Josef Lowder wrote:
>Definitely off topic, but I can't help but respond to this with a rant.
>
>On Tuesday 11 January 2005 00:13, Kevin Brown wrote:
>
>
>>>and of course driving with these people in the rain is funny. when we
>>>have normal weather they drive like maniacs, when the road gets wet
>>>suddenly it's dangerous.
>>>
>>>
>
>It's not just when it gets wet that it is dangerous, though.
>
>
>
>>Roads are dangerous because idiots can't be bothered to think farther than
>>1 second ahead. Wet, dry, cold, hot, doesn't matter they still drive like
>>madmen. Diving across lanes, puttering at 45 when flow in 75, turning left
>>from the right hand lane, turning right from the left hand lane, etc.
>>
>>
>
>Arizona drivers are, hands down, the absolute worst, most inconsiderate,
>most careless, most reckless drivers I have ever experienced in 40+ years
>of driving in 30+ states in the US and in England. I lived here for three
>years before I saw the first Arizona Highway Patrol vehicle stop one
>of these lunatics. The evidence of just how bad it is can be seen in
>the dailiy refreshed black skid marks cris-crossing the freeways and
>the absurd number of residue of crashes into the concrete barriers that
>can be throughout the valley, especially on 60 where I drive most.
>
>When we were in England last summer, I saw not one single skid mark
>nor one single barrier damaged from a crash in all the hundreds of miles
>we drove, even though the drivers do drive quite fast (and of course
>everyone drives on the wrong side of the road ;)) They have very few
>concrete dividers or barriers. Most miles have none at all. But the few
>dividers or barriers that they do have are old, undamaged steel ones
>that have obviously been there for a very long time with no recently
>replaced panels.
>
>Judging from the number of crash sites on Arizona's concrete barriers,
>It's hard to believe that there are any vehicles left on the roadway here.
>What is most amazing is that all these crash sites are every few feet on
>both center dividers and on the side-of-the-road barriers ... and not
>just where there are curves in the road, but they are also every few feet
>on the long straight-ways when there are 5 or 6 lanes across. Good grief!
>
>Since moving here four years ago, I have personally witnessed,
>at close range more collisions happen right in front or behind me
>than I saw collectively in my previous 40+ years of driving.
>
>The most disgusting part of this whole mess is that most of these
>crashes could be eliminated if the state would just use photo radar
>and mail out tickets to _every_ lunatic for every single mile-per-hour
>they drive over the speed limit. Notice, that word is LIMIT.
>
>Sorry for the rant. I've called 911 to report several of the most extreme
>offenders and I've written to the state highway patrol several times,
>but I get the impression that they really don't care. I've had Arizona
>highway patrol vehicles pass me going 10-20 mph faster than the
>speed limit when they were just crusing along with no lights or sirens.
>
>Please friends ... slow down and live.
>
>
>
Fun topic (grin)
The drivers in AZ aren't actually that bad.. Try California during rush
hour.
Give up trying to merge, people will NOT let you in no matter how long
your blinker is on!
The alternate arguement could be made.. speed up and live!
Were it not for impeding traffic traveling 20MPH slower than surrounding
traffic regardless of posted speed limit there would be far fewer accidents.
It's sudden changes in speed, either way that cause problems.
There's no excuse for sudden lane changes and reckless driving, but
speeding is relative:
70MPH in a residential area IS speeding because it's unusual and dangerous.
70MPH on a freeway, even 80MPH is more common than not, but 90 MPH is
well above what everyone else is doing so I'd say it is speeding.
If society refuses to obey a speed limit, then perhaps the limit is
unreasonable.
**
You can do little to slow everyone else down.. you can however move over
to the right hand lane and get the heck out of everyone's way!
**
I have less issues with people speeding than I do with them being
reckless and rude.
Example: When someone veers across three lanes to get off on the off
ramp because they weren't paying attention (while talking on their cell
phone).
JD
--
JD Austin
Twin Geckos Technology Services LLC
email:
jd@twingeckos.com
http://www.twingeckos.com
phone/fax: 480.344.2640
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