Quotes from Students of Prior Generations
The following are quotes I have taken from 3 student's reports f
rom prior generations. I think looking through students reports gave me
an introductiion to the many perspectives on the issue of speeding. It looks
like this issue is a very debatable issue and it is definitely one that have
"two sides of the story".
Carlene Yee:
"Also remember that you are biased by the type of driver that yu are. If you like to derive fast, then yu may want to hve no speed limits. However, one must analyze what will be best
for all drivers. To make a decision based on one's own needs would be foolish and selfish."
The reason why I took this quote was because I think the fact that people are definitely biased in
their thoughts on this issue. I think we may not think so, but we all may act according to our self-interest from
time to time. I think this is part of being human. I don't think it's just the type of driver we are, but I think its our
life activities influence how we do things. For example, we may speed if we are late for work, if we think its "recreational",
if we think its "cool", or if we are just going with the flow of traffic.
"Sadly I found that most of those so adamently in opposition of speeding were the berieved parents
or families of people killed in car accidents due to speeding".
I wouldn't doubt that this is the case. Unfortunately, the people who are advocates of safety are those
persons who have experienced some lost by a tragedy due to driving. I think people who do this definitely
want to use one life as a means of spreading awareness. These people don't want victims to die in vain.
Sandra Scarbrough:
"I think if people are responsible and cautious, speeding is not really not a bad deed".
As far as Sandra's thought that speeding is not a "bad deed". I don't think most people are thinking
that something "bad" will come about when they speed. The sad thing is that when something does, its either
too late or they may try hard to get out of it (say a speeding ticket).
I must say that it is hard for me to take either side on this issue. I am someone who goes ove the speed limit
time to time. I don't think I am above the law and even if I thought I was, nothing can over-ride the law unless
it is formally changed. I am completely aware that speed limits are set accordingly for a reason. I try to follow
these limits, but there are reasons why I would increase my speed even when it is illegal. I don't think I am
completely aware that I am over the speed limit all the time and that is why I think there are other factors that
are involved with speeding. I also believe that there are times when we are less worried about that speeding ticket
or the possibility of danger. I definitely think that mood is a huge factor because I know I am not consistent in
the way that I drive (with respect to speed). I don't think I would make an issue over changing the speed limits here
on Kauai, Hawaii where I currently reside. Due to the fact that I haven't lived in a state where we are allowed to
go over the speed of 60 mph, I wouldn't be able to take a stand on it. I know that on the mainland U.S. and other in
other countries, people want to fly and are advocating this. I think I can't relate to this because culturally I am not
in need of such fast driving. On a smaller scale though, the same type of casualty results. Is it about speed then?
This is what I would like to further investigate for my own sake.
Implications for this attitutde
The implications for my "indecisive" view on speeding is that I don't think I can be consistent
when I drive. I think our atttitudes reflect how we behave and maybe I should stop and think harder about
it. I will do a mini-experiment of FOLLOWING THE SPEED LIMIT and I will record my results. I am curious to
know how much more aware of my driving I can be.
Like I said, I do think that how we drive has a lot to do with our mood or our daily life activities. If I am late, I will
definitely drive with more tension (I am thinking of my destination & what I have to do there). If I don't have to be any where at a certain time, I usually am more lax and more aware
of what's going on around me as I drive (my mind is free and open). If I am going out with my friends somewhere to enjoy myself, music is usually playing, we are talking and usually
laughing in the car. If I have my son with me and have an appointment to go to versus just going shopping, I tend to be much more annoyed at
my son's loud voice. These are just examples. I hope you get the idea? Anyway, I take this stand and I behave accordingly because I think
it is natural responses. I think knowing this allows me to be more precuationary while driving because by identifying my mood, I can alter
my behavior.
Here are just a few websites that are sites about speeding issues
Web sites tend to focus on a certain aspect of driving. I think these sites are
examples of prevention. Some are "how to" sites that give advice after the fact.
How I stand after doing this report
I think I have been reminded about the seriousness of taking precaution while
driving. I know that despite the fact that I speed from time to time, I will
be sure to be more aware of the safety of myself and of all others on the road. Overall,
I think I am a very defensive driver and I think this is what has kept me from being in
accidents. I have had a lot of close calls, and usually speeding and tailgating has been
the main reason. I want to take this time to say that we should realize that we can
get into one car accidents by speeding (not necessarily run into another vehicle), we must
be aware of whose behind us, infront of us, and whose coming from the sides. Sudden stops or turns,
not using blinkers when turning, etc. Don't forget big truck that haul sand, gravel, or other materials.
They fly out and can hit us. Our reactions to these things can cause to do something to avoid it. This
can be dangerous. Don't forget weather conditions that can increase
chances of hydro-planing or say loosing control. These are things I usually think about when
I drive. I think we should always know what the conditions are at all times. Are we competent
enough to handle changes in conditions? Just some worthy thoughts.
What traffic psychology should do
Traffic psychology could do so much for this on going issue of speeding. It could help
in debates in legislative sessions to help politicians make the best
decisions for public safety on our highways. At the minimum, traffic psychology
allows people to have education about the finer spectrum of the sources of
problems on our roads.
Take a look at the following discussions that I have taken from
Deja News. This is samples of the discussion I thought were worthwhile.
Re: Why I no longer have any respect for traffic law enforcement officers.
Author: Backyard mechanic
Date: 1999/03/05
Forum: rec.autos.driving
(1)Unfortunately for you, a V-1 won't help you. If you are getting pulled
when you AREN'T even speeding, the V-1 won't do squat. (I have a V-1 also,
its cool, eh?)
(2)Get your speedo checked
(3) Are you foolishly "driving while black?" or "driving while looking like
a drug dealer"
(4) When you get pulled, always be very nice and courteous. Even if he still
gives you a ticket, he'll remember that you were nice when you go to court
and may be willing to help you out.
(5) Type of car makes a big difference in whether you get a ticket. I had
no tickets for years, but then I got a Porsche, I got 3 speeding tickets in
one year. My driving habits were the same in the Porsche, but cops just
like to ticket them I guess. After those tickets, I was paying over $4,000
per year in insurance. By the way I WAS speeding in the Porsche, but I
always speed. The only difference was the Porsche versus a honda.
(6) Multiple highway studies have shown that the most dangerous driver is
the SLOW driver, not the fast one.
Herbavor wrote in message <36dfa104@news-out1.newsnerds.com>...
>Let me tell you about my wonderful experiences in the past year with
tickets,
>the so called "justice system" and why I bought a RADAR locator (V1).
>
I really think this posting gives insight to many factors surrounding the speeding issue.
Yes, I think the "slow driver" may be the dangerous driver. Also, the type of cars we drive
seems to have implications on the road. Who is implying traits of drivers by what they drive, how they
look? It seems to be more of a racial problem than a driving/speeding problem. I wanted to point out
that we really may be law abiding citizens, but hatred, prejudice, extremist, etc. exists. I think
we need to be aware of our surroundings and know what's going on around us socially, culturally.
Moreover, if you are stopped by an officer for any violation, just be courteous rather than defensive.
I think a bad confrontation makes things a lot worse in court.
Tailgating-What are the laws
Re: Tailgating - what are the laws ?
Author: E. Faubion
Date: 1999/02/28
Forum: alt.law-enforcement.traffic
trfcsgt@aol.com (Trfcsgt) wrote:
>Unfortunately, you're right to a certain extent. RADAR, while invaluable for
>speeding violations, has made it too easy on the officers. They feel there is
>no need to work other violations. Speed in my area is NOT a big collision
>factor. I would much rather my guys go out and WORK than sit in one spot,
>vegetating. There are many hazardous violations out there that cause collisions
>and need enforcement.
My City is somewhat spread out and encompasses a chunk of rural area. What
we've found is that the speed related crashes tend to occur mostly in the
outlying areas and the non speed related crashes in the urban areas where
excessive speeds are less likely to occur. When we start pushing pins into
the map to represent those areas where the fatalities and serious injury crashes
occur we find most are in the rural areas and interstates.
Of interest is the examination of hundreds of driving records. It's rather rare
to find one that has only speed violations to the exclusion of other violations.
Very common is the record that includes a variety of moving violations. What
this tells us is that the speeder is seldom just a violator of that specific law
to the exclusion of others. In other words, a speeder will typically violate
other laws as well. Some claim this is reason enough to focus on speeders while
others (my group) believe all major violations must be targeted and that a
balanced enforcement program is better.
http://www.oklahoma.net/~efaubion
What is important about this posting is that it brings up the fact that there
are other violations than just speeding. I think a lot of emphasis is put on speeding, but
what about other major violations. I do think that law enforcement should concentrate
on a "balance" program to make sure that safety measures are more effective.
Re: My objection to speeding
Author: John Lansford
Date: 1999/03/15
Forum: misc.transport.road
"SP Cook"
40,000 people are killed on US highways and countless others are
injured. Still more accidents happen where no one is hurt but
there is significant property damage.
Mostly (92%) the result of drunk driving, inadequate highway design, and
other non-speed issues.
Careful there. "inadequate highway design" implies the design was
incorrect for the speed it was constructed for. If drivers stayed
within the posted speed limit (or heeded the cautionary signs at
particularly hazardous areas), the highways would be perfectly fine
from a design standpoint.
I dare say nearly every one of the motorists involved in those
accidents thought before hand "they knew best". Obviously
they were wrong.
And when we went from 55 to 65, we SAVED lives, and when we went up from 55,
we SAVED more, the higher we went, the more we SAVED.
So let's set the speed limit on ALL roads even higher. Set it up to
100mph for all roads no matter where they are. That will save even
MORE lives, won't it? After all, that's the only criteria you are
using in assuming all those lives were saved.
Accidents happen, but you ASSUME speed
contributed to ALL of these accidents.
Reaction times are less at higher and higher speeds, cars take longer
to stop and avoid collisions, and fatalities are higher on accidents
involving high speeds. Interstates have less accidents in general, but
more of them involve fatalities as a result of the higher speeds.
I was on I-25 in northern New Mexico last week. Me and about 4 other cars.
Think of the waste of the NMSL in police and court resouces, insurance
rip-offs, driver time, fuel, radar detectors, etc. Thank you, Newt, it is
now 75. Hopefully it will reach 85-90 in the near future.
The difference in most Eastern and Western interstates is like night
and day. Even though many interstates east of the Mississippi River
are designed for 70-75 mph, many others are designed for 60-65mph. One
size does not fit all; unfortunately, drivers think that all
interstates allow a nearly unlimited speed limit and tend to act
accordingly. The number of drivers travelling 70mph + on I-95 in North
Carolina, for example, is discouraging. Yes, we've placed a 65mph
limit on most of it too, but it's one of our oldest interstates and
not really safe at higher speeds. Other interstates in this portion of
the country are the same.
John Lansford, PE
I think this exchange was one of the more comphrehensive posting I've seen
looking throgh Deja News. This exchange identifies other externalities
that can contribute to dangers. Comparing states, comparing location, emphasizing
non-speed issues that contribute to accidents. I think we always assume that speeding
was an issue in tragic accidents as well as fortunate ones. I think we need to stop
infering, assuming, guessing. We need to get fact! After that, we need to take
precaution and change our attitutes and our behavior.
The unofficial I-26 Construction Webpage:
http://users.vnet.net/lansford/a10/
Epilogue: Suggestions for future generations
The speed limit debate is not simple to discuss. There are many
issues that surround the larger issue of speeding. There are many
perspectives, many purposes for the different views, and thus its very
controversial. I think future generations should continue to emphasize the
importance of awareness. It isn't about speeding and getting away with it. It
is our safetly, our lives. If we are driving free from any drugs that
alter our conscious and we still disobey the laws, can you imagine what one
on drugs may do? Drugs are another issue, but see the complexity of the issue
of driving. I am amazed at how Dr. James has attempted to break down
different facets of driving.
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