ped@bunkerb.UUCP (Paul) (02/08/84)
In response to the fellow who said that speeding causes most accidents, I FIRMLY disagree. I have noticed MANY times that the cause seems to be more from lack of judgement. I watch a driver doing 50 miles a hour in the snow, then some slow driver pulls out in front of him, just like they would on a dry road not leaving the fast driver enough time to stop. I see the same thing on dry roads. A driver should look in his mirror TWO or THREE times so that he can judge the speed which someone is doing. To look once see a hole and jump in when the approaching drive is closing the gap fast has caused about 6 out of 7 accidents that I have seen in the past 2 years.
jbray@bbncca.ARPA (James Bray) (02/10/84)
Now wait a minute: what makes you think these turkeys look at all before pulling out in front of someone? I don't think they do, especially the nice slow 'safe driver' kinds which most of them seem to be. It is invariably the turkeys who pull out right in front of one, taxing one's admittedly superior skill, reflexes and brakes as one quickly avoids running into them, who then proceed to do the speed limit on the nose, or perhaps a few miles under for good measure, no doubt congratulating themselves on their nice safe driving (safe=slow in the primitive turkey mind) as a line of twenty or thirty cars builds up behind them containing more usual types of drivers, the sort who often do around 62 or 65 or whatever the actual average is, who make at least cursory use of windows and mirrors, and have at least the rudiments of politeness so clearly lacking in the mental defective leading this lugubrious army at a speed appropriate to the funeral procession which it by now resembles, as the turkey no doubt ruminates about being a taxpayer and it being their right to block traffic if they so desire, while visions of homicide dance in the minds of the frustrated and by now quite late commuters behind... Let's face it: we're talking 'unsafe at any speed'. --Jim Bray (decvax!bbncca!jbray)
cwh@drufl.UUCP (Hoffmeyer) (02/10/84)
I understand that jackasses bray.
edhall@randvax.ARPA (Ed Hall) (02/11/84)
-------------------- This is silly; you can claim that almost any accident is the other person's fault by saying `they should have been looking'. Why, if I decide to drive down the wrong side of the road I can blame anyone that hits me, as they certainly should have seen me. Having an accident because you weren't able to stop or swerve in time almost always indicates excessive speed. If road conditions are poor, the sensible thing to do is slow down enough so that your control of the car isn't hampered by it. It is hardly sensible to expect the *other* driver to give you more room to speed in. The physics are very simple: double your speed and you quadruple your kinetic energy, you quadruple your stopping distance, and you quadruple the side-forces on your car when you swerve. No way am I going to depend upon the other driver to watch out for me. -Ed Hall decvax!randvax!edhall
jbray@bbncca.ARPA (James Bray) (02/11/84)
You're right, creep. We also bite. Why don't you sign your 'words of wit'? Even if you have the sort of dull, humorless name that goes with what is no doubt your sort of person, I'm sure I could get some mileage out of it if I was desperate enough. On second thought, forget it: I don't think I am. Be a good boy and stay out of New England. Your kind doesn't last long here. --Jim Bray (decvax!bbncca!jbray)
bees@druxy.UUCP (DavisRB) (02/13/84)
Very well put! A perfect description of what I termed an oblivinoid in
a previous article.
I enjoy driving very fast, usually 90 to 110. Although my car is very
stable and capable at these speeds, I rarely find it safe to travel this
fast, even when the highway is nearly empty. There is always one oblivinoid
intent on pacing the car next to him/her.
Thanks to excellent braking, I can always (so far) avoid truncating the
rear end of an oblivinoid. After following the geek long enough for
him to get at least one car length ahead of the car in the right lane,
I'll patiently wait for him to change lanes. An oblivinoid, by nature,
rarely bothers to change lanes back to the right, so I either follow
the geek for eternity (thus helping to hold up traffic), or I pass on
the right.
So, not only does the oblivinoid pull out in front of faster drivers,
but he forces these drivers to pass on the right. [ Of course, the
second before you pass, the oblivinoid usually changes lanes to the
right without signaling. ]
Anybody else ever wish they had a cannon mounted behind their grill?
Ray Davis AT&T Information Systems Laboratories Denver
{ihnp4|hogpc}!druxy!bees (303)538-3991robert@erix.UUCP (Robert Virding) (02/13/84)
I think your example just proves my point. Driving 50 mph in the snow results in having a LONG stopping distance. One of the major problems with winter driving is adjusting the speed to handle to the slippery roads and many accidents in winter come from driving as if it were summer on the road. But I agree the driver pulling out should have looked better. The main reason in having speed limits to allow greater time to react if something happens, that' why the speed is slower in built up areas. And in most accidents "there wasn't time to ....", or "he came out so fast ..." is the usual excuse for not being able to avoid the accident. Also whatever the cause of the accident a higher speed will increase damage that results. While you can do very little about stupidty, you can help to lessen the effects, and one way of doing this is through speed limits. Robert Virding
julian@deepthot.UUCP (Julian Davies) (02/16/84)
Well I like to drive a wee bit too fast as well, on back-roads where there isn't much traffic. However, I do find that when stuck behind something slow and obstacular, it is a good opportunity to remind myself that there's more to life than living in the fast lane. A conscious attempt to relax and unwind perhaps will keep me from my first heart atttack or whatever for a bit longer.