flow rider

[nature boy]

not according to the statistics in the video.

[geForce]

That video was made by a guy (or group) who is lobbying for increased speed limits. Statistics can be manipulated to say almost anything. I agree with a lot of what is said in that video, but I also think there is more to the story than just what they presented.

I believe the speed limit was created as a safety measure. I also believe it's possible to have a higher speed limit and still be safe. I do NOT believe that just because I think it's safe to drive faster, that that should automatically put the slower drivers to blame.

And you know what? If someone is driving 100 in an 80 zone, and people driving 80 are creating a dangerous situation for that person, then he/she isn't really driving safely at 100 anyway. I drive over the limit all the time and I can say that people driving at 80 does not affect my driving safety at all. Sure it's annoying to have to slow down and go around, but never once has it caused me to think that it affected my safety.

[nature boy]

without having re-read this thread and my own posts, i'd agree with you. i think (again without having re-read it) that i'm just tired of the whole "speed kills" thing and much like what the video says, blaming all accidents on speeders, when there are cases when those who are driving slower are just as much (or more) at fault.

i'm just saying there's no blanket statement you can make on what's safer and what's not.

[Wetundies]

it wouldn't be so bad if the slowpokes stay on the right lane when there are multiple lanes.

[nature boy]

or those travelling slower than the flow of traffic stay out of the hov lanes.

[geForce]

[nature boy]

that's actually what i have been doing lately haha.

[Wetundies]

[nature boy]

yeah, that's what i mean. just because you CAN, doesn't mean you SHOULD.

[nature boy]

back from the dead again!
this was an interesting video. if true, apparently the speed limits set had NOTHING to do with safety.

[geForce]

It's interesting knowing why the speed limits were originally created, but he doesn't give much proof to the correlations between relaxed speed limits vs fatality rates. Yes, fatalities decreased in some areas where speed limits were relaxed, but that could be due to a variety of things. In BC, our speed limits haven't changed at all in so many years, but yet our car related fatality rates vary from year to year too. I'm not saying the speed limits have nothing to do with it, but he just doesn't do a good job proving it in this video.

I do like the part he explains about the different speeds that cause accidents. This was the topic that started this thread... going with the flow. I think it's safer if everyone drove at the same speed, but what speed should that be? Should it be the same speed as the fastest car on the road? Should the attitude be, drive as fast as me even if I'm breaking the law, or get off the road?

[Wetundies]

They should paint a turtle, rabbit and lightning in the lanes to represent the speed you can drive at.

[nature boy]

i think it's important to at very least know the flow of traffic, whether it be slower or faster than you. and know that if it's a huge variable either way, you're probably the one who's in danger. if it's too fast for you, then leave. if it's too slow for you, then leave. if there are no other routes for you to take, then being aware is at least 50% of the metaphorical battle (wait, i think i said that one wrong).

i don't think the guy was trying to say that relaxed speed limits save lives, i think his point is that varied speeds (between ppl driving at their own comfortable rate and the law-abiding citizens who won't break the speed limit to save someone's life) is what causes it, and that we need to find an average speed that is suitable for the road (like 50 on marine? wtf man. they raised it to 60-70 in some places, but still, wtf man.)

[geForce]

[nature boy]

i don't disagree that the fault will lie in the one who broke the law, according to the law.
what i don't like is the law-abider pointing fingers and hide behind the law when common sense was obviously avoided.

case in point: a certain someone totalled his car while carrying 4 freaking passengers (it's a miracle no one was hurt), because the certain someone decided that since he was turning left and the light turned yellow that he can go ahead and turn without any type of due care or attention. while not incorrect according to the law and the fault of the totalled vehicile(s) lie solely on the person who was speeding trying to make the yellow light, the accident could have easily been avoided had said left-turner just decided not to blindly "follow the law".