Speed Limit Enforcement: Setting an Example for Adherence to Laws

[TheStatutoryApe]

You're doing the speed limit, and someone from the opposing side of the road loses control and starts to spin out toward your car...you're better off stomping the gas to get out of the way or at least have them only hit the rear of your car than braking and guaranteeing they hit you right in the side door, likely to cause injuries to you.

I'm guessing that those who think everyone should never have reason to drive faster than the speed limit haven't been driving very long?

As someone else already said (I think Cyrus) I don't like having cars right next to me. Its probably safer to speed up to get away from them than slow down and I'd say its safer as well to not drive with a vehicle directly next to you.

Also if someone is tail gating you it's best to speed up a bit to get away from them before getting out of their way. Though I tend to take my foot off the accelerator instead and just stay where I am. Occasionally I break check them but most people don't get it and tend to get mad at you for it.

 

[Hurkyl]

The only case I can see where you can accelerate out of danger is when you are driving over a collapsing bridge.

How about:

. Behind you, someone is swerving back and forth in their lane and being a danger to the people around them. Quickly accelerating gives them room to get out of the dangerous situation.

. You're merging onto a highway from a short on/off ramp. You're up to speed, but the car in the right lane places itself just far enough forward that you can't safely change lanes. (Note that hitting the brakes in such a situation would be incredibly dangerous)

 

[tribdog]

in don't think accelerating in either case is the SAFEST solution. I'll admit it may be the most convienient solution. In the first case pulling onto a side street or onto the shoulder is the right move. accelerating simply postpones the time until you have to deal with the car behind you.
In the second case slowing down and waiting until you can merge, using the shoulder if you have to, is the safest.

 

[redargon]

As anyone got any stats about the number of accidents (would have to be a percentage of cars that use the road to be even) on the German Autobahn (where there is no speed limit) to say, a highway where there is a speed limit?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autobahn see subsection: "accident record"

 

[Kurdt]

As anyone got any stats about the number of accidents (would have to be a percentage of cars that use the road to be even) on the German Autobahn (where there is no speed limit) to say, a highway where there is a speed limit?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autobahn see subsection: "accident record"

Only certain parts of the Autobahn are not limited.

 

[Andre]

The only case I can see where you can accelerate out of danger is when you are driving over a collapsing bridge.

Suppose that you are overtaking this truck with 70mph on that unlimited speed German Autobahn and then that 200mph Porsche driver behind you tries to dial somebody on his cell phone.

 

[tribdog]

I'll give you that one.

 

[tribdog]

I always look towards braking or slowing down to get out of danger when I'm driving. I think this is probably because my first car was a Datsun B210. this stupid car went from 0 to 60 in about seven minutes.

 

[redargon]

Only certain parts of the Autobahn are not limited.

Yes, that is true, but I'm sure on average the speed is higher than that on other highways.

I have driven on the autobahn when I used to work with, then, DaimlerChrysler in a off the shop floor SL 55 AMG, limited to 250km/h of course The only places that we had to slow down (down to 120km/h which is still in the same range as US and other European highways) was in the area of on/off ramps.

 

[Hurkyl]

in don't think accelerating in either case is the SAFEST solution. I'll admit it may be the most convienient solution. In the first case pulling onto a side street or onto the shoulder is the right move. accelerating simply postpones the time until you have to deal with the car behind you.

You assume a great deal. There isn't always a usable shoulder, or cross street. And besides, slowing down to make use of them would almost surely have made things worse. As it turns out when this actually happened, I was on a freeway without a usable shoulder. And postponing was a good idea, because the only danger was immediate -- once everybody had spread out, there wasn't much danger left.

In the second case slowing down and waiting until you can merge, using the shoulder if you have to, is the safest.

Slowing down in that situation is very dangerous, because of the risk of getting rear ended if there was someone behind me either entering or exiting. Whether or not the shoulder is suitable for (brief) travel at 50 MPH is not something you can effectively ascertain in a split second when your attention is already demanded in 3 other directions. And for many roads, trying to merge from a cold start is not an especially safe procedure.

 

[bassplayer142]

I don't think speed limits are that big of a problem. I'm willing to bet probably 80% of crashes and deaths occur in city areas instead of highways. The problems are people being in a hurry and not paying attention or thinking that they are always first in line and everyone should bow to them.

 

[JasonRox]

Suppose that you are overtaking this truck with 70mph on that unlimited speed German Autobahn and then that 200mph Porsche driver behind you tries to dial somebody on his cell phone.

I'd like to see a Porsche do 200mph on the Autobahn.

 

[Andre]

I'd like to see a Porsche do 200mph on the Autobahn.

As you wish

http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=LMjLwSDYj98