brianrheffron

We all like to drive fast, that's why we love our Porches.
However, no matter how you dress it up the fact is that
accidents do happen and when they do the severity is
directly related to the speed of the vehicles involved.
Basic physics, F = 1/2 Mv2 means that the force
or energy generated is tied not to speed but to the
square of the speed.
Seemingly small increases in speed can lead to massively
more severe consequences.

With the near universality of sat-navs the effectiveness
of speed cameras is pretty limited. Drivers just
slow down where traps are highlighted and speed up as
soon as they are past them. I recently drove from
Glasgow to Ayr, a distance of about 30 miles, on a major
road which has been fitted with average speed cameras.
They recognize your number plate at frequent intervals
and work out your average speed between. I found
the overall behaviour of drivers much calmer,more disciplined
and there was a lot less "hooligan" driving. Maybe it was
the feeling that we were under constant observation but
for whatever reason I actually preferred it.

Public roads are not the place explore the performance
of your supercar, or any car for that matter. Save it
for track days or DEs.

Erik N

I would bet that following too closely falls under that heading. From the wrecks that I have seen, it seems like that tailgating plays a role in 75% of them.

jcorenman

No, that was in the next category, "Stupid" (34%). It was actually called "Decision error" and included "too fast for conditions", "False assumption of other's actions", "misjudgment of gap", "Following too close", etc. If law enforcement would focus on "stupid" then we would all be a lot safer.

SeanR

I absolutely agree, but stupid is not as easy to catch or monitor. Speeding has been the scapegoat for almost everything, even after being shown time and time again (the report you posted) that speeding is NOT the reason for so many accidents. But you can't use facts on a lot of people because it just doesn't make them feel good.

I agree that it is way to easy for someone in the USofA to get a drivers permit. Most think it is a basic right to be able to drive a 3500lb wad of metal and plastic. The requirements for a permit to drive should be way more thorough and if you fail, you get to use public transportation.

heinrich

I'm starting to see the pointing the whole speed kills thing. Speed doesn't kill, we all know that. But to stop the crazy, inattentive drivers on their cell phone or weaving insanely through traffic in cars not designed for it, maybe the only real option, is measuring speed. In some places in the US, people really do drive like maniacs, and they do so in massive SUV's, and others in tiny 80hp Ford Contours etc. They tailgate, weave through lanes like a swarm of wasps or ants on their way to a kill, all the while having no reason actually... no real emergency, no hurry, no missed deadline. Just their way of driving.

They stay left till it's too late and cut in front onto an onramp or offramp, they tailgate andcut across lanes leaving no more than an inch, often forcing attentive drivers to brake quickly and swerve to avoid them.

Do these people speed? Always. You can't drive recklessly without speeding. Does that mean that all speeders are dangerous? Absolutely not. But how to we, the diligent, attentive ones, make it safer for our families on the road? How do we stop these people from endangering our lives? Maybe the only thing we can do, is catch them by their speed.

FredR

Great shame you cannot measure "stupid" and ban it from the roads. However, much as I hate to admit it, radar does slow people down. Many cannot be bothered to speed some just slow down and spee dup again but it does make them think a little bit.

I am surprised you are only just getting multi lane radar- the Royal Oman Police have been using such systems for quite a few years out here unless fo course they were just b/s'ing! But in all fairness the road have felt a lot safer despite increased traffic volumes. When I came here in 1990 the roads were not very busy and they had some really hairy wipeouts. I have seen several fiery wrecks with crispy fried critters still in them. The Omani police have done a good job of trying to contain things and although there are still way too many accidents, the attrition rate is improving.

Minor speeding offences are kept in proportion usually attracting a $40 fine for each offence. However above a certain point they lock you up and discuss the punishment when they let you out!

Works for me!

Regards

dprantl

What? Of course you can measure stupid. With a REAL driving test! Then, if you're stupid you don't get one.

And you seriously believe that you cannot drive recklessly without speeding? If all cars on a highway are going 65 and some dope is going 35 and changing lanes without looking and without an indicator, for example?

Dan
'91 928GT S/C 475hp/460lb.ft

heinrich

agreed

Those pose a small risk in my opinion, as long as they move slowly, which they nearly never do. Mostly THEY are the fast drivers. THEY are the reckless ones, and THEY cause crashes. I have indeed seen slow drivers drive recklessly, like a whole carfull of people pulling into a carpool lane from a stop, right in front of an oncoming pickup truck. But that is the exception, the rule is they FLY, and the FLY CRAZY.

SeanR

I'm going to call bull**** on this last part H, no offense. The biggest contributor of wrecks around here are these idiots going 45-55 in a 60-70 zone. In the wrong lane or just not paying attention. When everyone around them is going 70 or more and they do not go with the flow of traffic, they are the issue. Causing others to make moves to avoid them.

heinrich

I think it depends where you live. Some places, people are so placid that they are the ones causing a speed differential, and thus a hazard. Other places, they are the exact ones who drive like maniacs - like hurtling torpedoes with no steering mechanism except maybe a phone.

SpeedBump

They already can shoot all 4 lanes in Maryland and have for a couple of years in construction zones on the Baltimore beltway. They use old Jeeps with 4 boxes setup on them and if you are more than 11mph over the limit the registered owner of the car gets a ticket. They post signs before the cameras warning you but people don't pay attention. The first time I went through one was about 5am and it looked like a disco with all the flashes with each picture taken. At least there are no points against your license involved with them here and only about $45 from what I remember.

Lizard928

If speed was the biggest factor then Germany would have much more accidents.
Or maybe you should go to italy and drive there and tell us that speed is the problem for any of you that truly believe speed is the problem.

blown 87

I have learned one thing today, and that is Coweta County GA also has Pontiac's as undercover cars, learned that one this morning on the way to work this morning.

JHowell37

Those Jeeps are the same ones I've been thinking about. They're not that old, and the majority of the commuter traffic seems readily able to identify them. They use a combination of laser and radar. Not sure what does what though.

SeanR is correct when he said that speed differentials are what causes accidents.

dcrasta

I dunno about your experiences but we get gridlock during the rush hours, other than that its pretty much fast and furious.