Speed Limit Enforcement: Setting an Example for Adherence to Laws

[LowlyPion]

... it would be the simplest thing to have the car manufacturers install a chip to limit the speed before the car is sold.

I can't imagine any car manufacturer wanting to shoot themselves in the crotch like that. That's the kind of thing people tried with prohibition. Won't work.

At best such a thing as this would be a phased in roll-out because the new car sales represent a small percentage of the current rolling stock on the road. With older cars grandfathered in no one would ever buy a new car - I for instance would refuse and drive clunkers forever - unless the current ones disintegrated and even then they would buy another pre-mandated car.

Then there would be a market in upgrade kits putting old motors or old computers or old chips into new cars. No-limit makeovers. It would be an enforcement nightmare and it would be a law with such widespread violation that it would be a late night comedy bonanza.

Now that I think about it though it sounds like something Bush might think made sense.

 

[brewnog]

I think that the point is that this simple push-rod engine (no OHC, timing chain etc, etc) is bulletproof. Buick was selling them to Jeep back when they were producing V-6 CJ5s in the 1960's, and they put them in all kinds of cars including the Skyhawk (THAT was a fun car to drive) and in their smaller luxury cars, too, as well as their Grand National muscle car. Those engines last a long time and they can produce some serious torque, even using regular unleaded, unlike engines that are so tweaked and high-compression that they must have premium gas. I think that Buick was smart not to try to engineer a brand-new V-6 when they could tweak an existing one with such a track record.

What's the typical life (before rebuild/scrap) for an American built engine such as that Buick these days?

 

[JasonRox]

I think that the point is that this simple push-rod engine (no OHC, timing chain etc, etc) is bulletproof. Buick was selling them to Jeep back when they were producing V-6 CJ5s in the 1960's, and they put them in all kinds of cars including the Skyhawk (THAT was a fun car to drive) and in their smaller luxury cars, too, as well as their Grand National muscle car. Those engines last a long time and they can produce some serious torque, even using regular unleaded, unlike engines that are so tweaked and high-compression that they must have premium gas. I think that Buick was smart not to try to engineer a brand-new V-6 when they could tweak an existing one with such a track record.

You're right. Any engine built by BMW needs to be babied and taken care of.

The engine in my Neon takes a hard beating and same with the transmission, and it's running fine and the mechanic says it's still solid.

 

[turbo]

What's the typical life (before rebuild/scrap) for an American built engine such as that Buick these days?

That engine currently has over 200K miles on it and it purrs. I sold my Skyhawk (same engine, normally-aspirated) to a mechanic and he got over 250K out of it before the body wouldn't pass inspection without some major body-work (salt on the roads in winter is brutal). No engine rebuild - just normal scheduled maintenance.

 

[turbo]

I went to my father's today to help him siphon the gas out of his old Caprice before he junks it, and his mechanic is going over the Buick with a fine-tooth comb. He has already replaced the front right wheel-bearing (we knew about that one, as the previous owner had already bought a replacement and included it in the sale), and he's got some brake-pads on order for the front wheels as well as the 2 serpentine belts that run the alternator, power brakes, power steering, supercharger, etc.

 

[turbo]

You're right. Any engine built by BMW needs to be babied and taken care of.

And it demands to be fed T-bone steak, not hot-dogs. Feeding a high-compression engine regular unleaded can do a lot of damage. Pre-ignition (knock) places strain on engine parts, and the cumulative wear can greatly shorten the life of the engine. I had an old '86 HD Wide Glide with head work by Dave Perewitz (THE east-coast builder), fairly steep street-cams, S&S Super E racing carb and all kinds of performance mods, most of which I did myself, and that bike never got less than Super Premium. I would treat a high-output BMW engine the same way - the best available fuel, frequent oil and filter changes, etc.

 

[Moonbear]

I do not agree.

Please explain your belief to me.
You can accelerate from 45 to 55 same as ever.
but there is never a need to accelerate beyond the maximum unless you are already part of the problem with being a 'too fast' driver in the first place.

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?

 

[JasonRox]

And it demands to be fed T-bone steak, not hot-dogs. Feeding a high-compression engine regular unleaded can do a lot of damage. Pre-ignition (knock) places strain on engine parts, and the cumulative wear can greatly shorten the life of the engine. I had an old '86 HD Wide Glide with head work by Dave Perewitz (THE east-coast builder), fairly steep street-cams, S&S Super E racing carb and all kinds of performance mods, most of which I did myself, and that bike never got less than Super Premium. I would treat a high-output BMW engine the same way - the best available fuel, frequent oil and filter changes, etc.

Yeah, they need steak for sure. They actually don't need that many oil changes. The recommended number of them by BMW is every 15,000 miles.

 

[Hurkyl]

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?

Or are just unimaginative. (IMHO) Too many people look only at the 'average case', and think that's all you need to plan for.

 

[tribdog]

there aren't that many cases where acceleration is going to be safer than braking or steering. Most cars don't have huge acceleration, so the times where you have enough time to accelerate out of danger you probably have enough time to find another solution. The only case I can see where you can accelerate out of danger is when you are driving over a collapsing bridge.

 

[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