[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by ChicagoM4

I never understood the time and money people put into not getting a speeding ticket these days (radar, jammers, camo plates, etc). I would hope the drivers that I assume speed on a regular basis for which a ticket would be issued know that speeding causes more than 10,000 deaths per year (a large amount of the entire road related deaths). If you want to drive faster than the speed limit than either face the consequences or put up some $$ to get on a track / private road.

http://www.ghsa.org/html/media/press...308_speed.html



Moderator Note: thread split off from radar detector discussion.

Most of it is to protect drivers against speed traps which solely exist to generate revenue for a jurisdiction. Look at DC, there's a section of I-395 through DC that's three lanes wide, straight stretch of road, and very little in the way of exits and on-ramps. Speed limit through that section? 45 mph. That stretch of road also has a fair share of speed cameras, at least until recently. Revenue has dropped in DC from speed cameras since people know where they are now so the city took it upon themselves to move them to other speed traps.

In those instances, the speed limits aren't there for safety, they're there to generate revenue, plain and simple.

[Mr Tonka]

Originally Posted by ChicagoM4

Well, there goes the civil conversation (usually an older 1 series lowly)

I never said you don't get what you pay for when it comes to radar detectors so I don't know why you assume I disregarded that.

Seems like you live in Texas where you have to take a highway anytime you want to go somewhere, where I live I could spend a whole month and not even have to break 35mph. I'm not going to spend a bunch of money on something that I won't use that often. Of course, some people always have to have the best, but not me.

Also, by your same logic, why don't you pony up for the Escort 9500ci instead of cheaping out on the $500 junk. Seems to be ~$2000 but you get what you pay for.

Says he won't spend money on something he won't use that often. Buys and M4 and typically can't break 35mph where he lives.

I don't think you're a dumb ass or a hypocrite. I think that you often make decisions without fulling thinking them through. Same thing for car forum posts. Nothing wrong with that by the way.

I agree with davis though, if you're going to radar up, go for the quality units.

[Fahrvergnügen]

Originally Posted by Mr Tonka

Says he won't spend money on something he won't use that often. Buys and M4 and typically can't break 35mph where he lives.

I don't think you're a dumb ass or a hypocrite. I think that you often make decisions without fulling thinking them through. Same thing for car forum posts. Nothing wrong with that by the way.

I agree with davis though, if you're going to radar up, go for the quality units.

I didn't say I typically can't break 35mph, I said I don't have to. I could drive Lake Shore Drive, Lower Wacker at good speeds and Road America/Autobahn CC are within a few hours of me. I also didn't buy an M4 just to go fast, if that were the only priority I wouldn't have gotten the car in the first place.

Thanks for diagnosing someone's life based on a few forum posts, too. Really impactful.

[upstatedoc]

Originally Posted by ChicagoM4

Also, by your same logic, why don't you pony up for the Escort 9500ci instead of cheaping out on the $500 junk. Seems to be ~$2000 but you get what you pay for.

A fellow enthusiast just did some testing with a redline and 9500ci. Take a look:

http://www.rdforum.org/showthread.ph...line+vs+9500ci

[V1.47fan]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

I find it hard to believe you got pulled over twice for 2mph over the speed limit. That's really unheard of around here..

You drive an M4, buy something better^^

+1

Most states, give you 5 mph over the speed limit, South Dakota included, I've taken the trip to Sturgis. Not to mention on most BMW's the higher your speed, the higher the speedo error.

When showing 86 mph, you're actually doing 80 mph or so...

[bmwmsport]

Originally Posted by V1.47fan

+1

Most states, give you 5 mph over the speed limit, South Dakota included, I've taken the trip to Sturgis. Not to mention on most BMW's the higher your speed, the higher the speedo error.

When showing 86 mph, you're actually doing 80 mph or so...

Here in MS you can do 10 over most of the time in most places, just be careful and watch your surroundings. As long as you're not the a**holes who text and drive, that really gets on my nerves. That's what really causes accidents. Not speed, it's tailgating and people not paying attention.

[V1.47fan]

I heard the reason why most states wont give you a ticket for going 2 mph over, is because their radar guns has a margin of error as well.
At higher speeds it can be as high as +/- 2mph.

[bmwmsport]

I wonder how they account for speedometer error. If you change the tire size at all, your speedo will be off. Would be nice if police could take that factor into account.

I was always taught they will give you 5-7mph warning, maybe my family is just full of speed demons though

[Bobble]

Originally Posted by ChicagoM4

I've driven on the autobahn quite often and many parts actually have speed limits, especially around cities where more people are driving. I don't think the Autobahn system is necessarily the answer to lower speed-related traffic deaths, but rather more educated/skilled drivers. Germany has better driver education and other laws regarding traffic other than speeding that is strictly enforced to increase safety and allow for higher speeds. In America, any 16 idiot can get a license, slow-poke in the fast lane while texting and not realize his tire is flat, haha.

And in Germany you don't get a license at 16 and when you do it's somewhat provisional and if you get a ticket under that provisional license you are screwed as you lose it and getting one back takes time. I have several relatives who have had this happen or their kids have. In one case Opa bought my nephew a new 1er got a ticket during his provisional time and lost his license for 18 months. He rode a scooter in rural Germany in the freezing cold learned his lesson. Also the left lane is strictly enforced as passing only and anyone can use it to pass. As someone else said you can be tooling along at a buck ten and have a cargo van pull in front at 60 to pass a slower vehicle and perfectly legal. Also flashing to pass is another issue everyone seems to point to, do that to someone and expect an interesting expression. It's a whole other thing to drive the autobahn for 2 weeks and to live there and drive the autobahn or the autostrada in Italy for that matter. And as you said the vast majority does have speed limits and even in the portions where it's open it's still limited to what is safe, can't do a 100 in the fog regardless of the limit, it will get you ticketed.

[Fahrvergnügen]

Originally Posted by Bobble

And in Germany you don't get a license at 16 and when you do it's somewhat provisional and if you get a ticket under that provisional license you are screwed as you lose it and getting one back takes time. I have several relatives who have had this happen or their kids have. In one case Opa bought my nephew a new 1er got a ticket during his provisional time and lost his license for 18 months. He rode a scooter in rural Germany in the freezing cold learned his lesson. Also the left lane is strictly enforced as passing only and anyone can use it to pass. As someone else said you can be tooling along at a buck ten and have a cargo van pull in front at 60 to pass a slower vehicle and perfectly legal. Also flashing to pass is another issue everyone seems to point to, do that to someone and expect an interesting expression. It's a whole other thing to drive the autobahn for 2 weeks and to live there and drive the autobahn or the autostrada in Italy for that matter. And as you said the vast majority does have speed limits and even in the portions where it's open it's still limited to what is safe, can't do a 100 in the fog regardless of the limit, it will get you ticketed.

In some states (Illinois and Indiana for example) it is actually illegal to "sit" in the fast lane, even if you are doing the speed limit. The problem, however, is that I've never heard of this being enforced and I've definitely never seen cops pull someone over for it while driving.

[ehoffman]

Originally Posted by ChicagoM4

In some states (Illinois and Indiana for example) it is actually illegal to "sit" in the fast lane, even if you are doing the speed limit. The problem, however, is that I've never heard of this being enforced and I've definitely never seen cops pull someone over for it while driving.

Just to clarify, the left lane is not the fast lane, it is the passing lane. I think this is a common misconception. Even If I'm cruising on the highway at 90 I only use the left lane to pass and get very frustrated when somebody is sitting in the left lane on a wide open road, no matter how fast they're going! Personally, I think people should generally treat every highway like the autobahn. I do realize in traffic where there's an exit every half mile, you need to get in the lane to be courteous and let someone on but the second there's a space available in the right lane you better get back over. Unfortunately, I'm in the Midwest where few people understand 'real' traffic and know how to navigate it.

Just my .02...

[ehoffman]

Originally Posted by ASAP

Number one killer on the roads is inattentive drivers, not very confident maneuvers and simply not being aware of your surroundings.

Thank you!

The notion that 'speed kills' and is a significant factor in causing accidents is ridiculous. It causes larger wrecks, but I don't think it increases the amount of them. What does kill is inattentive driving, texting, and a general lack of confidence. I realize some may think the following is naive, but when I'm speeding I'm even MORE attentive, observant, and analytical. Im constantly checking all my mirrors so I know who's around me at all times. It's mindless driving (at any speed) is what kills.

The legitimate argument is that speeding impairs you're reaction time slightly, some of which is negated by big brakes. Again, I know it sounds naive, but I've driven friends cars and I have to make note to brake much sooner than in my E92.

I'm certainly not arguing that speed is NOT a factor in accidents, I would just argue that's it's a much less significant factor than most people think.

[V1.47fan]

Originally Posted by ehoffman

Thank you!

The notion that 'speed kills' and is a significant factor in causing accidents is ridiculous. It causes larger wrecks, but I don't think it increases the amount of them. What does kill is inattentive driving, texting, and a general lack of confidence. I realize some may think the following is naive, but when I'm speeding I'm even MORE attentive, observant, and analytical. Im constantly checking all my mirrors so I know who's around me at all times. It's mindless driving (at any speed) is what kills.

The legitimate argument is that speeding impairs you're reaction time slightly, some of which is negated by big brakes. Again7, I know it sounds naive, but I've driven friends cars and I have to make note to brake much sooner than in my E92.

I'm certainly not arguing that speed is NOT a factor in accidents, I would just argue that's it's a much less significant factor than most people think.

Inattentive drivers are more dangerous at 80 mph than at 55 mph, they're covering more ground blind for every second they have their eyes off the road. Plus the increased stopping distance at 80 mph vs 55 mph.

[Jim621]

My idea to reduce d'head drivers is use public opinion to put a 'black mark' against bad drivers. If you use a voting system where if someone cuts you off or speeds past you at a rate of knots, you can put their numberplate into a register on the net, then once the driver of that numberplate gets a certain number of vote then he/she loses their ability to drive for a day/week/month depending on the severity and speed at which they accrued the vote.
Obviously the system would have to be set up where is not that easy to register a vote against someone (so people only vote against real d'heads), and would only let you register so many votes against a single person in a certain timeframe (so you didn't just get your 80year old neighbour putting bogus votes against you for having a loud exhaust).

This would not be easy to regulate - but would give the general driving public some sort of authority that might change the behaviour of some people.

Steve

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by Jim621

My idea to reduce d'head drivers is use public opinion to put a 'black mark' against bad drivers. If you use a voting system where if someone cuts you off or speeds past you at a rate of knots, you can put their numberplate into a register on the net, then once the driver of that numberplate gets a certain number of vote then he/she loses their ability to drive for a day/week/month depending on the severity and speed at which they accrued the vote.
Obviously the system would have to be set up where is not that easy to register a vote against someone (so people only vote against real d'heads), and would only let you register so many votes against a single person in a certain timeframe (so you didn't just get your 80year old neighbour putting bogus votes against you for having a loud exhaust).

This would not be easy to regulate - but would give the general driving public some sort of authority that might change the behaviour of some people.

Steve

I've had wet dreams over something like this, but I always envision a suction device where I can record audio and/or video evidence of the person's stupid move, then shoot it onto their car. To get them removed, person has to go to DMV and have an officer review all the attached darts. Accumulation of darts is a visible warning to other drivers on the road.