Quotes from prior generations on
the
Speeding Issues & My Stand on the issue:
Mr. Suzuki's Data Project Report:
Self-Witnessing on Driving - Speeding
Mr.
Suzuki?s Data Project Report: Self-Witnessing of Driving on speed limit
states, "I think here is where the belief of "going with the flow is safer"
comes in. Because the majority ("flow") si going a certain speed,
those who are way over or under the "flows" speed became hazardous.
The rythm was broken by the people. The slow drivers don't bother
me as much as the excessive speeders (note: the word "excessive")
do since I assume these drivers are just being safe and continuous therefore,
reducing the threat in my life whereas the excessive speeders are more
reckless, and in less control of their car and the situation around them."
My Stand on the issue:
The issue that was raised in Mr. Suzuki's quote was on slow drivers and excessive speeders. I agree with what he states because I'm more concerned with those who speed more than those who don't One reason is that the excessive speeders are risk-takers, reckless, and ignorant. I myself use to be an excessive speeder, not until the side of my car was dented into. Coming from experience I've learned that being an excessive speeder can lead you into minor or fatal accidents. That's a chance that you wouldn't want to take. I feel that excessive speeders should be more considerate to other drivers on the road. There are many drivers who are slow, and there are those who are always on the go. I think if we implement education programs on speeding, the roads will be a lot safer for all of us.
The implications
of my attitude towards the law about speeding is that they should enforce
traffic cameras and put more signs of the minimum and maximum speed limits.
Although many law enforcers use their radar to see whether the driver is
speeding over the limit, I feel that instilling programs are important.
Speeding is a big issue, and in order for us to have a safe environment
on our roads we have to enforce education programs in driving.
Mr. Kyung
Han?s Aggressiveness on the road: Speeding
Mr. Han?s topic on aggressiveness on the road ? speeding states, "I enjoy the feeling and sensation of moving very fast. I also speed because I am in a rush to be some place. But generally, it appears as if the "habitual speeders" (those who speed. Frequently at excessively high speeds because of the sensations) speed because their internal inhibitions, such as traffic laws, aren?t strong enough to override the motivation, or desire." It also states, "In Hawaii, speeding too fast was the third highest contributing circumstances for fatal accidents behind driving drunk for 1984. So the argument that speeding really isn?t aggressive behavior or that it doesn?t really hurt anyone doesn?t hold up?at least not here in Hawaii. Research shows in 1984 that there are 1,306 who speed too fast in all accidents, and there are 22 fatal accidents."
My Stand on the issue:
In Mr. Kyung Han's remark on aggressiveness on the road tells us that speeding is not due to aggressive behavior. He also discusses on the matter of how traffic laws are not enforced for "habitual speeders."
First of all
in Mr. Han's remark about how speeding is notdue to aggressive behavior,
I feel that it is a concern for most people including me. In his
research
it shows statistics on how many accidents there were in 1984 behind
driving drunk. I think there is maybe 3 times as much accidents now
than back in 1984. The fact is the speeding is due to those who drive
drunk on the roads. I feel that when a person is driving drunk they
produce aggressive behavior because of their adrenaline rush. I think
that aggressive behavior is a factor behind speeding. The analysis
shows the correlation of accidents to those who were speeding when driving
drunk, and it wasn't clear on the correlation of aggressive behavior.
Although aggressive behavior is linked to drunk driving, and the outcome
would lead into speeding.
Secondly, Mr.
Han emphasized on how traffic laws are not enforced for "habitual speeders."
Again, I feel that there should be education programs to implement habitual
speeders to change their way of driving. I like to speed when I am
in a rush to get to certain place. For those who speeds frequently
are those who should be concerned about. By educating speeders, it
would reduce the number of accidents on our roads.
Ms. Tess McManus's speeding issue:
Tess
McManus on the speed limit issue was raised in her dear Dr. Driving
letter. She states, "Here on Maui we have few roads that are more
than two lanes, I feel that more four-lane highways would help. But
until that day, something needs to change. The police here either
don't care or are suffering from "down-size syndrome." I've seen
people speed and run red lights or stop signs in front of the police, and
they look the other way."
My Stand on the issue:
Tess McManus
opionated on how the police don't do anything about those who speed and
run red lights or top signs is a serious problem. I feel that maybe
the police department is having a shortage of officers or maybe their not
satisfied of how much they get paid. Maybe, it could lead into that
point. Reading Ms. Manus's opinion about this problem caught to my
attention because it seems that the police department is not doing their
job. I'm concerned for those drivers on the road who are driving
thru stop signs, etc. because they could endager other people's lives
including themselves. I feel that the police departments here in
Oahu should check up on the police department in Maui. I thought
that the police are there to enforce and protect the law, and not break
it.
My behavior as a driver is consistent
with my attitude. When I'm angry or frustrated, before I turn on
my ignition I would spend a few moments to cool off first. After
I cooled off I would drive to my destination. Depending on my behavioral
mood it affects my attitude towards my driving. When I'm in a good
mood my attitude towards driving is not aggressive or hostile, but rather
calm and easy going. On the other hand when I'm in a bad mood my
driving abilities is sort of aggressive and nerve racking. My behavioral
mood does affect my attitude towards driving. My philosophy on behavior
being consistent with an attitude in driving is no matter if your attitude
is positive or negative the main idea is to control your behavior.
I think that "control" is very important in my attitude towards driving.
My Searches on the speeding Issue:
By searching
in the Web search engine I've come across many issues relating to speeding.
Many were interesting. I've chosen two that caught my eye to this topic.
The topic that was raised was on
Speeding, Excessive Speed,
and Speed Unsafe for the Conditions... The
participants were those drivers in British Columbia who has been traveling
too fast in certain conditions and who has been exceeding the speed limit.
The motif in excessive speeding are of the leading factors which are alcohol,
extreme fatigue, and driving on the wrong side of the road. When
involved in an accident in British Columbia an MV104
Motor Vehicle Traffic Accident Police Investigation Report was
handled. These reports show statistics byt he government, and are
used for many factors, such as photo radar. Both arguments of the
issue was raised. The MV104 forms and statistics is not different
between moving too fast and exceeding the speed limit. These are
two different conditions. There are three conditions that leads into
speeding. The first condition could be of the road, vehicle, or drivers
competency. Secondly, speeding relates to only the speed limit sign
and not to the conditions on the road. In British Columbia when traveling
40 km/h or higher above the speed limit is regarded as excessive speeding.
My stand on the issue is that the police officers in British Columbia shouldn't
rely on these reports as a contributing factor in speeding. I feel
that there are many conditions to speeding, such as conditions on the road,
the drivers competency, etc. It shows that there is a lack of statistics
in these reports. I feely traveling too fast under conditons is not
the same as exceeding the speed limit.
Traffic Psychology
should analyze this issue into the three domains which is the cognitive
domain (thoughts, judgments), the sensorimotor (sensory input and motor
output), and affective domain (feelings, motives). By breaking this
issue down in the three domains it would be a lot easier to understand
and analyze the factors.
Speeding Topic
#2
Another topic
that was raised is on Traffic
Safety Initiatives. There are four programs in British Columbia
on safety intiatives that were implemented, and there are four other programs
that instill computer or fine enhancements that are not safety initiatives.
The participants that are involved is the Transportation
and Highways Minister, Jackie Pement. Ms. Pement implemented
these programs to instill traffic safety in British Columbia. The
four programs that are considered as safety initiatives are the Speed
Management Project (SMIP), which consists of photo radar cameras
implemented to catch speeders. Another program is the Administrative
Driving Prohibition (ADP), which instills a driver who fails an
alcohol test, the officer would give a notice of prohibition to the driver.
The liscense of the driver is taken for the time being and will be given
a 21 day temporary license. After 21 days the 90-day prohibition
will start. The third safety intiative is the Vehicle
Impoundment (VI), which the police officer will impound the driver's
vehicle if someone who got caught without a valid license. The fourth
safety initiative program is the "New
Driver" Improvement Program (NDIP), which drivers undergo a road
test six months before hand and also a zero blood-alcohol-limit.
The other four programs that are not safety initiatives but instill fines
and computer enhancers are Fine
Collection, Interest on Traffic Fines (INCA), Upgrade Motor Vehicle Branch
Computers: "Drivers Service Centre System" (DSCS), and Digitized
Picture ID Cards (DPID). Ms. Pement implemented these programs
because she feels that the government is not acting on the traffic safety
initiatives in British Columbia.
My stand on
the issue is that Ms. Pement is doing an excellent job in implementing
these programs. If the government is not doing anything about it
someone has to. I feel that these programs will help those who speed
on the road or other factors that contribute to speeding. I didn't
know much about these programs, but by reading about these initiatives,
I am more aware of the programs that are out there. What traffic
psychology should do about this issue is to educate and implement these
programs in our education system.
In the Dejanews
search engines there were many issues that was raised on speeding.
I've chosen two issues about his topic and the arguments that was brought
up.
Brian Knoblauch brought up the issue on speeding. He states, "A study in Ontario, Canada was showing that 98.5% of the revenue increased from traffic fines that came from speeding tickets." He hasn't seen anyone who claim out of the 98.5% that speeding is a factor to accidents.
My attitude that I see in this issue is that the government should enforce safety initiatives. The article that was raised by Ms. Pement on traffic safety initiatives is most valuable. I think it's a matter of educating drivers and applying these safety initiatives in our daily lives.
The implications
for traffic psychology theory and approach is to break these main issue
down and analyze it into the three domains of traffic psychology which
are the affective, cognitive, and sensorimotor domain. By doing so
the issue would remain clear and effective towards the end.
The second issue that was raised in speeding is by Alasdair M. McKie. She brought up the issue about speeding tickets on how police officers would try to have a quota when there is no real crime taking place just to show they are needed in the community. Arguments show that there are no cops who would give a driver a speeding ticket when the driver is driving the limit. Due to the lack of funding that the police receive these are possible reasons why police officers give speeding tickets to those drivers who were driving the limit.
My attitude in
this issue is that not many police officers I know are like that.
Although police officers are not getting much funds, I feel that they are
still doing there job in enforcing the law. On the other hand, there
are those officers who break the law and takes total advantage of the situation.
I haven't come across that kind of problem yet. The implications
I would suggest for traffic psychology theory and approach is to again
analyze these situational factors in this issue in three domains, which
are the affective domain, cognitive domain and sensorimotor domain.