as dead as if you run over them at 20mph. Speed simply doesn't cause accidents; inattentive driving does. Tuning your radio, texting, eating a burger, driving with a cold, these are much more dangerous activities -- yet it's speed that catches our attention and drives the public into hysteria. It seems to follow the logic of "I don't see the need to drive fast, so let's ban it for everyone!".

There are no public roads in the UK that I am aware of with a speed limit of less than 30mph. These obviously go through residential streets with kids. There is no carnage of deaths of children in the UK. If you adjust for factors such as population densities etc, and the fact that most UK school children walk/bike to work (instead of riding school bus) there's really no difference between the safety of UK children vs US children. The only difference then, is that UK drivers are given the freedom to drive reasonable and prudent speeds on their roads. Why are the safety ***** here so out-of-control and condoned ? I cannot fathom it out -- this is supposed to be the land of liberty and freedom, yet we're so oppressed on the roads. Where is the personal accountability ? If I drive too fast for the conditions prevailing, and I have an accident .. it's my responsibility to pay to make it right. It's the same logic with guns. I have the right to own a gun. If I shoot someone, or damage someone's property then I have the obligation to pay a debt back to society (prison time or get-checkbook-out time a la OJ). That doesn't mean that no one should be allowed to own a gun. I can't understand a society that endorses the freedom and liberty to own a gun, yet cannot extend the liberty to drive at a reasonable and prudent speed on the roads we pay for ...

 

Speeding is the most BS ticket ever. How frequently do they ticket people for following distance yet something like a couple miles per hour instantly makes you a target. Like it was said before, speed really has to do with the majority of the accidents that happen on a daily basis. Negligence, inattentiveness and lack of driving skill are at the root of just about every death and accident. Some drivers think on ramps are for going 25 and its ok to pull out into traffic on I5 like this. It’s just too easy to get a license in this country.

Thinking back, yes I have heard of a following distance ticket being issued. They gave it to a person who rear-ended me after the fact. I told the officer it was not distance related, but more so the fact that they didn’t know tires were supposed to actually have tread on them, and that comes in handy when its wet. Nice to hear that after something bad happens someone decides to act! Many of the laws are biased, and so are the people who enforce them. Just an example of how slow this state is, a few months ago they publicly announced they were going to crack down on people who do not understand that the passing lane is for passing, and not driving 55 in.

An angry citizen with a radar gun, wonderful! I’m curious what decimal of leeway they give you before they write down your plate? I feel a Ken Schram segment coming on, GIVE ME A BREAK!

 

You have perfectly summarized "root cause" ...

 

I think it is interesting when the stats people say, in x% of accidents speed was a factor. Well, It may have been about 10 years since I took college physics but I think velocity is a factor in ANY collision.

I am amazed (having been on the autobahn a lot lately) how confused america is on the highway. I honestly think we need to add some more pork to the bailout bill (or any bill) and pay for every senator and representative to take a one week tour of the german autobahn at speed.

I am sure when they come back, we will see the infrastructure improvements we need and a changing of our road rules.

 

The one misconception with speed and accidents is that speed is the reason why they couldn’t stop in time, or it is what made the accident so bad. Speed has nothing to do with it. Humans have everything to do with it based purely on the fact that we are foulable. The reason someone couldn’t stop in time is because they didn’t have a safe following distance for the speed they were going. The reason the accident was so severe was that they got into an accident in the first place. With the amount of force a car can generate at even 30 mph, most collisions with pedestrians can be deadly. At 40 miles per hour a head on between an older vehicle and a new big suv will likely kill or severely injure the driver of the smaller older car. Is there a law against driving a smart car? I have had friends die in car accidents. They were going far above the speed limit. However, the thing it comes down to is they were going too fast for conditions, and the particular roads they were on. That sounds like ill judgment to me. Yes, if they were going slower they might have lived, but if they had been smart enough not to do something stupid especially with other people in the car they wouldn’t have had a problem at all.

There are still things in this world that are purely accidents, freak happenings. Seeing American’s reactions to driving on an unrestricted highway is almost comical. Speed doesn’t kill, just like guns don’t kill. It takes a person making a decision, or judgment for any of these things to happen. No matter how slow we go around schools, there is always going to be a tragedy in the news. Same thing goes on the highway. I could be the only driver on the freeway in the middle of the night going 130 and if I’m caught, even thought the only person I put in jeopardy was myself, I would still be treated the same as a drunk driving 30 plowing into a house on a residential road. Does that make sense? Once again, Europe is the only place that got it right. Yes, I am *****ing and complaining about how fair our laws and country is. I realize life is not fair and no one is making me stay here, but I am not the only one that shares the views I have written about. I just want to go out and have some fun driving, blow off some steam. I am educated and make responsible decisions. Why is it against the law if I drive fast when the right circumstances are present? It’s like the one person does something bad and an entire group gets punished. I still don’t get it, and never will.

I guess that’s why they make radar detectors and diffusers. I wish I had the technical knowledge to make a radar jammer that would make the gun catch on fire in the officer's hands. They are not doing their job sitting on the side of the road hiding. Why don’t they go out there and give the mom in the caravan with 5 kids a talking to when she’s swerving around trying to keep a Cheeto fight from going on. Things like that are what cause tragedy. Not to say they are bad people, they just need a reminder that when they are sitting in the front left seat they have one job alone and that is to drive to the best of their ability. Not to curl their hair, put on their makeup, shave, mess with a radio or navigation. Drivers need a reminder that it is their job to pay attention and also maintain a vehicle so that is can drive fast enough to not **** me off, stop fast enough so they don’t kill my mom when she’s crossing in the crosswalk, and go around a corner without sliding off the road or breaking. I have worked on cars for a living at one point in my life. Not the glamorous high hp modding sort of work either. The fact that some drivers are oblivious to the fact their car has no breaks, or no air or tread on tires. Come on! Driving is a privilege and a responsibility. People forget that and it makes me rant on like this. The fact is that if everyone enjoyed driving and cars like people on the 6 then they would probably think of driving as a fun thing to do rather then just not thinking at all. When you are incapable of making good judgments about things like speed, conditions and maintenance, you should not be allowed on the road, get a buss pass because you are going to put someone else’s live in danger and I don’t want it to be mine. The one statistics they don’t tell you is the number of incompetent drivers out there.