From: cyrus@convex.com (Tait Cyrus)
Subject: Re: Speed Variances on the Highway...
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 19:16:53 GMT
Organization: Engineering, CONVEX Computer Corp., Colorado Springs, CO., USA
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by a user at CONVEX Computer
              Corp. The opinions expressed are those of the user and
              not necessarily those of CONVEX.

In article <Dec15.235828.71079@yuma.ACNS.ColoState.EDU> sgcraw@CS.ColoState.EDU (stewart crawford) writes:
>>Actually, a minimum speed limit might be just as important as a maximum:

Wrong.

>>There is alot of evidence that the real problem is traveling at a
>>different speed that the rest of the traffic (which requires frequent
>>passing, etc... and thereby increases the risk of accidents.) If this
>>is the case, driving at 40 on an interstate is as dangerous as driving
>>70...

What evidence?  I sure would like to see this.

>I hate to interrupt your musings on the variance in highway speeds
>as "the problem" with some FACTS, but...
>
>The death-rate per 1,000,000-vehicle miles driven is LOWER on German Autobahns
>than U.S. Interstates.

Interesting.  I didn't realize that.  Where was this published?  It does
make sense though given the 'respect' Germans have for driving (see below).

>This fact quite suprised me after driving there for 1/2 year, because:
>
>  (1) the speed ranges there are from 90 Km/h (the legal limit for some
>      vehicles and such) to upwards of 250 Km/h -- that's a range of
>      ~55 mph --> 150 mph.  Realistically, most traffic is in the
>      ~50 mph to 110 mph range, however.

I agree.  I just returned from Germany having done some driving there (in and
around Frankfurt as well as Frankfurt to the Southern German boarder and
back).  Yes there are people that drive 250Km/h, but that is not a problem
because as Stewart writes below, NO ONE cruises in the left lane.  The ONLY
time you use the left lane is to pass.  This means that the left lane is almost
always free of cars.  The slower you go, the more to the right side of the road
you drive.

>  (2) Autobahns in general are poorer quality than our interstates:
>      narrower lanes, narrower shoulders, tighter radius turns,
>      rougher pavement, rarely bigger than 2 lanes.

Hmm.  I would have to disagree on this point.  I found that in general the
Autobahns are much better quality than our interstates.  I think that is
why there is ALWAYS construction on the Autobahns; they are always fixing
any problems.

>WHY?  Because in their good Germanic ways, they follow driving rules to a T.
>NO ONE cruises in the left lane -- it's for passing only.  People SIGNAL
>before changing lanes.  People are OBSERVANT of traffic around them,
>knowing they (or someone around them) may get killed by simple acts
>of discourteous driving.

I agree TOTALLY.  I wish US drivers knew how to drive like German drivers
(really it is the drivers in that general part of Europe).  I was VERY
surprised how 'friendly' the drivers were.  For example here in the US if
you are on a road were a lane is closed/blocked you have to wait a long
time before someone will let you merge into the moving lane.  In Germany
people observe the 'zipper rule' as my German Uncle called it.  There
it is the normal thing to alternate cars for merging traffic.  This really
surprised me since I have NEVER seen this happen in the US.  Yes a few
people might start it, but there will ALWAYS be someone who will not let
a car merge in.

The really interesting thing is that when there IS a speed limit in Germany,
people obey it.  I am sure a lot of that has to do with the fact that the speed
limits are set at reasonable levels unlike here in the US where they are set
at levels to 'save gas'.  Other speed limits are set so arbitrarily it results
in people speeding.  All people 'know' what is a good speed for a particular
road.  Unfortunately the US Government appears to subtract 20mph off of this
'good' speed.  Basically this means people drive the speed they feel
comfortable with which here in the US is usually around 75-80 in the
interstate.  I have heard the suggestion of raising the speed limit (that I am
totally for) from something like 65 to 75 (what most people drive anyway).  In
response I have heard people saying that no matter how high the speed limit,
people will always speed.  Yes there will be a few, but a MUCH LARGER
proportion of drivers, myself included, would be more than happy to drive at 75.
Getting back to the original article, this would mean that MORE people are
driving the SAME speed.

>Perhaps the thing that gauls me most on interstates is someone exercising
>their constitutional right to drive at the speed limit in the left lane.

US drivers do not respect each other.  If they did they would get out of the
way of someone behind them.  US drivers feel they have the 'right' to enforce
the speed limit by driving the speed limit in the left lane.  I think that
'respect' is what people should be worrying about not how fast the other guy is
going.

I liked what Ross Perot had to propose.  He proposed raising gas tax by $0.50
at the end of 5 years.  US drivers are spoiled with the CHEAP gas.  The price
of gas in Germany is roughly 4 times that here in the US (1.30DM/liter which is
~$4.92US/gallon).  US drivers don't obey speed limits.  The US Government has
set the speed limit at 55 to 'save gas'.  If they want to save gas, they should
increase the gas tax (using the money to fix the interstates which, in my
opinion, are in TERRIBLE shape) causing drivers to drive less (driving less
saves gas) because the higher price of gas will result in people driving less.
I would be more than willing to pay higher gas prices if the end result was
better roads.

I don't ever see US drivers having the respect for other drivers like
the Germans have.  I wish there was a switch someone could throw to change
this.

-- 
W. Tait Cyrus                   Software Engineer
Convex Computer Corporation     cyrus@convex.com
2075 Research Parkway Suite B   719-594-4900 ext 41
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
Newsgroups: co.general