🚀 go-pugleaf

On Fri, 03 Jul 1998 19:19:54 GMT, E. Faubion <in@the.sig> wrote:
>DPH <76256.3632@compuserve.com> wrote:
>
>>Thanks for the insight.  They do, however, know that you're back there. 
>
>Some don't.  Following some of them in a fully marked police unit in
>broad daylight has no effect on some of them.  

My favorite was one time I was driving up 1 through Oxnard in a '63 Vette.
Local in '57 Chevy with three mag wheels  and a primer side pulls up next 
to me at a light.  He revs his engine.  I rev my engine.  The light changes,
he peels out.  I drive off normally.  The police car behind me takes off
and nails the guy.

> 
>>I suspect a great percentage just don't care...
>
>This is true.
>
>>Allstate is one of the few companies not to engage in what _all_ the companies know
>>to be bogus reasoning - that tickets equate to bad driving.  _Accidents_ equate to
>>bad driving, not tickets.  And...
>
>I'm glad they found a formula that works for them.  Perhaps it'll
>catch on.
>
>>I've never run over anybody.  Did come close once - idiot STANDING IN THE RIGHT
>>TRAFFIC LANE if I-10 at 5 in the moring (THAT'S STILL _NIGHT_) waving a shirt simply
>>because he was broken down and wanted somebody to stop. 
>

I fervently believe in ABS.

>He's lucky he ain't dead.   Pedestrians all too often assume that
>because they can see the car that the driver of the car can see them.
>For many this has been a fatal mistake.
>
>>And real ones, due to the air bags.  The other "injuries" is the reason for the
>>higher insurance coverage I carry.
>
>Airbags save far more than they harm.   In time I think their
>technology will be refined to the point we don't have to mess with the

In time they will go off by themselves, gold contacts or no.

>warnings for infants and the cutoff switches like we do now.  
>

I agree they've been a net benefit, but strongly disagree in the way they
were mandated, because now we have to pay the price both in a steep 
marketing hill to climb (with all the people who think they are bad, right
or not), and in technology that was over-generalized in design causing both
the infant/short person problem and a literal time-bomb.

>>Look at the traffic flow.  Almost _everyone_ on an interstate highway is illegal most
>>of the time.
>
>Which is why we allow some leeway before pulling someone over.  

The inconsistency in leeway is unconstitutional and arbitrary.  And I'm sure
you've heard people try to tell the judge "but I thought 5mph over was a 
gimme?"

>
>>The limits there are lower than most people agree with. 
>
>I'm not so sure this is correct.   It's been a while since I've seen
>data on this subject.  The last one I read was about two years ago and
>it indicated that nationally more agreed with the limits than opposed
>them.   Perhaps you have privvy to later data?

What they say and what they feel apply to themsleves may not be congruent.

>
>>Its because the politicians set the limits, rather than the traffic engineers,
>>and those limits are set to make money for the state. 
>
>False.   This is an opinion shared by a few that has never been
>substantiated.   There are much easier ways to raise money than
>depending on fines which, in my city at least, are quite low.
>

It may be difficult to substantiate, so perhaps you could explain why there are
so many speedtraps?  www.speedtrap.com if you want some examples.

>>If you nail me for 78 in Ok when the speed
>>limit is 70, it a good ticket and an unfair bust, because I'd be driving about what
>>everyone else is driving.
>
>Doing something because 'everyone else' is doing it has never been a
>valid defense in any court I've seen.   Several years ago a local
>judge asked a defendant who'd just used that excuse if he'd follow
>another driver over a cliff or would he think for himself.  
>

I actually did follow another motorcycle rider off a cliff once.  We got 
drunk and decided to play follow the leader in the dark in the dirt on our 
little DP motorcycles.  I can still see the scar on my leg since I know where 
to look.  Great fun, but I really wouldn't recommend it.

We all grew up, got college degrees, and are mildly to wildly successful
in highly technical fields.

>>> and historically drivers (as a group) who collects
>>> tickets are historically more accident prone than the drivers who do
>>> not.
>
>>Of course.  But that does not disprove the idea that one can speed safely. 


>
>Russian Roulette can be played safely.  Stop signs and signal lights
>can be run safely.  Driving the wrong way on a one way can be done
>safely.  We can avoid paying our income tax 'safely'... the list goes
>on.... and this is not the issue.
  
OK, I'll bite... how do you play Russian Roulette safely?  Even blanks can kill.

>
>>Ya just gotta pay attention to what you're doing in order to go
>>down the road and not hit things.
>
>And following a few simple rules makes that task much easier.

Like, "be a sheep and never exceed the speed limit?"  Or is that, "Be an 
iconoclast, and never exceed the speed limit even when traffic is going faster?"

Or is it, watch out for policemen, because they care more for how you look 
than what you are actually doing?

Please, o great and wise master, tell us these simple rules that will
forever give our lives joy and freedom from oppression?

>
>>It would be interesting to examine the driving philosophies of the same people.  In
>>spite of busting up speed limits most everywhere I go, I consider myself much safer
>>than average because of the other factors.
>
>The real question is whether drivers who share the road with you
>consider you safe.  

What do their judgements have to do with actual safety?

Oh my, what if I've been killfiled?  Oh, I guess getting a straight answer
from this guy when it isn't something he wants to admit isn't much different.

>
>
>
>efaubion@oklahoma.net
>http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/6123/


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