Cops, what will they think of next?
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: Hampton Roads, Virginia
I'm not
convinced that speed is a major accident cause. It seems that on our local interstates when traffic is moving at the speed limit, or above (yes that means speeding, duh) very few accidents occur. 
It's when traffic is being slowed by various reasons and everyone's changing lanes to avoid the slower lanes then we have major accidents.
There are plenty of times when a slow down needs to be heeded. Examples being heavy rain, snow, fog, and other weather related situations. Also during interstate constructions areas, which is a constant for our area.
Drivers not keeping their attention on actually driving is another big reason for deadly accidents. Stop talking on your cell phones,
eating your lunch, reading the paper, typing on your laptop, putting on make up, shaving, turning to the rear seat to attend to you child strapped in a car seat, etc., etc., etc. Driving is taking everyones life around you in your hands. 
Do it and do it safely.
I know I'm going to be slammed for the above statement, but so be it. I feel much safer on our highways when traffic is moving at a steady pace. Lets also face the fact that our cars are all made to be driver at higher speeds than 55mph.
So getting back to the thread at hand. I think our police departments need to be able to actually give tickets for drivers slowing the traffic patterns down. 
Yes, whip out that ticket book and hit them with reckless driving, because that's exactly what it is. We need to have police driving around giving tickets to people doing all the above listed problems, which can be classified as reckless driving. I never hear of these type tickets being dished out. Hard to prove? Bull! Look at all the accidents this behavior has caused. Just my 2 cents.
convinced that speed is a major accident cause. It seems that on our local interstates when traffic is moving at the speed limit, or above (yes that means speeding, duh) very few accidents occur. It's when traffic is being slowed by various reasons and everyone's changing lanes to avoid the slower lanes then we have major accidents. There are plenty of times when a slow down needs to be heeded.
Examples being heavy rain, snow, fog, and other weather related situations. Also during interstate constructions areas, which is a constant for our area.Drivers not keeping their attention on actually driving is another big reason for deadly accidents. Stop talking on your cell phones,
eating your lunch, reading the paper, typing on your laptop, putting on make up, shaving, turning to the rear seat to attend to you child strapped in a car seat, etc., etc., etc. Driving is taking everyones life around you in your hands. Do it and do it safely. I know I'm going to be slammed for the above statement,
but so be it. I feel much safer on our highways when traffic is moving at a steady pace. Lets also face the fact that our cars are all made to be driver at higher speeds than 55mph. So getting back to the thread at hand.
I think our police departments need to be able to actually give tickets for drivers slowing the traffic patterns down. Yes, whip out that ticket book and hit them with reckless driving, because that's exactly what it is. We need to have police driving around giving tickets to people doing all the above listed problems, which can be classified as reckless driving. I never hear of these type tickets being dished out. Hard to prove? Bull! Look at all the accidents this behavior has caused. Just my 2 cents. It's not the speed that kills people, it's the people not paying attention, driving like a jerk, coming in on my lane because they didn't check beside them... It is crazy to have the interstate speedlimit 55 when I can go on a back road that has a speed limit of 60 or 65. Virginia SUCKS! In VA the only tickets they care about are people who have car hobbies and want to write you tickets for the aftermarket parts on your car, even though I am registered in another state! In VA, basically if it isn't OEM, it's illegal. Just because I drive a tuner car doesn't me I am a ricer that street races. 
5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,054
Likes: 0
From: USA
The town must pay Officer training, equipment, hourly salary of the officer being out there (and benfits like ins), all the support staff their train their equipment, fuel costs, prosecuting attorney, clerks to enter the tickets, jugdes,overtime for the officers to be in court. Many towns even lose money and often times money will go to county, state or federal level and the town still incurs all thecosts of staffing traing,etc.
6th Gear
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,845
Likes: 0
From: Oswego, IL
Here's a link about Geneva. They claim it will be revenue neutral for the city once 60 tickets are written. So what happens over the 60, it becomes a positive revenue stream.
Public safety, please..... it all comes down to the Almighty dollar.
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/b...EVA_S1.article
Public safety, please..... it all comes down to the Almighty dollar.
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/b...EVA_S1.article
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 488
Likes: 0
From: Haus of Gaga
yup, its all about the dollar NOT safety.
i also agree that slow drivers should be ticketed. it is such a hazzard and i'm going to sound like a jerk but...old drivers? bless your heart for still being independent and not relying on someone else, but more than likely your eyesight and reaction time is not in top shape.
don't get me started on trucks that completely destroy the roads.
i was watching a program a few years back about the construction of the autobahn and its abosolutely nuts! plus, the germans are really strict on licensing, the cars that are allowed on the road, the age you're licensed which is 18 i think. driving is considered a huge responsibility and privilige, maybe i'm pulling this out of my butt but i think cars don't come with cupholders because drinking, eating, and doing anything other than driving while driving is so taboo.
i also agree that slow drivers should be ticketed. it is such a hazzard and i'm going to sound like a jerk but...old drivers? bless your heart for still being independent and not relying on someone else, but more than likely your eyesight and reaction time is not in top shape.
don't get me started on trucks that completely destroy the roads.
i was watching a program a few years back about the construction of the autobahn and its abosolutely nuts! plus, the germans are really strict on licensing, the cars that are allowed on the road, the age you're licensed which is 18 i think. driving is considered a huge responsibility and privilige, maybe i'm pulling this out of my butt but i think cars don't come with cupholders because drinking, eating, and doing anything other than driving while driving is so taboo.
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 553
Likes: 0
From: Texas
I completely agree red light cameras are a good thing. People who have a wreckless disregard for traffic signals deserve a ticket for it. I don't think they are 100% accurate but they do well enough that if you get one in the mail, you probably deserved it.
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 15,966
Likes: 1
Yeah, I just wish the damn things didn't always set off the laser alert on my detector!
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,133
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From: Хьюсмон
I'm not sure where all the funds from Houston's red light camera fines is going but I believe most of it is going to purchase new cop cars for the force. I'm not against that, Houston needs a well supplied police force.... for more than speeding because I would say that the majority of service the police do here is not traffic related.....
my daughter had a special meeting at work yesterday to retrain everyone in safety issues.... seems some Panera Bread sites in Houston have been getting hit by armed robbers.....
so hey, give the cops the cars in my book, they can get to robberies faster.
I will have to say though that having red light cameras does make me not want to loan my car to anyone. I'm not paying for their ticket and having it on my record.... thank you no.
Our small town (north of Houston) just passed a red light camera ordinance. They come right out and say it's for revenue purposes, not safety. No beating around the bush with them.
my daughter had a special meeting at work yesterday to retrain everyone in safety issues.... seems some Panera Bread sites in Houston have been getting hit by armed robbers.....
so hey, give the cops the cars in my book, they can get to robberies faster.
I will have to say though that having red light cameras does make me not want to loan my car to anyone. I'm not paying for their ticket and having it on my record.... thank you no.
Our small town (north of Houston) just passed a red light camera ordinance. They come right out and say it's for revenue purposes, not safety. No beating around the bush with them.
1st Gear
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: South Jersey
While I do agree with the quote, I don't quite think it applies here.
OVERDRIVE
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,926
Likes: 40
From: Greensboro, NC
In the 65K plus miles in my Mini alone, I have only witnessed two maybe three people running stop lights...that includes the other 100k with my daily driver...I guess it must be a "Inner City" problem so keep the cameras in the city where they belong?
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,694
Likes: 0
From: Central NJ
I don't live in an inner city (many small towns in central NJ) and I see people running red lights frequently. The other thing they do is make a right on red without stopping.
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 15,966
Likes: 1
I lived in Central Jersey, too, and I found the opposite problem: People sitting at sop signs waiting for them to turn green.
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,133
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From: Хьюсмон
I can guarantee you I see at least two red light runners every single day. Both in the city and out here on the fringes. Having come within millimeters of being creamed by one of those red light runners I have no sympathy for law breakers who think their couple of minutes of waiting at light is more important than my life. No sympathy at all.
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 15,966
Likes: 1
I can guarantee you I see at least two red light runners every single day. Both in the city and out here on the fringes. Having come within millimeters of being creamed by one of those red light runners I have no sympathy for law breakers who think their couple of minutes of waiting at light is more important than my life. No sympathy at all.
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,133
Likes: 0
From: Хьюсмон
oh sure, take my words and post them on the HMP thread illustrating the lack of grammatical correctness in writing. 
(I AM the queen of run-on sentences!)
Yup, the same two..... they get around alot. Red light ******.
(I AM the queen of run-on sentences!)Yup, the same two..... they get around alot. Red light ******.
OVERDRIVE
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,926
Likes: 40
From: Greensboro, NC
I can guarantee you I see at least two red light runners every single day. Both in the city and out here on the fringes. Having come within millimeters of being creamed by one of those red light runners I have no sympathy for law breakers who think their couple of minutes of waiting at light is more important than my life. No sympathy at all.
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,694
Likes: 0
From: Central NJ
People sitting at sop signs waiting for them to turn green.
That spell checker would sure come in handy!
5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,054
Likes: 0
From: USA
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