[boomhwr]

Why don't we look at traffic fatality statistics since the 70's? Deaths have decreased since the slower speed limits and there are years of stats at NHTSA's website. Speed limits are determined by the engineers who built the roads and there is a margin of safety added in, since it is all vehicles. I really would like to see where all this revenue is going. My department may get $1 off each ticket, the rest to pay for the courts, road improvement fund and driver/rider education.

 

[OydnaR]

Out of curiosity since most speed limits on interstates are 70 MPH and you have deemed them idiotic what would you set the speed limits at?

you don't travel in the northeast much do ya, we have to ride 500 miles or more to see a 70mph speed limit

 

[kenneth_moore]

Out of curiosity since most speed limits on interstates are 70 MPH and you have deemed them idiotic what would you set the speed limits at?

The most intelligent process for setting speed limits is to base it on the average speed of the traffic. AAA and some other organizations have been proposing this for years. In my area on the highways, that would put it in the 80-85 mph range. It's a very safe speed for modern vehicles.

 

[kenneth_moore]

Why don't we look at traffic fatality statistics since the 70's? Deaths have decreased since the slower speed limits and there are years of stats at NHTSA's website. Speed limits are determined by the engineers who built the roads and there is a margin of safety added in, since it is all vehicles. I really would like to see where all this revenue is going. My department may get $1 off each ticket, the rest to pay for the courts, road improvement fund and driver/rider education.

Speed limits have nothing to do with traffic fatalities. Compare US traffic deaths per driver to Europe's. They have much higher speed limits than us, or no limits at all, and their deaths are far lower.

You're making up the "fact" on speed limits being set by engineers. That's total BS. The US Interstate system was designed for 100 mph traffic. It was the design standard when the highways were built. Speed limits are set by municipalities, counties, and occasionally the state, with upper limits set by the Feds by withholding funding if the states exceed their idiotic limits. That's why the speed limit on I-95 changes 4 times in the 20 mile stretch I ride to work every day. It's the same damn road, the same number of lanes, and it's Florida, no curves, hills, etc.

 

[Bamaboy]

Why don't we look at traffic fatality statistics since the 70's? Deaths have decreased since the slower speed limits and there are years of stats at NHTSA's website. Speed limits are determined by the engineers who built the roads and there is a margin of safety added in, since it is all vehicles. I really would like to see where all this revenue is going. My department may get $1 off each ticket, the rest to pay for the courts, road improvement fund and driver/rider education.

I would think the decrease in deaths is due more to mandatory seat belt laws.

I always wear seat belts and helmets even if it is not the law. The collision is what can kill you.

 

[boomhwr]

The design of the road is to handle the higher speeds, other factors that go into it are the abilities of the average driver, the condition of the average vehicle and hazzards of the surrounding area such as animals or other environmental issues. I don't have freeway's in my area but I see why there are changes or as some call "speed traps", which I play in. Having spent hours having a road design explained and why the speed is 55 instead of 65 for visibility reasons makes me wonder where you get your information.

And Bama, there have been a lot of advances in road design as well as the cars.

 

[tmcgee]

Design Speed of Roads

This is heavy reading, but a pretty good doc about the design speed engineering that goes into roads.

http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/nchrp_rpt_504.pdf

 

[kenneth_moore]

This is heavy reading, but a pretty good doc about the design speed engineering that goes into roads.

http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/nchrp_rpt_504.pdf

From the document:

Geometric design practitioners and researchers are, however, increasingly recognizing that the current design process does not ensure consistent roadway alignment or driver behavior along these alignments.

I was just going to say that myself.

 

[Shep]

I would go with a jammer instead of a detector, and maybe soon there will be one that permanently fries a laser gun.

 

[Bamaboy]

The design of the road is to handle the higher speeds, other factors that go into it are the abilities of the average driver, the condition of the average vehicle and hazzards of the surrounding area such as animals or other environmental issues. I don't have freeway's in my area but I see why there are changes or as some call "speed traps", which I play in. Having spent hours having a road design explained and why the speed is 55 instead of 65 for visibility reasons makes me wonder where you get your information.

And Bama, there have been a lot of advances in road design as well as the cars.

True, hence my V-Stroms ability to handle higher speeds very safely.

The main thing is to drive safe and be prepared. .. and watch out for cops!

 

[Bamaboy]

I would go with a jammer instead of a detector, and maybe soon there will be one that permanently fries a laser gun.

Amen to that!

 

[garandman]

TMCGEE,

Read the whole thing please. If you arent speeding, no need for the detector right? If you ARE speeding intentional or not you are breaking the law, so the SOLE purpose is to circumvent detection by authorities, you may call it awareness, but it is AWARENESS that you are breaking the law, if you are under speed you dont have to worry about it, if you check your mirrors regularly, you can check your speedo regularly without the beep to remind you. Please remember that there is no required mental state of culpability for a traffic offense, intended or not speeding ie speeding.//

Sure, if police departments weren't under pressure to produce revenue and write more tickets - which they are. Some towns in MA are writing $15.00 per resident driver per year, while others are at $0.50 and the average is $4.50.

If police gave each other tickets for the same arbitrary speeding assignments the rest of us get, you might feel differently.

 

[Bamaboy]

A little off topic or noteworthy rant

Regardless of whether it is a high degree of dickage, or because you are purchasing equipment whose SOLE use is to help circumvent the law (intended breakage or not) yes most officers are FAR more likely to cite you if you have a detector, in some states they are illegal to own or operate (dont know if your is one of them, mine isnt)

You should be able to purchase a fairly nice one for 200 or under.

Here are your limitations.

Lidar, if you get pinged long enough to register your screwed they have you

Radar, only helps if you catch the copper pinging the guy ahead of you.

Time over distance (going back to old school) lines on the road or known landmarks and a stopwatch (this gets used more often now in areas of high speed traffic where your boy racers hang out)

In Texas (and probably everywhere else as well) I dont have to use a radar at all, should I with my training and experience ( the legaleze catch phrase) deem that you were travelling on our public roadway at a speed that was too fast for conditions, then I can cite you for such. Also careless and reckless driving. No I dont have to show you the radar, no I dont have to be wearing my hat to be in "uniform".


Now here is where is what I have found to be the MOST use useful tool to get out of a ticket, Courtesy, Honesty, Humor.

I get pulled over from time to time and BEFORE they know that I am a cop, I am generally in the Warning catagory, heres how.

1. Im pull over off the road far enough for them to make either a passenger or driver side approach.

2. If in a car the windows go down, the interior lights go on, and my hands go palm up on the steering wheel. On a bike the kickstand comes down the helmet comes off and the engine is shut down, I DO NOT get off of the bike. NOTICE I AM NOT REACHING FOR INSURANCE DRIVERS LICENSE OR ANYTHING ELSE. (Courtesy)

3. When the officer approaches let them set the stage. They will usually explain why you were stopped, etc. and ask if you for drivers license, proof of insurance etc. and generally ask if there was a reason you were doing whatever it was you were doing (speeding, weaving, no signal, etc)

3. Tell them. If they say you were speeding, you WERE speeding. The idea that they are going to lie to stroke you with a ticket is utter horseshit, there are WAY too many cars going 15-20 over every damn minute that there are PLENTY of fish in the barrel. They ask do you know how fast you were going? I answer "looks like it was TOO fast officer" You dont win arguments on the side of the road. It OK to say I wasnt paying attention, ignore the street lawyers, they give advice for when you are already screwed, Im trying to KEEP you from getting screwed.

4. Humor, if the cop seems in any way a human being, they appreciate a sense of humor ( my guys and gals including myself did halloween 07 with pig noses on) they ask how fast you were going ive said " Gee, i dont know, my head was so far up my ass that I couldnt see the speedometer OR you before you turned your lights on" we know yall get inattentive, we do to, its human nature.

Anyway, good luck with your detector purchase, just realize the inherent limitations and understand that the folks in that business are supplying both sides the first detector was built by the same folks that built the first radar gun.

Back in the 80s, when a Trooper in Tennessee pulled me over for doing 74 in a 55, he said, "boy, what is your hurry, why are you going so fast?" I told him that he must of got me while I was slowing down and that I was just testing out my car to see how fast it would go. I was doing over 100 before.

I guess he did not appreciate my humor as I got a ticket.

 

[Bamaboy]

How on Earth is any Law Enforcement Officer a threat to you?

Some are threats unfortunately.

I used to trust police officers until a jerk county cop gave my wife a ticket after a woman ran into her. We went to court and we won! A friend of mine who is a State Trooper told me it was probably because of our out of state tags.

 

[998]

So you say nothing takes precedence over the posted speed limit and then you cite one exception, which is one part of the basic speed law in your state. What about the other part about going too slow and impeding the flow of traffic? My original comment was about keeping up with traffic.

The point is that legal phrases like "reasonable and prudent" and "normal and reasonable" are the words of your local laws and they sometimes do take precedent over the numbers. Words like these are used everywhere when it comes to "basic speed law". I will grant you that what it says on the sign is usually what the limit is, but if the traffic is moving at +20, good luck pulling everyone over and making it stick.

I'm keeping the radar detector regardless of what you think my intent is, but hey, I'm also not going to wave it under your nose.

I can assure you that if you are in Georgia and you are running 20 plus over the speed limit and you are stopped for speeding you can be cited (officers discretion) and no amount of everyone else was going 90 mph will help in court. My response to that is also if you are close to a group of people who are robbing a store would you also rob the store. As for pulling everyone over I will answer this with a question. Have you ever been fishing? Have you ever caught all of the fish?
As for your intent of owning the detector I believe you have me confused with another post because I never questioned your intent and truth be known I do not care that you own a detector I was only enjoying a debate.
As for the exception I listed to the speeding (Too fast for conditions) that is a separate law written in title 40; it is not listed as an exception to a speed limit. There is also a separate law for impeding the free flow of traffic in tittle 40.

 

[998]

Some are threats unfortunately.

I used to trust police officers until a jerk county cop gave my wife a ticket after a woman ran into her. We went to court and we won! A friend of mine who is a State Trooper told me it was probably because of our out of state tags.

Ever met a Doctor who was a jerk? What about a lawyer or a mechanic? Do you now not trust all Doctors, Lawyers and mechanics? I will bet that you would not have to go far to find a jerk in your own work place every occupation has them so why is it that if one cop was a jerk to me one time in the 80's all cops everywhere are jerks?

 

[terrierterrorNH]

Only Banned

in some states they are illegal to own or operate (dont know if your is one of them, mine isnt)

In Virginia and the District of Columbia (god knows why? the traffic is always gridlocked or close to it!!)

 

[terrierterrorNH]

Your sole use assumption is not true. With nearly every patrol car in New England equipped with moving radar, for many of us a detector is no more than an immediate reminder to check your speed.

I drive/ride 50k miles a year, every year, and have a much higher exposure to getting tagged than your average commuter. I need my license to make a living and as long as there are people out there trying to take it away from me, I'll use whatever means I have to remain aware of those people.

+1, I'm getting cancer from all the radar beams I drive through on daily basis!!

 

[terrierterrorNH]

Speed limits have nothing to do with traffic fatalities. Compare US traffic deaths per driver to Europe's. They have much higher speed limits than us, or no limits at all, and their deaths are far lower.

You're making up the "fact" on speed limits being set by engineers. That's total BS. The US Interstate system was designed for 100 mph traffic. It was the design standard when the highways were built. Speed limits are set by municipalities, counties, and occasionally the state, with upper limits set by the Feds by withholding funding if the states exceed their idiotic limits. That's why the speed limit on I-95 changes 4 times in the 20 mile stretch I ride to work every day. It's the same damn road, the same number of lanes, and it's Florida, no curves, hills, etc.

The problem is to get a license in Europe can take up to a year or more and require way more training than we all got in driver's ed. They take the students out to skid pads and have them PRACTiCE on slick surfaces. Their training is close to taking a two or three day car control clinic with Skip Barber or Bob Bondourant Racing Schools. They also (rumored) have students learn how to change a tire, and figure out what is wrong when a car breaks down. Most people in the US pull over, pop the hood and dial AAA.

No one in this forum would do that with out trying to figure out what is wrong, would we

I can tell when a bunch of local kids have gotten their licenses around here. The radio is booming and they are sailing through traffic at 15+ over on a two lane rated for 45 MPH. I get the hell out of their way whether I'm on the bike or in the cage. I don't want to be part of their learning experience, especially in the winter.

 

[Bamaboy]

Ever met a Doctor who was a jerk? What about a lawyer or a mechanic? Do you now not trust all Doctors, Lawyers and mechanics? I will bet that you would not have to go far to find a jerk in your own work place every occupation has them so why is it that if one cop was a jerk to me one time in the 80's all cops everywhere are jerks?

Most doctors and lawyers are jerks. You can generally not trust doctors or lawyers as they are driven by money. Why would a cop write an unjust ticket? Do they get points for getting more tickets through?