Should speed limits be abolished on highways?

[Raza]

I'd probably go a little faster (maybe 80-85), and again, the only reason I don't is because of enforcement.

[dazzleman]

I'd probably go a little faster (maybe 80-85), and again, the only reason I don't is because of enforcement.

I can't believe you're worried about enforcement.

[Raza]

I can't believe you're worried about enforcement.

Do you know how much I pay for insurance?  I can barely afford it as is, another huge ticket and I'll be paying more for insurance than I am for the car.

[dazzleman]

Do you know how much I pay for insurance?  I can barely afford it as is, another huge ticket and I'll be paying more for insurance than I am for the car.

Another?  I thought your record was clean?

[Raza]

Another?  I thought your record was clean?

May 2005, 70 in a 35.

[dazzleman]

May 2005, 70 in a 35.

Oh, that's old news.  I thought you pleaded that down anyway.  And it's more than 3 years ago.  I thought you were talking about something more recent.

[2o6]

Too true.

My mom is a better driver than my dad.

[Raza]

Oh, that's old news.  I thought you pleaded that down anyway.  And it's more than 3 years ago.  I thought you were talking about something more recent.

The state sees me as clean, my insurance company looks back 5 years.

[dazzleman]

The state sees me as clean, my insurance company looks back 5 years.

Did you bargain that ticket down to nothing?

[Raza]

Did you bargain that ticket down to nothing?

I bargained it down to a 6 over, which was 2 points. 

[dazzleman]

I bargained it down to a 6 over, which was 2 points. 

Pretty minor.  That's a great deal you made there.

[Cookie Monster]

The only reason I don't cruise at about 90-100mph on an open highway is because I might get a ticket.....

+1

I could cruise at 100 mph all day long if it weren't for speeding tickets.

[dazzleman]

+1

I could cruise at 100 mph all day long if it weren't for speeding tickets.

You'd probably crap your pants if you ever saw those flashing lights in your mirror....

[Cookie Monster]

You'd probably crap your pants if you ever saw those flashing lights in your mirror....

I almost did when I saw them the one time I almost got busted.

If I were to get the ticket while paying for my own insurance, I wouldn't care too much.

[Raza]

I almost did when I saw them the one time I almost got busted.

If I were to get the ticket while paying for my own insurance, I wouldn't care too much.

You say that, but you're not paying 2200 a year for insurance.

[dazzleman]

I almost did when I saw them the one time I almost got busted.

If I were to get the ticket while paying for my own insurance, I wouldn't care too much.

That's how I was my first few years of driving.  That wears off after a while.

[dazzleman]

You say that, but you're not paying 2200 a year for insurance.

My insurance was never affected when I got tickets.  I guess I was lucky.

Now that I'm so old, I hardly ever get tickets any more. 

[Cookie Monster]

You say that, but you're not paying 2200 a year for insurance.

I also won't be getting a new VW, and by the time I get my own car with my own insurance, hopefully I won't get a ticket by then either.

I think I'd still pay close to that... I think my parents pay $1200 for me per year for both cars as an occasional driver, so a full time driver for 1 car would probably be more than that.

[dazzleman]

I also won't be getting a new VW, and by the time I get my own car with my own insurance, hopefully I won't get a ticket by then either.

I think I'd still pay close to that... I think my parents pay $1200 for me per year for both cars as an occasional driver, so a full time driver for 1 car would probably be more than that.

Tickets come when you least expect them.

[Rupert]

Maybe that's why I never get tickets...

[dazzleman]

Maybe that's why I never get tickets...

That's a good point actually.  They come when you let your guard down.  At least for me.  It has nothing to do with how much I've been speeding.

[Rupert]

I also usually only speed more than ten over at the end of a very long drive. I rarely hit 90, though I blame the truck. Speaking of the truck, I think that helps to avoid getting pulled over.

[The Pirate]

Hehehe, I definitely sped less when I had my truck, too.  A '91 Ranger 4x4 just isn't cut out for Autobahn style driving.

The Proteg?, however, is a different story.  She's perfectly happy at 80 mph, and frequently tries to coax me to higher speeds.  No tickets yet since I've had it, though.  (knock on wood)

[GoCougs]

I'll usually only do more than 10 over when following someone. My limited logic leads me to believe that there's a chance that only one of us will get radar'd/laser'd, and the guy in front in general runs the greater risk I would think. He'll also spot the LEOs first, giving me warning by slowing down.

[Rupert]

I think it is safer to run in packs. If there's only one LEO, only one person gets pulled over (unless they radio ahead, but that would probably be a real speed trap, and you'd be caught anyway). The person in front is likely to get pulled over because they're leading, but the person in back is likely to get pulled over because they're easier. Or so goes my own limited logic...

Then, there's the rabbit theory...

[Rupert]

Hehehe, I definitely sped less when I had my truck, too.  A '91 Ranger 4x4 just isn't cut out for Autobahn style driving.

The Proteg?, however, is a different story.  She's perfectly happy at 80 mph, and frequently tries to coax me to higher speeds.  No tickets yet since I've had it, though.  (knock on wood)

I'm lucky to have never owned a car that is comfortable above 85.

[bing_oh]

I think it is safer to run in packs. If there's only one LEO, only one person gets pulled over (unless they radio ahead, but that would probably be a real speed trap, and you'd be caught anyway). The person in front is likely to get pulled over because they're leading, but the person in back is likely to get pulled over because they're easier. Or so goes my own limited logic...

Then, there's the rabbit theory...

In some parts of the US, there is significantly less "safety in numbers" when speeding. It seems to be a pretty common practice amongst the state police/highway patrols in the Southeastern US to actually direct speed enforcement toward larger packs of vehicles. I've seen many southern states pull over packs of a half dozen or more fast movers at once using three or more cruisers in a group. Around here, it's not unusual to see a OSHP trooper run stationary laser and walk out into the lane of travel, pulling over multiple cars by hand signal.

[Rupert]

Thanks for the warning.

[dazzleman]

In some parts of the US, there is significantly less "safety in numbers" when speeding. It seems to be a pretty common practice amongst the state police/highway patrols in the Southeastern US to actually direct speed enforcement toward larger packs of vehicles. I've seen many southern states pull over packs of a half dozen or more fast movers at once using three or more cruisers in a group. Around here, it's not unusual to see a OSHP trooper run stationary laser and walk out into the lane of travel, pulling over multiple cars by hand signal.

I have seen that type of enforcement in Maryland, New Jersey and Connecticut.  I've seen it pretty infrequently, though.  Usually, what I see is the traditional single police car pulling over a single speeder.

I don't worry too much about it either way.  I drive the speed that is the upper end of what I consider to be the safe range, based upon traffic, road and weather conditions, and I'm happy to play the odds.  Under ideal conditions, that usually meals anywhere from 75-85 mph, sometimes leaning toward 90 mph under ideal circumstances.  Rarely, if ever, faster than that.  It's nine years and counting since my last ticket.  When my number comes up and I get nailed once again, I can live with that.  It's not something that I particularly worry about, or adjust my driving to avoid.

[Rich]

I do 6 to 9 over, unless I'm in a city with walls on the side of the highway, so there is no median for cops to hide, then I just go as fast as I feel....usually whatever speed the fast lane traffic is going...