Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Fuck speed limits, fuck tickets, and fuck quota day (no, I didn't get pulled over)

Martian · 05-02-2005, 11:38 PM

Fastest speed limit around here is 100 kmh (60 mph). That's on the 400 series highways, the closest we have to an interstate. It's fecking ridiculous.

What we need is :

A) Government mandated driver training (ie, no classes, no license) with classes teaching essential skills like collision avoidance and emergency maneuvers

B)Stricter licensing. Half the people on the roads around here should not have their licenses. Everybody fucks up once in a while, but there are those who consistently drive in an unsafe manner, which upsets traffic and begs for a collision.

C) Stiffer punishment for unsafe driving, rather than just fast driving. People who talk on cell phones while driving, eat while driving, drive recklessly or carelessly should be the ones getting the fines, not people like me who go 140 kmh on the 401 while keeping safe.

What do I do to keep safe? Two things. One is situational awareness. I don't trust other drivers, always make sure I have room to maneuver and do not get into bad positions. For that matter I don't let people get into bad positions in relation to me (ie, sitting in my blind spot). The other thing I do is drive predictably. If I'm going to go signifigantly faster than the traffic around me I'm going to make sure that they know what I'm doing well before I do it. I signal all lane changes, avoid passing on the right when possible and stick to one lane. I find that if I take the left lane I can maintain a decent speed and most people will yield the lane to me (which is only polite; I'll do the same if someone comes up behind me and wants to go faster than I choose to).

I also drive according to conditions. I know my car doesn't handle wet or slippery conditions very well, so I adjust my speed accordingly in that sort of weather. I drive like that because I want to keep myself safe. I took it upon myself to learn safer driving practices and learn how to handle my car in case I ever find myself in a tough spot. If everyone learned that sort of thing speeding would be a non-issue.

Unfortunatly, the cynic in me says that'll never happen and we'll be stuck with archaic speed limits for the forseeable future instead.

05-02-2005, 11:38 PM	#36 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	Fastest speed limit around here is 100 kmh (60 mph). That's on the 400 series highways, the closest we have to an interstate. It's fecking ridiculous. What we need is : A) Government mandated driver training (ie, no classes, no license) with classes teaching essential skills like collision avoidance and emergency maneuvers B)Stricter licensing. Half the people on the roads around here should not have their licenses. Everybody fucks up once in a while, but there are those who consistently drive in an unsafe manner, which upsets traffic and begs for a collision. C) Stiffer punishment for unsafe driving, rather than just fast driving. People who talk on cell phones while driving, eat while driving, drive recklessly or carelessly should be the ones getting the fines, not people like me who go 140 kmh on the 401 while keeping safe. What do I do to keep safe? Two things. One is situational awareness. I don't trust other drivers, always make sure I have room to maneuver and do not get into bad positions. For that matter I don't let people get into bad positions in relation to me (ie, sitting in my blind spot). The other thing I do is drive predictably. If I'm going to go signifigantly faster than the traffic around me I'm going to make sure that they know what I'm doing well before I do it. I signal all lane changes, avoid passing on the right when possible and stick to one lane. I find that if I take the left lane I can maintain a decent speed and most people will yield the lane to me (which is only polite; I'll do the same if someone comes up behind me and wants to go faster than I choose to). I also drive according to conditions. I know my car doesn't handle wet or slippery conditions very well, so I adjust my speed accordingly in that sort of weather. I drive like that because I want to keep myself safe. I took it upon myself to learn safer driving practices and learn how to handle my car in case I ever find myself in a tough spot. If everyone learned that sort of thing speeding would be a non-issue. Unfortunatly, the cynic in me says that'll never happen and we'll be stuck with archaic speed limits for the forseeable future instead.