OK, it's a provocative title, but the article itself is interesting in that in delves into our behavior on the road, and that includes both motorists and cyclists. With the talk about the possible reintroduction of a national 55 mph speed limit, individual adherence to the law is an apropos subject.
http://washcycle.typepad.com/home/2008/07/the-myth-of-the.html
(excerpt)
Whenever you read an article about cycling in the city, or a discussion of transportation involving cycling it is highly likely that you'll read a comment like this:
"I will 'share the road' when cyclists start 'obeying the traffic laws.'"
and this
"I always see bikers disobeying traffic signals. They always run red lights going across R Street and Connecticut Ave"
and this
Before encouraging people to cycle and spending millions of pounds of our money in the process, the Government should have down some groundwork to make roads safer for all of us. [WC: Sounds reasonable]
Making cyclists observe a few traffic laws - such as stopping at traffic lights and zebra crossings - would have been a welcome start.[WC: Really? You'd START with cyclists?]
In fact after Alice Swanson's death, many comments on the post, DCist and elsewhere mentioned that something like this was bound to happen because of the illegal manner in which most cyclists ride. Despite the fact that there seems to be no indication that she did anything illegal.
Which leads to what I call "The Myth of the Scofflaw Cyclist".
quote:
Originally posted by Ed W
With the talk about the possible reintroduction of a national 55 mph speed limit, individual adherence to the law is an apropos subject.
The US tried Prohibition in the 20th century. It didn't work.
We tried 55 MPH, an arbitrary number that never fit any of the cars I owned, and it didn't work. Both sides have plenty of statistics "prooving" their side is correct but the American driver didn't want it. Let drivers find the speed their car gives them the economy they want. Eventually we will vote with our wallets.
quote:
We tried 55 MPH, an arbitrary number that never fit any of the cars I owned, and it didn't work. Both sides have plenty of statistics "prooving" their side is correct but the American driver didn't want it. Let drivers find the speed their car gives them the economy they want.
55 was arbitrary but on the low side, on the other hand, a road with everyone cruising at their own different rates could have it's own hazards.
quote:
Originally posted by patric
55 was arbitrary but on the low side, on the other hand, a road with everyone cruising at their own different rates could have it's own hazards.
That pretty much covers every highway I've been on unless there's a traffic jam.
quote:
Originally posted by patric
55 was arbitrary but on the low side, on the other hand, a road with everyone cruising at their own different rates could have it's own hazards.
It does indeed cause problems in this country thanks to our lack of driver training that leads to people thinking that there's no need to practice lane discipline, use their signals, or be even moderately predictable on the road.
The problem comes in when one guy is cruising along passing folks in the left lane at 75MPH and some joker doing 55MPH decides they need to pass someone going 53MPH but doesn't bother to check their mirror and signal before moving left.
With proper signals and people actually keeping right except when passing, road users of many speeds can coexist.
quote:
Originally posted by nathanm
quote:
Originally posted by patric
55 was arbitrary but on the low side, on the other hand, a road with everyone cruising at their own different rates could have it's own hazards.
It does indeed cause problems in this country thanks to our lack of driver training that leads to people thinking that there's no need to practice lane discipline, use their signals, or be even moderately predictable on the road.
The problem comes in when one guy is cruising along passing folks in the left lane at 75MPH and some joker doing 55MPH decides they need to pass someone going 53MPH but doesn't bother to check their mirror and signal before moving left.
With proper signals and people actually keeping right except when passing, road users of many speeds can coexist.
The German Autobahn is proof you are correct. In Germany, people actually have to learn to drive before getting a license.
I thought this was a thread about Paul Tay....
It seems like we just go in circles and history really does repeat it's self. Looks like the 55 mph is going to come back to save fuel and so we won't have to drill for our oil, with no thoughts of the future oil problems they let the enviromental-wackos set the agenda for all Americans. What will gas prices be like in the summer of 2009? no one cares or plans for that- It also looks like many of Jimmy Carters failed policys will be be returning such as more taxes on oil companies. That will bring back lines to the gas pumps and dry gas stations of the Jimmy Carter era. Remember the signs back then "Sorry out of gas" and "No Gas Today" then we had the odd/even gasoline rationing system based on the last number of your license tag. All that is coming back it looks like.[xx(]
quote:
Originally posted by nathanm
quote:
Originally posted by patric
55 was arbitrary but on the low side, on the other hand, a road with everyone cruising at their own different rates could have it's own hazards.
It does indeed cause problems in this country thanks to our lack of driver training that leads to people thinking that there's no need to practice lane discipline, use their signals, or be even moderately predictable on the road.
The problem comes in when one guy is cruising along passing folks in the left lane at 75MPH and some joker doing 55MPH decides they need to pass someone going 53MPH but doesn't bother to check their mirror and signal before moving left.
With proper signals and people actually keeping right except when passing, road users of many speeds can coexist.
Your correct, and to get a drivers license here in the USA is far to easy, in Europe it's much more harder. In the USA if you fail a test you can keep re-taking that test over & over & over till you pass it one fine day. Ohio gives the written test in many other languages, so that driver can drive but can't read English road signs. Then you have illegals driving with no license or insurance. I favor a max. driving age of 70 years old and a min. driving age of 18. I feel once your over 70 you lost too much ability to drive safely, your reaction time is way low and driving is all about eye & hand reactions.
quote:
Originally posted by sauerkraut
I favor a max. driving age of 70 years old and a min. driving age of 18. I feel once your over 70 you lost too much ability to drive safely, your reaction time is way low and driving is all about eye & hand reactions.
It would be interesting to know if you feel the same way as you get close to 70. Some are fine drivers at 70. Others should never have been issued a license at all.