We were taught in driver's education classes in 1985 that we should be at least 4 seconds behind any vehicle in front us. That means that you watch them pass a stationary object (such as a sign), then do your best to count off how many seconds it is before you pass it.

The speed limit then was 55 mph (88 kph).

People 10 years younger than me think that "following time" is only supposed to be 2-3 seconds, and that's with speed limits being 5-15 mph (8-24 kph) higher than before. (Plus, assuming they're actually obeying the limit.)

Martin, some background:

Don't take offense, msattler. I created this thread because others were not seeing my point about the differences between

Good and bad ideas
Legal and illegal
Right and wrong
(and, for the religious/spiritual-minded) Good and evil/sin.

I do not claim to be an expert driver. I rarely drive. When I do, I do sometimes exceed the speed limit on interstates so I can spread things out. As soon as I can, I return to the slow lane, leaving plenty of room in front of me and behind me so that I can have that distance/time to stop.

Finally, here's a poem/song I wrote in the Summer of 1996, reflecting on being hit by a drunk driver doing 80-100 mph (128-160 kph) in the Summer of 1994, as I returned from an interview. Want some more details about it besides what you can glean from the poem?

(Unfortunately, the first few lines are too reminiscent of Journey's "Faithfully.")

http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/forum_thread.php?id=15950&nowrap=true#241441

Highway drive.
Sixty-five.
1000 miles behind,
Blurring in my mind.
The journey's end's so far.
Music's loud & I'm protected in my car -
but I'm feeling tired
and it's time to retire.
I have to pull off & sleep soon.
Get some sleep.
Pray the Lord my soul to keep.

Good ole boy.
Brand new toy.
Watch out lil southern town,
when he & the gang's around.
The night has just begun,
the music's loud & he's buying drinks for everyone.
He's been feeling wired.
Set the world on fire.
Shoot 'em up & howl at the moon.
Hold on tight.
Lord, no sleep in here tonight.

Rear-view mirror.
You're too near.
100 miles an hour.
Unaware of your power.
The music still plays as you slam into my car.
The journey's end just got farther.
The world spins & comes to a screeching halt.
All around me are the shattered results.
I don't want to think about it.
I need to sleep.
Pray the Lord my soul to keep.

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Capitalize on this good fortune, one word can bring you round ... changes.

The Northern Territory used to have highways that were unlimited. Long straight roads (not much better than Queensland's highways). The fastest my dad ever did on them was 130 kph. We still got overtaken at times.

Ever get overtaken by a highly-customized, black, 1973 XB GT Ford Falcon Coupe?

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Cordially,
Rush

elrushbo2@theobviousgmail.com
Remove the obvious...

The Northern Territory used to have highways that were unlimited. Long straight roads (not much better than Queensland's highways). The fastest my dad ever did on them was 130 kph. We still got overtaken at times.

Ever get overtaken by a highly-customized, black, 1973 XB GT Ford Falcon Coupe?

No I don't think so, but it was several years ago.

Why? You drive around in the Northern Territory of Australia?

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Never surrender and never give up. In the darkest hour there is always hope.

The Northern Territory used to have highways that were unlimited. Long straight roads (not much better than Queensland's highways). The fastest my dad ever did on them was 130 kph. We still got overtaken at times.

Ever get overtaken by a highly-customized, black, 1973 XB GT Ford Falcon Coupe?

No I don't think so, but it was several years ago.

Why? You drive around in the Northern Territory of Australia?

He's got ya there, Rush! :)

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Capitalize on this good fortune, one word can bring you round ... changes.

Ever get overtaken by a highly-customized, black, 1973 XB GT Ford Falcon Coupe?

No I don't think so, but it was several years ago.

Why? You drive around in the Northern Territory of Australia?

Nah. Mad Max's Police Interceptor.

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Cordially,
Rush

elrushbo2@theobviousgmail.com
Remove the obvious...

Though I never did find out how many they made. Did Edmunds cover that?

Dunno... I was only looking for 0-60 and braking data... The fuel economy was on the page that I was looking at...and like I said, gas guzzler. I know it is more useful than what I'm about to compare it to, but the last time I remember 12/17 economy was driving a 1971 Dart, and only the 2bbl 318, not a 4bbl or the 340. It was not pleasant watching the needle plunge...even on the interstate...

Brian

Since we are talking about speed limits and therefore speeding here's something straight from the Queensland government on how to reduce the number of people who speed and 'supposedly' cause the majority of the road accidents.

Young men who speed are compensating for something. That is their ad campaign theme. If you are a young male and you speed, it is because you have a small ***** (I'm sure you can work it out) and the girls will all laugh at you.

Government's are smart?

What about young women who speed? What are they compensating for? Or those that do their makeup?

However, we will never see an ad campaign make fun of women, because that will be deemed to be sexist and offensive. But you can do it to males and its not.

Go figure. No wonder society is in trouble...

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Never surrender and never give up. In the darkest hour there is always hope.

The only time I blatantly ignored the speed limit was when I was around 18 and I wanted to see how fast my friend's car could go. He had a Buick Opel that had a 350 CI engine wedged into it.

The fastest I had the courage ( or stupidity, depending on how you look at it )to go was 160 mhp.

Nowadays, when I travel on the highway, I usually hang around 68 mph in a 65 mph zone just to keep from getting run over. On the sections that are posted at 70 mph, I usually hang around 73 or so. I just set the cruise and stay at a steady pace, and get out of the way of the ticket hunters who decide they want to go faster than I am. :-)

I know that both of those speeds are over the posted limit...but the police usually won't mess with you as long as you are not more than 5 over the limit. Unless of course, they are having a REALLY bad day.

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Air Cold, the blade stops;
from silent stone,
Death is preordained

Calm Chaos Forums : Everyone Welcome

The only time I blatantly ignored the speed limit was when I was around 18 and I wanted to see how fast my friend's car could go. He had a Buick Opel that had a 350 CI engine wedged into it.

The fastest I had the courage ( or stupidity, depending on how you look at it )to go was 160 mhp.

Nowadays, when I travel on the highway, I usually hang around 68 mph in a 65 mph zone just to keep from getting run over. On the sections that are posted at 70 mph, I usually hang around 73 or so. I just set the cruise and stay at a steady pace, and get out of the way of the ticket hunters who decide they want to go faster than I am. :-)

I know that both of those speeds are over the posted limit...but the police usually won't mess with you as long as you are not more than 5 over the limit. Unless of course, they are having a REALLY bad day.

Courage or stupidity can be the same thing.

Anyway, I'm not having a go at anyone here. I thought that since speed limits (and therefore speeding) is the topic that you people might be interested in what the state government where I live was going to do. Thought it might be somewhat funny that some 'expert' was paid a lot of money to come up with this idea.

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Never surrender and never give up. In the darkest hour there is always hope.

Thought it might be somewhat funny that some 'expert' was paid a lot of money to come up with this idea.

You mean, what is the origin of such speed laws?
As for funny, yeah, that got me far, too! :)

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Capitalize on this good fortune, one word can bring you round ... changes.

Recently due to a couple of major accidents attributed to racing on the 400 series highways here in the province of Ontario, the provincial government has just passed a law that anyone deemed to be racing will be arrested and their car seized. If convicted, the felon will be made to watch as their car is brought to a scrap yard and crushed.

In addition the rumor has it, if a police officer feels that your car has been soaped up for street racing the officer can have the car seized even if you are just sitting there parked. With the same crushing result in the end.

Lastly if you are speeding, watch out for those self righteous god fearing folks doing the speed limit. It seems many of them have the police on speed dial and report any speeders that whiz by. This is directly from the horse’s mouth (the police).

So much for cruising along at 130 – 140 kph in my Mustang GT.

Franz

I know that both of those speeds are over the posted limit...but the police usually won't mess with you as long as you are not more than 5 over the limit. Unless of course, they are having a REALLY bad day.

Here around DC they usually give you 12 to 13 mph over the speed limit before you get a ticket. I put my cruise on at about 9 mph over the limit and cruise right past them. Talking to a lot of them, I was a firefighter, they say there are just tooo many people exceeding the limit to be too picky. They would do nothing but right tickets, and they HATE spending the day in Court especially when people try to say "I was only keeping up with the rest of the group". Judges actually like when people say that, they are admitting they are speeding and the Judge lays into them!

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As a mad cow I keep tripping and slidding, so can't go very fast :(

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flaming balloons

In addition the rumor has it, if a police officer feels that your car has been soaped up for street racing the officer can have the car seized even if you are just sitting there parked. With the same crushing result in the end.

What you need is a car like my uncle. To look at, its a standard Escort Cosworth.
The only noticeable feature is the foot wide rear tyres, and when you open the bonnet you realise why.
You find a 4.7l V8, with two turbochargers the size of dustbins. I'll ask him to send me a copy of the rolling road graph, you'll be impressed.
How does 630hp at 6800rpm sound?

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Life on earth is the global equivalent of not storing things in the fridge.

Only if you are selling a MOPED !

Hahaha! I had a go-cart in mind.

Only 58hp, but weighs about 760kg, passengers and fuel depending.

Its pretty nippy, 0-60 in 13s on a cold wet day, 15s in hot weather.

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Life on earth is the global equivalent of not storing things in the fridge.

I find it interesting because we sell much cars from germany in the US.

What does those guys with an porsche?

Driving 55 mph would be an joke in germany.
I drive almost over 230 kph should be around 110 mph on the highways.

Uhh, I can tell you what happens when u pass a cop at 150 mph. I suck

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I find it interesting because we sell much cars from germany in the US.

What does those guys with an porsche?

Driving 55 mph would be an joke in germany.
I drive almost over 230 kph should be around 110 mph on the highways.

Uhh, I can tell you what happens when u pass a cop at 150 mph. I suck

I know a guy that framed the ticket he got. The radar proved that his car would go 178MPH (yes it was an astronomical fine, no there wasn't any jail time).

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BOINC WIKI

An opportune comment on driving and drivers:

Make driving age 18 to save lives, say MPs

... the risk assessment test for learners has "severe limitations" and should be improved. Police and other expert witnesses warned that young male drivers in particular were "blind to their own fallibility" and "more impulsive". They also drive faster with a young passenger, particularly a male.

And of course, 'every' driver considers themself to be 'the best driver in the world'... And not just the young show-off hot-heads.


Nearby, there's been a few crashes at an innocuous looking junction. Interestingly, the police have now put up signs on lamp posts leading up to the junction showing a diagram of how the crashes keep happening. Hopefully, it might educate the remaining expert drivers for why it is dangerous to ignore the white paint on the road...

I think that we should all be required to retake a driving test every five years, including hazard and risk assessment.

There's a lot of very sloppy driving...


Regards,
Martin

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

And of course, 'every' driver considers themself to be 'the best driver in the world'... And not just the young show-off hot-heads.

Perhaps putting quotes around 'every' was to indicate you do not really mean such a sweeping generalization.

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Capitalize on this good fortune, one word can bring you round ... changes.

And of course, 'every' driver considers themself to be 'the best driver in the world'... And not just the young show-off hot-heads.

Perhaps putting quotes around 'every' was to indicate you do not really mean such a sweeping generalization.

Do you not consider yourself to be a "good and conscientious driver"?

Regards,
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)