Pity about the Revenue

wrongwaynorris · 22-09-2012, 07:31 AM

Illuminating although hardly surprising .

http://www.motorists.org/press/monta...safety-paradox

mik · 22-09-2012, 10:46 AM

good article, and as you say not surprising, the statement
"The people of Montana and its visitors continued to drive at speeds they were comfortable with" is telling imo".

jpd80 · 22-09-2012, 10:54 AM

You also have an interaction between drivers refusing to change and obey new rules
versus those that do and in that instance, having very mixed opinions on a road system
is a recipe for disaster.

05_ENFORCER · 22-09-2012, 10:59 AM

No one will ever win, we are talking politics here

.

Moby Vic · 22-09-2012, 01:37 PM

There is a lot of media panic currently over a new 85 mph speed limit in some very isolated parts of Texas. It's ridiculous.

Driver's education is atrocious in the US, but an empty, long, straight four-lane highway can easily support an 85 mph speed limit.

flappist · 22-09-2012, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moby Vic

There is a lot of media panic currently over a new 85 mph speed limit in some very isolated parts of Texas. It's ridiculous.

Driver's education is atrocious in the US, but an empty, long, straight four-lane highway can easily support an 85 mph speed limit.

When you get back the best way to fight this is turn the argument back on the media.

When Oprah or Letterman or whomever comes out with any anti 85MPH rhetoric the question is simple.

"Are you saying that Americans are not smart enough to drive at the same speed as Europeans?"

This is a no win for them; yes and they are denigrating "Mom, Apple Pie and the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", no and they are contradicting themselves.

You are fortunate in your country that the vast majority are actually patriotic and believe that liberty and freedom are a right not a privilege.

zilo · 22-09-2012, 03:35 PM

The way i see it is with no speed limit the driver determines the best speed for his ability and the equipment in his hands.

When you post a speed limit of 85 mph there is then an obligation to drive at or around that speed limit whether you want to or not, and the implication is that it is always safe to do so...

There are often times where i have thought I would like to simply enjoy the music, take in the view and drive at 90km/h instead of the posted 100km/h limit.

But try it and watch everyone around you get annoyed because you are driving unduly slow...
"if the govt says its okay to do a 100km/h then you must do 100km/h...whats wrong with you?"

I like the idea of self imposed limits.

JG34JA · 22-09-2012, 03:41 PM

Be careful Ugg, the idea that the individual can best make decisions for the individual runs very counter to how our society currently operates...

Moby Vic · 23-09-2012, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flappist

When you get back the best way to fight this is turn the argument back on the media.

When Oprah or Letterman or whomever comes out with any anti 85MPH rhetoric the question is simple.

"Are you saying that Americans are not smart enough to drive at the same speed as Europeans?"

This is a no win for them; yes and they are denigrating "Mom, Apple Pie and the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", no and they are contradicting themselves.

You are fortunate in your country that the vast majority are actually patriotic and believe that liberty and freedom are a right not a privilege.

The problem is that they would have no qualms about answering "Yes." (Well, maybe not Letterman—he owns a race team and he and Paul Newman used to have Volvo station wagons with supercharged Ford 5.0s in them.)

There is a rising tide of people here who think we need government to protect us from ourselves in every aspect of daily life.

hillbillyhauler · 23-09-2012, 12:57 AM

Our goverment allready protects us from ourselves.

new2ford · 23-09-2012, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flappist

=When Oprah or Letterman or whomever comes out with any anti 85MPH rhetoric the question is simple.

"Are you saying that Americans are not smart enough to drive at the same speed as Europeans?"

Well European drivers are a bit smarter than this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV2rdGX4JYc

grandpa_spec_F6 · 23-09-2012, 09:13 AM

Said it before and I'll say it again, YOU CAN'T LEGISLATE AGAINST STUPID!

If people are going to drive outside their comfort zone then that's their own fault. Just because it's 85mph doesn't mean they have to drive at 85mph...

Franco Cozzo · 23-09-2012, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moby Vic

There is a lot of media panic currently over a new 85 mph speed limit in some very isolated parts of Texas. It's ridiculous.

Driver's education is atrocious in the US, but an empty, long, straight four-lane highway can easily support an 85 mph speed limit.

At least you get "driver education".

All I got was I sat a 32 question multiple choice theory test to get my Ls.

Then I did 200 hours driving along a country highway with my parents.

Had some driving instructors teach me how to pass the test, then did the test in Sunbury which was drive around Sunbury for 50 minutes, did a 3 point turn in someones driveway and got my license.

The whole system sucks, they wonder why so many young drivers end up dead, its because you pick up all your parents bad habits, the instructors just teach how to pass the test, not actually drive and then you get let out on the road on your own, good luck.

I'm a fairly crappy driver, I try to avoid suburbia if I can, if I need to go into Melbourne I take public transport.

csv8 · 23-09-2012, 10:20 AM

I drove from Las Vegas to Salt Lake City, the speed limit is 80mph. The road is excellent.. Not like the Bruce Highway goat track!!!! Australia needs roads that are designed for higher speeds. But, our pollies think slow is good !!!

EDManual · 23-09-2012, 12:17 PM

My wife is french, and she got her licence there. She was from the Jura area near Geneva and went with instructers that taught her how to correct from being sideways etc. One thing that I thought was pretty funny was that one of the first things she did with the instructer was to drive at 180km/h in a 130 zone on the autoroute, then brake hard as possible just to see how long it takes to brake!!
That does a few things, makes you think 180 maybe isnt so cool seeing as though your driving instructer and you did it on your learners!..., also, yes it does take a long time to brake.

zilo · 24-09-2012, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

I drove from Las Vegas to Salt Lake City, the speed limit is 80mph. The road is excellent.. Not like the Bruce Highway goat track!!!! Australia needs roads that are designed for higher speeds. But, our pollies think slow is good !!!

I drove from Miami to New York and was passed at 100mph+ by almost everyone on the road including the sherrif....(not in pursuit either)

gcg2503 · 24-09-2012, 01:05 AM

You guys need to get to the UK

70mph limit on the motorways but the police don't bug you till you clock 100mph

Admittedly, the English are much better drivers than we are in Oz.

Above opinion is based on 6 years living and driving there.

rancidpunx · 24-09-2012, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ugg

I drove from Miami to New York and was passed at 100mph+ by almost everyone on the road including the sherrif....(not in pursuit either)

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcg2503

You guys need to get to the UK

70mph limit on the motorways but the police don't bug you till you clock 100mph

Admittedly, the English are much better drivers than we are in Oz.

Above opinion is based on 6 years living and driving there.

I found the same in the states driving from LA to Vegas. We were cruising at 80-90mph along with everyone else and hitting 110mph when caught up in the fast lane, nearly 180kph. I believe the posted limit was 70mph. Even the missus who generally sits below the limit was shocked when I did the speed conversion for her, but she did say it feel natural. We passed plenty of cops and they only seemed to be pulling up the idiots weaving and going even faster, usually in an old **** bucket.

For the most part I think people are clever enough to drive to the conditions. Im no angel, but the same country roads at night with some music going, i have a peek at the speedo and im actually under the posted limit.

There will always be idiots out there. A road close by has been chopped back to 70kph because of fairly regular accidents. Its hilly and windy but not hard to drive in the slightest. However the crashes are all single vehicles coming unstuck. Last week a single woman in a people carrier in the ditch. I dont believe any number on a sign would have stopped her ending up in there, whether she was travelling to fast for the early morning conditions or just not concentrating.

**ebxr8240** · 24-09-2012, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcg2503

You guys need to get to the UK

70mph limit on the motorways but the police don't bug you till you clock 100mph

Admittedly, the English are much better drivers than we are in Oz.

Above opinion is based on 6 years living and driving there.

Yep they book you for dumb driving .. Like baulking traffic when changing lanes etc... Here it seems to be about speed..