HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: dos@major.panix.com (Dave O'Shea)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: Re: What are some common myths about driving?
Date: 25 Dec 92 05:09:51 GMT
Organization: Spaceley Sprockets, Inc.

oyalcin@iastate.edu (Onur Yalcin) writes:

> One most common that I know is the belief that the doors should be locked 
> during travel. This is as much wrong a belief as it is widespread. 
> 
> Actually, the doors are recommended to be *unlocked* during travel, so that i
> case of an emergency (driver and passangers unconscious after a crash), peopl
> would be able to open them from outside as quick as possible.

You haven't driven in New York City lately: Many of the locals will help
themselves to your car if you forget to lock the doors while you're
driving. (Although the really ambitious ones have been knownto simply
smash the driver in the face with a cinderblock right through the
window)
From: donrm@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com (Don Montgomery)
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 16:31:20 GMT
Subject: Re: As your attorney I advise you to.....
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Santa Rosa, CA
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving

In rec.autos.driving, tonyz@hpwrce.mayfield.hp.com (Tony Zugates) writes:

>     For you Californians:   
> 
>     I just heard that as of Jan 1, 1993...the police will stop you
>     for not having your seatbelt buckled.
                            [...]

...just another reason for stopping you for "probable cause"...

Don Montgomery
donrm@sr.hp.com
From: hhelanto@vipunen.hut.fi (Henri R Helanto)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: Re: How to answer the Officer when pulled up?
Date: 2 Jan 93 04:34:30 GMT
Organization: Helsinki University of Technology, Finland

In <1992Dec30.193437.26773@news2.cis.umn.edu> prabhak@giga.cs.umn.edu (Satya Prabhakar) writes:

>Today I was caught doing 43 (as per the polic radar) in a
>30 mile zone. I *sincerely* was not doing more than 38 or
>so.
>
>When the cop came by and asked me, "Do you know what speed
>you were going at?" I replied, "35!"
>
>He answered, "I tracked you at 43!" While handing over the
>citation he said, "You have the right to appeal the citation,
>but remember that you *admitted* driving over the speed
>limit of 30!'
>
>My question is this: Would it have been wise on my part to
>just have said that I was traveling within the speed limit?
>
>Or is the answer inconsequential? What should I do now?

	I think there's nothing you can do. They got your
	speed and gave you a ticket. And worst of all, 
	you admitted that you exceeded the speed limit.

	Rule #1: Never, EVER admit ANYTHING. 

	Rule #2: Speak as little as possible. If they bothered to
		 stop you, they'll fine you anyway. Don't bother 
	 	 to be nice to them.

	Rule #3: If they take your licence, be ready to make a 
		 formal complaint ASAP.

	Or if you live in Finland:

	Rule #3: If they take your licence, ask them whether they're
		 going to give it back immediately or are you going
		 to fetch it from the police station the next day -
		 they need a court order to revoke your licence if
		 you don't admit anything! (And getting it takes at
		 least a couple of weeks.. ;-)

-Henri
-- 
 Henri Helanto - SysOp    |	'MY LAST SONY! THE TOY THAT BROKE UP!'   
 hhelanto@vipunen.hut.fi  <->    m40176m@puukko.hut.fi   
-+*> Call MyBBS (+358-0-485067/485068/485968/485918/488139, 24h) ! <*+-
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: dman@netcom.com (Dallman Ross)
Subject: Re: How Fast are They Driving Out There?
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8]
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 20:43:04 GMT

Andy Welter (andyw@meaddata.com) wrote:

: I can only think of 1 time that I have ever seen someone trying to go 
: ~100 mph in traffic. (have been driving 10 years or so...)

In the last 6 months, 10-or-so at night or later, I've seen 4 or 5
groups of cars shooting through medium-density traffic on urban
freeways at up to 110.  Looked like gang members chasing one another
or like cruisers having a contest on the freeway.  I thought it
was very dumb -- they were weaving in and out like gangbusters.  I
was hoping for a cop, although I usually drive 70-75 and don't want
to see cops.  I found it all rather astonishing, actually.  Wouldn't
be surprised if the drivers were all high.
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: gill@eagle.sangamon.edu (Warren Gill)
Subject: What to do in traffic court...
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Organization: Sangamon State University
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 15:28:17 GMT


  Help!    I just got a speeding ticket in the city (which I probably
deserved, 48 in a 30, in semi-heavy traffic).  The real problem is
the jerk of a cop (this one was a real cocky SOB) gave me
*another* ticket for not informing the Sec'y of State of an address
change.  I know he did it to be an ass - the law only requires you 
inform the S.O.S. of the change - *not* that you get a new driver's
license (they change the address in the computer, but you don't have to
pay the $10 for a new picture).  I flagged the next cop I saw and asked
him to look up my address, and it was correct!
  Now, my dilemma is this - should I plead not guilty for both tickets,
pay the file on the speeding, get a lawyer, or what?  The other problem
is I've already been on "court supervision" in another county in southern
Illinois.  How will another ticket affect that?  Previously, I hadn't
had a ticket for several years.  If I go to court, will a guilty verdict
on the speeding ticket cost more?
--
      ______                                                               
      )     (   Warren Gill, Management Analyst Programmer II
     /       |  University of Illinois at Chicago
    (        |  Division of Specialized Care for Children
     \_  *   |  Springfield, IL
       \     |  
       /    /   217/793-2350x151  Internet: gill@eagle.sangamon.edu
        \/\/    
          Too bad all the people who know how to run the country are      
          busy driving taxi cabs and cutting hair. {George Burns}         
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: kenny@osf.org (Kenneth Crudup)
Subject: Re: How Fast are They Driving Out There?
Organization: Open Software Foundation
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 02:31:42 GMT

In article <1992Dec29.204304.13425@netcom.com>
dman@netcom.com (Dallman Ross) writes:

>In the last 6 months, I've seen 4 or 5 groups of cars shooting through
>medium-density traffic on urban freeways at up to 110.

How do you know how fast they were going?

>Looked like gang members chasing one another or like cruisers having a
>contest on the freeway. Wouldn't be surprised if the drivers were all high.

Oh give us a BREAK, willya? Hell, you left out the obligatory "While I was
driving my 5-year-old daughter home from her dance recital, I've seen...."

"Cracked-out gang-member cruise-car chases- on the next Donahue." <snicker>

Carlin said it best- "anyone going slower than you is an idiot, and anyone
going faster is a maniac."

	-Kenny

-- 
Kenny Crudup, Contractor, OSF DCE QA
OSF, 11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142	+1 617 621 7306
kenny@osf.osf.org			OSF has nothing to do with this post.
	  Religion: The longest-running gag ever played on Mankind.
From: kim@themis.cs.umass.edu (JOHN B. KIM)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: Re: How to answer the Officer when pulled up?
Date: 1 Jan 93 07:17:46 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Massachusetts, Amherst

In article <1992Dec31.213618.4042@island.COM> jennifer@island.COM (J.S.Jackson - Dances with Nerds) writes:
>
>If you tell the officer, "No, I don't know how fast I was going."
>then you run the risk of him assuming you weren't paying attention.

I usually go with:  "No Sir, I was busy trying to open my beer bottle."

:0p

                            
   John Kim               School, TV and my mother are entirely
                          responsible for what I wrote above.
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: jrdodd@waikato.ac.nz
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: A Plea from Cyclists
Date: 22 Dec 92 11:39:35 +1300
Organization: University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

Hi everyone,  just a note from someone who's usually over in rec.bicycles.

Please note,  this is NOT an anti-car or anti-drivers message.  However,  the
rec.bikes newsgroup has been grieved once again by the death of another
cyclist after being hit by a car.  The latest case was of a very experienced
rider wearing full safety gear,  riding in a wide cycling lane on a clear
day in good light. He was wiped out by a sober middle-aged driver going
the same direction.

Not a very good Christmas for some.

Please please be careful!  Remember,  every cyclist on the road is one less
parking spot taken up,  less gas being used up,  and less hassle in traffic
jams.

I repeat,  this is a friendly plea,  please watch out!

Jonathan Dodd,
University of Waikato,
New Zealand.
From: cwilder@eis.calstate.edu (Charlotte Wilder)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: Re: How Fast are They Driving Out There?
Date: 30 Dec 92 05:40:03 GMT
Organization: Calif State Univ/Electronic Information Services

One of my friends, here in Southern California, drives at an average of
70mph on the freeways, but sometimes likes to blast through sparse and
medium-density traffic at 80-100+ mph on occassion.  Also have been around
when he's done several max-speed runs in his car up to 130+ mph in light
traffic after 7pm.  Anyway... he's not the only one that does that kind of
thing around here... and no, he isn't some gang banger that is high... its
just something he does for fun.  He's actually a very safe driver, one of
the safest I probably know under any driving circumstance, and really
enjoys driving so the high speed cruises aren't that big of a deal to me. 
Of course there are those out there that aren't so careful and it might be
a big deal if they even drove the speed limit.  Oh well...
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving,misc.legal
From: linley@netcom.com (Bruce James Robrert Linley)
Subject: Re: Cars, tape recorders, and the police...
Organization: Computer Science & Engineering, UCLA
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 18:29:22 GMT

In a previous article n9020351@henson.cc.wwu.edu (James Douglas Del-Vecchio) spake...
>	Is that not the case now?   What law could possibly stop me from 
>	installing a videocam in my car to record transactions with police?
>

What if the police see the Vcam and simply move themselves and youself out of
the camera's field of view w/o saying why? Hidden microphones work much better
simply because they can't be seen.

-- 
Bruce James Robert Linley | "Well, I tried shoving a weiner in the warp drive,
Comp Sci & Engr, UCLA     |  but it didn't do a bit o' good."
<linley@netcom.com>       | - Star Dreck, c/o Dr. Demento
<linley@seas.ucla.edu>    |
Xref: sparky rec.autos.driving:7359 or.general:754
From: jbn@photon.com (Joe Naiman)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving,or.general
Subject: Re: Need info on Alcohol related accidents in Or.
Date: 30 Dec 92 21:12:11 GMT
Organization: Photon Research Associates, Inc.
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has a "Fatality Facts" packet
which includes alcohol involvement in traffic accidents, although I don't
think it's a state-by-state breakdown.

Joe Naiman
Organisation: European Space Operation Centre (E.S.O.C)
Date: Wednesday, 23 Dec 1992 12:03:55 CET
From: <SROWELL@ESOC.BITNET>
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: Re: A Plea from Cyclists

I agree entirely; just please be careful too. Ride defensively and don't
just ride straight over cycle crossings because it's your right (I've seen
it done many times - cyclists have to look after themselves too).

Simon
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: jim@mwhhlaw (James P. Cavanaugh III)
Subject: Pennsylvania Turnpike Radar
Organization: Martin Wade Hartley & Hollingsworth
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 13:10:23 GMT

	I'm going to be travelling across the Pennsylvania Turnpike  
during the holidays.  Does anyone have any experience with what high  
tech enforcement techniques the troopers have waiting for me?  I have  
access to a radar detector that picks up X, K and Ka, but is anything  
else currently in use in the Keystone State?  

Thanks.

Jim Cavanaugh
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: oyalcin@IASTATE.EDU (Onur Yalcin)
Subject: OPEL VECTRA: Stereo problem
Reply-To: oyalcin@IASTATE.EDU (Onur Yalcin)
Organization: Iowa State University
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 20:39:32 GMT

This is particularly addressed to those that know something about car stereos
with code protection.

I got a call from my father in Turkey, yesterday. He has a 1991 Opel Vectra CD
hatchback. Like all Opels, the Vectra comes equipped with a Philips stereo. The
one on my dad's car has a secret-code protection against theft. Apparently, dad
took the car to a repairer for a minor thing, where the battery got disconnected
shortly. Now, he needs to pin this code in so as to be able to use the stereo
again. I was the one to enter this code first, and he asked me if I still
remember it. Obviously, I wouldn't be here crying for help if I did. And I am
not so stupid not to note this code somewhere. Actually, this code was recorded
in my dad's small notebook where he keeps such records, and also on the hard
disk of my PC at home. This family disaster started with dad's loosing his note
book during their moving to Ankara from Brussels, and culminated with someone's
reformatting my PC at home! (OK PCs are not the best sources to save such
information).

Once the stereo is disconnected from the battery, it is required to enter this
code in order to be able to use it. It delays asking for the entry of the code
by a period that is exponentially related to the number of previous failing
trials, thus precluding success by trial and error.

I am not an electronics engineer, and I don't know how this code system works.
It must have a battery of its own, or another internal power source to be able
to keep this code, while it is disconnected, I guess. 

Does anyone know how this problem can be circumvented?

In the worst case, I think he should contact either his Opel dealer in Belgium,
or the factory in Germany, or the one in Izmir - Turkey, where Sedan Vectras are
produced. Would the factory be able to do anything about it?

Thanx,
and happy X-mas.
--
Onur Yalcin 
oyalcin@iastate.edu

"Serefe"
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: rjwade@rainbow.ecn.purdue.edu (Robert J. Wade)
Subject: Re: More Police Intimidation
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 14:11:34 GMT

In article <1992Dec15.185518.28997@wuecl.wustl.edu> dbr2@cec2.wustl.edu (Dhruva Bollam Reddy) writes:
>I have had a couple of run-ins with the Kansas Highway Patrol:
>
>
>2.  The second one happened in June of this year as I was on my way home
>    (Hill City, KS) from Texas after returning from India a week before.
>    I was traveling on I-70 at a liesurely 72 mph when I sighted a patrol
>    car going in the other direction.  We established eye contact and I 
>    pulled over before he had a chance to light up.  The nice state trooper
>    informed me that although he didn't have a radar reading on me, I looked
>    like I was "doing a little over 65" and that I should slow down.  He then
>    requested all my papers and asked if I was carrying any "drugs, weapons,
>    or large sums of cash".  I meekly replied that I wasn't (meekly because
>    I was still recovering from the shock of a possible speeding ticket).
>    That no, he said, sounded unconvincing.  He therefore asked to search
>    my car (I was going home for the first time since the end of the school
>    year, therefore my car was jampacked with stuff from my dorm room as well
>    as the junk I brought back from India).  At that point, another car       
>    appeared on the scene containing another state trooper,a local deputy
>    sherrif, and a narc dog.  They proceeded to go through all my boxes and
>    my suitcases, for some reason leaving my stereo equipment alone, the spare
>    tire compartment, and all the other storage bins (BTW, this is the same
>    Honda).  Not satisfied with laying all my possessions at the side of the
>    road, one of the troopers asked my permission to let the dog inside the
>    luggage compartment.  I had mentioned that I was returning from India.
>    Big mistake!  They tried unsuccessfully to open a container in which was
>    a lamp, and then they just let the dog have a sniff-see :-).  Obviously
>    disappointed, they sent me on my way approximately one hour after I had
>    pulled over.
>
>Dhruva 

come on...you expect me to believe these cops spent an entire hour away from
a donut shop?  maybe they had a box of creme-filleds in the cruiser and took
turns going back to the car to keep their energy up during that daring search
of your car!!!
From: worden@bouncer.nsc.com (Dennis Worden)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: Re: As your attorney I advise you to.....
Date: 23 Dec 92 21:31:24 GMT
Organization: National Semiconductor Corporation

|> For you Californians:   
|>
|> I just heard that as of Jan 1, 1993...the police will stop you
|> for not having your seatbelt buckled.
|> 
|> Previously, they could not stop you for this.  They would cite 
|> people though if after stopping them for something else, found 
|> that seatbelts were not being used.

Well, with our budget problems, they need all the ways possible to 
collect revenue!!  Maybe unlocked doors will be next!!
-- 
Dennis Worden, not representing $  When the TEAM succeeds, you succeed,
anybody, not even himself, in   $  but when the Team fails, you're FIRED.
any way shape or form.          $  Don't EMAIL me at worden@berlioz.nsc.com
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: bqueiser@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Brian J Queiser)
Subject: Re: What are some common myths about driving?
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 14:42:08 GMT

oyalcin@iastate.edu (Onur Yalcin) writes:

>One most common that I know is the belief that the doors should be locked
>during travel. This is as much wrong a belief as it is widespread.
>Actually, the doors are recommended to be *unlocked* during travel, so that in
>case of an emergency (driver and passangers unconscious after a crash), people
>would be able to open them from outside as quick as possible.
>Some cars actually have a mechanism that pops the door locks open during a
>crash.

I think this information is entirely incorrect (but, hey, I've been wrong
before).

Reason why is this:

Car doors *should* be locked during travel for safety reasons.  First safety
reason is: carjacking, mugging, etc.  Second reason is:  door locks help
prevent door from opening during an accident.  Onur has it backwords; some
manufacturers put automatic *locking* mechanisms into doors, so that they
*lock* during a crash.  In fact, some newer cars have a "feature" that
automatically locks the doors when the car is put into gear.  (I call it
a "feature" because in some cases it is annoying, like in the Acheiva,
where the doors won't unlock and open when the handle is pulled, forcing
you to contort your hand to reach for the lock button that is placed in
an awkward position on the door.)  Third safety reason:  child locks in
back keep little hands from opening doors.

While I agree that it appears to be rather unsafe to be unconscious
and locked in your car, it is actually the lesser of two evils (vs.
getting thrown out; studies show that driver/passenger(s) are safer
in their car during an accident).  The window can be broken by rescue
crews or whoever else comes to the assistance of the car's occupants.
The glass is tempered so that it shatters into very small, relatively
harmless pieces (they look a lot like teeny, tiny cubes).

Also, Mercedes and Volvo (and perhaps some others) beef up their door
handles so that they can be grabbed and pulled on rather forcefully,
or so a crow bar can be slipped through, etc.

Regards,

Brian

bqueiser@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am the engineer, I can choose K.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Department of Engineering Mechanics
Ohio State University
Columbus, OH
From: russotto@eng.umd.edu (Matthew T. Russotto)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: Re: Driving in gusty winds - info needed
Date: 25 Dec 92 23:50:27 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Project GLUE, University of Maryland, College Park

In article <s5ugxk.725206582@sun330> s5ugxk@almserv.uucp (Girish Kumtheker) writes:
>
>i was wondering what is the correct approach to take
>while driving in gusty winds. Should one drive
>slower than normal, about normal or faster than normal ??

My car becomes much more difficult to control as I increase speed in
the wind.

>Also any confirmed reports of cars with people in it
>being blown in the air ??

Personal experience-- my car managed to 'hydroplane' on dry ground
during a windstorm about a year ago.
-- 
Matthew T. Russotto	russotto@eng.umd.edu	russotto@wam.umd.edu
Some news readers expect "Disclaimer:" here.
Just say NO to police searches and seizures.  Make them use force.
(not responsible for bodily harm resulting from following above advice)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: jfc@grouse.dsg.dec.com (John F Carr)
Subject: Re: How Fast are They Driving Out There?
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 19:43:30 GMT

In article <1728@tekgen.bv.tek.com> tkpowell@tekgen.bv.tek.com (Terry Powell) writes:
>Whats the average speed on your daily commute?

I commute from Somerville MA (near Boston) to Westford, MA (30 miles away,
near I495).  I commute in the direction opposite rush hour traffic.  I take
route 2 to 128 (I95) to route 3 to I495.

Traffic on route 2 is around 65, but it is easy to drive 75+ because I'm not
in heavy traffic.

Traffic on 128/95 is heavy, and speeds vary.  If I'm lucky the left lanes
will be at 70+.  If I'm not lucky all 4 lanes are close to the 55 mph limit.

Route 3 is only 2 lanes each direction, so it is easy to get caught behind a
few slow drivers.  On a good day, it is possible to average over 70 in the
left lane.  It's hard to maintain speeds over 75.  This road seems to
attract worse than average drivers (one driver passed me on the right,
pulled into the left lane about 20 feet front of me, drove up to where 2
cars were travelling nearly side-by-side at about 60-65, started tailgating
them, and proceeded to switch lanes avery 3-5 seconds, trying to figure out
a way past them).

Route 495 is usually fast.  I've been passed a few times by drivers doing
around 90.  I average 75-80.



I worked one summer south of Houston, Texas.  There was heavy traffic on
I-45 south of Houston, but it still moved quickly.  That doesn't happen in
this area.  If it gets that heavy, traffic gets slow.


>A few people mentioned that police patrols were
>virtually non existent in the fast areas (makes sense).

I rarely see police on my commute, and I've never seen a speed trap.

Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving