So now that I don't have the scooter, and I'm waiting for better times
for the bicycles, I must be careful when I drive. I have made it a
practice to stop before time, but I'm still nervous of other drivers
forcing me to run the light, like when they keep going and I am in the
middle of the intersection.
If I get a ticket despite my utmost care then I'll take back my
prayers and try to ride a bus or a bicycle --traffic allowing. You
must always have a Plan B in the jungle.
NOTE: I remember the times when running the light was a bloody sport
and I'm still for the cameras.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
THE WISE TIBETAN MONKEY SAYS
"When your wishes come true is time to wish again"
>Whether it was my prayers or the actual need for cash by the city, my
>prayers have been answered. See, l lived in the corner of a major
>thoroughfare where I witnessed three motorcycle accidents that made me
>sell my scooter.
>
>So now that I don't have the scooter, and I'm waiting for better times
>for the bicycles, I must be careful when I drive. I have made it a
>practice to stop before time, but I'm still nervous of other drivers
>forcing me to run the light, like when they keep going and I am in the
>middle of the intersection.
>
>If I get a ticket despite my utmost care then I'll take back my
>prayers and try to ride a bus or a bicycle --traffic allowing. You
>must always have a Plan B in the jungle.
>
>NOTE: I remember the times when running the light was a bloody sport
>and I'm still for the cameras.
>
>
Red light cameras are causing lots of rear-end collisions as drivers
break sharply to avoid tickets. SInce everyone is going over the speed
limit, well, you can guess what happens. The cameras seem to prevent
very few side impact collisions because most opposing drivers
understand that the trailing cars in a pack will usually continue
through a light just turning red and wait a second before starting.
I've heard that argument 100 times, but it makes little sense:
1- Observe proper distance b/ cars, ie. a car for every 10 miles...
Isn't that taught anymore?
2- When it does happen it's most like the result of the cell phone,
which is the bigger problem,
3- It's preferable a rear-end collision to a broadside one,
4- The guilty party pays for the crime, where before it was uncertain
who ran the light,
5- Cyclists and motorcyclists were victims of lots of these accidents
since they were simply ignored,
6- Money for the city is always good --if they use it right. ;)
"Just a perspective from over the pond.
In Belgium (or at least in Flanders) there are a lot of camera's. We
have 3 kinds:
1. Trafiic lights. They detect if you run through red lights and only
that no speeding. Mostly places on dangerous crossings. Sometimes they
are combined with speed camera's but that's rare
2. Speed camera's mostly on rural roads in buildup area's where people
really should be carefull of there speed
3. Highway patrols. Sometimes moving along with traffic or standing on
the side of the road with a speed gun.
Most people here think that the government only installs these to get
more money, while there effect has been proven to lower accident if
placed on accident sensitive locations. I coulnd't care less, since I
never speed.
For the hacker command, we use camera's taht aren't connected to any
network, so no hacking is possible. Yes, that means that from time to
time somebody needs to go by every camera to get it's picture and put
in a new catridge (analog or digital).
Also bnther, thos camera's are correct. Theve been calibrated plus
they allow a tolarence. If the speed limit is pe. 55mph they only
start flashing at 60mph.
Another interesting thing they do here in Belgium: Since the camera
itself is quit expensive they only by a few but construct a lot more
poles to put them on. Since you can't see from you're car if that box/
pole has a camera inside. You'll slow down for every pole (or not
speed to begin with) They move the camera's around so you never can be
sure where the real ones are."
***
I was impressed at how rigidly Germans obeyed the speed limits when I
was driving over there last month.
I was also impressed at how reasonable those speed limits were, for
the most part. Urban areas and high traffic areas limited, highways
with a high "recommended speed" of 130 km/h. (I also understand that
although the police do not enforce a speed limit, if someone gets into
an accident above the recommended speed, it could impact the
willingness of their insurance provider to cover the cost of the
accident.) In other words, they weren't playing the silly games that
U.S. highway patrols do on rural highways, hiding behind billboards or
trees. The traffic cameras keep a strict eye on the areas (around
exits or in urban/developed areas,) where the speed is properly
limited. Slower traffic keeps right, faster traffic keeps left. If we
were to move in that direction, it would be an improvement from where
we are now, at least from a driving safety and efficiency standpoint.
On a technical level, things seem to work well.
However.... I am still concerned at the civil liberties implications
of government cameras taking pictures for law enforcement purposes.
http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22498
***
About the government having you in check... no big deal. It's the
government "by the people, for the people, etc." But they'll be
feeding on the real bad guys.
If you leave four car lengths at 40 mph you will have three cars move
in front of you. I'm well aware of the "rule", but clearly we're
facing real life here. There is no indication that cell phone use has
a significant effect. I almost hit someone who stopped for a yellow
light the other day and I was paying attention. You just don't expect
people to stop like that. I didn't hit him because I had enough room.
Maybe the rear end accident rates will drop as people get used to
this. If so, it is certainly a good thing.
Common place in Germany. But with true socialism we can ban Ferraris.
Having a Ferrari in America though is a teasing game.
I just saw an ad for an Audi, V10 capable of doing 195 mph.
Now , they said it was very affordable, but never revealed the price.
my q. Just where are you going to drive this sucker?
w/o losing your license?
--
Karma, What a concept!
They figure they'll milk you twice when buying this car: 1- At the
time of purchase, 2- When you use it at full capacity and get so many
tickets.
Or you can park it outside your house with a sign, "Hey you all, I got
a Ferrari!"
I see them roaring all the time between 2nd and 3rd gear.
I don't want to be in a collision b/ MiniCooper and SUV.
What is the problem, the Mini or the Maxi?
> Red light cameras are causing lots of rear-end collisions as drivers
> break sharply to avoid tickets.
In all my years and miles of driving and cycling I've never seen a rear-end
collision as a result of someone braking for a red light or for a red light
camera.
--
Paul - xxx
mobile ...
Then you haven't been driving for many years. It happens all the time.
Its what happens when people drive too fast, suddenly brake and the
other person behind, as happens all too often, isnt the regulatory
distance back.
I've been driving legally for about 33 years, cycling for about 46.
> Its what happens when people drive too fast, suddenly brake and the
> other person behind, as happens all too often, isnt the regulatory
> distance back.
Nope, never seen a rear-ender due to someone braking for a red light, or a
camera. I've seen rear enders in traffic and on motorways and under other
circumstances ...
I'm glad for you. I haven't seen it either. But that is what we call
anecdotal evidence. The statistics are here:
http://thenewspaper.com/news/18/1844.asp
I haven't seen anyone get struck by lightning but I understand that it
does happen.
The cell phones weren't around before either. How can you break on
time when you are talking to your sweetheart?
Maybe it's because the odds are the same.
The situation around here BEFORE was very funny... Cars would be slow
to turn left with the arrow, but kept going long after the light
turned red.
Big Brother already does that service for you. He decides that you
can't freely import cars from Europe. They must meet certain
standards, the same standards SUVs don't meet because they are not
technically cars but trucks, and yet you can drive them with a regular
license.
It sounds complicated but it's all about money. ;)
>
> I know I would not want to have to go through the hassle of renting a U
> Haul truck every weekend. It is expensive, plus requires separate
> insurance for each rental to be properly insured. Perhaps you would be
> willing to provide trucks at cost for everyone?
Chavez' socialism allows you to fill up a gas guzzler's tank with two
bucks. Something most Americans don't know or else they would turn
socialist.
Did I say any different?
> http://thenewspaper.com/news/18/1844.asp
>
> I haven't seen anyone get struck by lightning but I understand that it
> does happen.
Now I _have_ seen someone struck by lightning .. ;)