HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: infante@acpub.duke.edu (Andrew  Infante)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: Re: Car-to-car contact at high speeds
Date: 22 Dec 92 17:25:26 GMT
Organization: Duke University; Durham, N.C.

In article <-#h2caq@rpi.edu> kaminl@aix.rpi.edu (Matt Garretson) writes:
>
>  I have a question, but first, here is the background:
>
>   Suppose I'm going along in the left lane maybe 70mph, and a car to my
>right starts to come into my lane where I already am (i.e. to bump into
>my right side). There is no shoulder to the left to swerve into safely-
>only a guardrail (or oncoming traffic! :( ).  I don't want to end up 
>bouncing all over the place like the car above. And I can't brake quickly
>since there are cars on my tail (%^*&@! tailgaters). So, is it a good idea
>to steer into the car, with the intention of keeping it from pushing me
>where I don't want to go? I don't mean swerving into it, but trying to
>exert enough pressure once contact is made to maintain my own position,
>and hopefully give the other driver enough time to correct his steering.
>Will side-to-side contact between cars be disasterous at 70mph?  It
>seems to work ok in the movies, anyway.  What is the best thing to do in
>a situation like this? I know there are many variables, but any
>comments would be appreciated.
>
>Thanks,
>Matt 



Lean on the horn until they move back into their own lane.

then drive beside them and swear like there's no tomorrow 
until they are apologizing profusely.

Then flip 'em off and leave the scene.

seriously.

This has happened to me and needless to say, I get pissed
when someone almost (or actually) cuts me off in the left lane.

.


later.

andy
.
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: hvozda@wilbur.psu.edu (Eric Hvozda)
Subject: Re: Pennsylvania Turnpike Radar
Organization: Penn State University, Center for Academic Computing
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 92 16:54:08 GMT

In article <1992Dec22.131023.5933@mwhhlaw.uucp> jim@mwhhlaw (James P. Cavanaugh III) writes:
>	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?  

VASCAR and Airplanes.

Yes Veronica, here in PA, those signs are for *real*

Also reports of troopers using PenDOT trucks an maintenace vehicles are
abounding again...dunno what you are willing to shell out, but 81 in a 55
is 5 points plus $254.50.  Dunno what states we share info with tho...
-- 
Ack!                             esh101@psuvm.psu.edu             ESH101@PSUVM
hvozda@vivaldi.psu.edu           hvozda@wilbur.psu.edu            DoD #0217
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: s5ugxk@almserv.uucp (Girish Kumtheker)
Subject: Driving in gusty winds - info needed
Organization: Fannie Mae
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 14:16:22 GMT



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 ??


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


Girish Kumthekar



-- 

Girish Kumthekar		Unix Technical Support

E mail address : girish@fnma.com
From: jpc@philabs.philips.com (John P. Curcio;6442;3.55;)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: Re: More Police Intimidation
Date: 21 Dec 92 15:58:25 GMT
Organization: Philips Laboratories, Briarcliff Manor, NY.

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:
>
>1.  A year and a half ago I was driving from a friend's house (in a different
>    county from my home) when a patrol car began to follow me (I was doing 
>    50 in a 55-stuck behind another car).  After a mile or so he finally
>    flipped on his lights.  He walked up to my car, a Honda CRX, and requested
>    my license and all that good stuff, and then informed me that he had 
>    called my license plate number in to the dispatcher to find that the plate
>    actually belonged to a Volkswagen (another car in my household).  After
>    explaining to him that I must have unknowingly switched the two plates
>    when new ones were issued, he asked me to step out of the car and stand
>    where he could see me while he got into his car for no readily apparent
>    reason, where he sat for at least 20 minutes.  

He was running your license, checking for suspensions and/or
revocations, as well as checking out your story about the changed
plates by running the VIN through the computer (making sure it was
issued to the same name as you said).  Since something was funny (i.e,
plates not for the correct car), he decided to do a check to see if you
were wanted for criminal activity.  These things can take some time...

>    He then got out of his car
>    for the interrogation.  He began with questions about my criminal record
>    (non-existant) and then asked if I had been to Connecticut and been 
>    convicted of any felonies there.  By now I was losing patience and replied
>    as calmly as possible that I hadn't set foot in New England in almost ten
>    years.  He then (FINALLY!) explained that they were looking for a man from
>    Connecticut with the same first name (Dhruva) and ethnic background
>    (Indian, as in from India).  He then wrote me a warning for registration
>    violation and sent me on my way, after asking the standard questions (what
>    are you doing in this county, etc.).

He had information that somebody with the same name (which I would
guess is fairly rare in Kansas) and thought you might be using an
alias.  It was grasping at straws, but a legitimate traffic stop,
without any improper activity.

[second story deleted for brevity]

-JPC

-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John P. Curcio 		          Go Bruins!		   Philips Laboratories
jpc@philabs.philips.com 			           345 Scarborough Road
(914) 945-6442               	 		     Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510
From: chucko@kronos.arc.nasa.gov (Chuck Fry)
Subject: Re: How to answer the Officer when pulled up?
Summary: Don't tell him anything.
Organization: Recom Technologies, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 00:08:28 GMT

In article <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.

How do you know??  Have you calibrated your speedometer lately?
Even if your guess is correct, you were illegal.

>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!'

He's right.  You fucked yourself, plain and simple.

>My question is this: Would it have been wise on my part to
>just have said that I was traveling within the speed limit?

NO.  My policy, when confronted with this question, is to answer "Yes,
I believe I know how fast I was going.  What did you clock me at?"

>Or is the answer inconsequential? What should I do now?

Your only hope is to take it to court and hope the officer doesn't
show up.  If you're truly a pessimist, just pay the fine.

ObPlug: And while you're moaning about the cost of the ticket, join
NMA, and put your money where your right foot is!

 -- Chuck Fry  Chucko@ptolemy.arc.nasa.gov
    Experienced speeder, cited in 4 states!
From: tonyz@hpwrce.mayfield.hp.com (Tony Zugates)
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 23:56:37 GMT
Subject: As your attorney I advise you to.....
Organization: the HP Mtn.View Resp. Cntr.
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving

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.


Buckle up.



"How long do we have?" I said.
"Maybe thirty more minutes," he replied.
"As your attorney I advise you to drive at top speed."
						    -Hunter S. Thompson
						    "Fear and Loathing..."
From: jtchew@csa3.lbl.gov (Ad absurdum per aspera)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: Re: How Fast are They Driving Out There?
Date: 22 Dec 1992 15:39 PST
Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory - Berkeley, CA, USA
Distribution: na
NNTP-Posting-Host: 128.3.254.198
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    

In the early morning (ca. 6 am) on the freeway portions, the traffic
routinely rolls 55 or better, and I seldom see even a solitary speed
demon doing more than 70-75.  This is on a multilane urban freeway
with on- and off-ramps every couple of miles where myopic imbeciles 
can come bombing into your lane without even looking, much less 
signaling, and where the Highway Patrol sometimes crouches beside
the water hole to weed out those who stray from the herd.  It would
be theoretically possible to go much faster.  On the surface-street
portions, people seem to go 10 over whether it's safe or not (caveat
joggor).  

After about 6:30, traffic gets heavy, and in the evening rush hour
some combination of heavy traffic and left-lane bandits usually keeps
people from exceeding the speed limit significantly.

At any normal commute time or weekend play time, any Bay Area freeway
can be turned into a parking lot by accidents, construction work, or
just sheer volume of traffic.  My wife once drove from Alameda to San
Francisco, almost entirely on "Interstates," without being able to get
out of second gear.  In the very worst cases, you just turn off your
motor and sit there, regretting that cup of coffee, regretting leaving
the paper at home, regretting whatever made you move to California.

Surprisingly, the few times I've hit the freeways at real off hours,
the traffic has been fairly mellow.  Mostly big rigs, owl-shift workers
in no hurry, and older parties with an upside-down johnboat on top
of the camper.  One hears about midnight banzai runs down deserted
freeways, but I've never witnessed this rumored spectacle.  One would
think that they'd be easy pickings for any cop who was about...

Many Interstates and US highways in the West have really fast traffic.
I-5, a terminally boring car conduit running up and down California's
Central Valley in deliberate avoidance of scenery and driving challenges,
is a good example -- imagine being tailgated at 80 mph by a "duallie"
diesel pickup truck from a local plumbing-supply company.  I've been
smoked off several times on lonely Southwestern roads by people doing
well over 100.  However, those are hardcore speeders willing to risk
arrest for their jollies.  I'd guess, absent any data, that the "one-
sigma" driver does no more than 75-80 in even the most tempting 65 zone,
and Mr. Two-Sigma seldom crowds 100.  Considering the average American 
car and the nut behind the wheel, this may be just as well.

--Joe
"Just another personal opinion from the People's Republic of Berkeley"
From: gt7460c@prism.gatech.EDU (SHERIDAN,BRADLEY RYAN)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: Speeding ticket
Date: 2 Jan 93 04:19:55 GMT
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology

Does anybody know if the State Patrol is required to calibrate their radar
guns? I was pulled over and wasn't able to talk my way out of the ticket,
so I asked the pig to calibrate his radar. He claimed he didn't have to.

Also, when I go to court, what are they(cops) required to bring in as evidence?

If I bring in proof that my speedometer was off by 13mph will the court
dismiss the ticket(78 in a 65)? Would anyone believe my speedometer was off
that much? I have a different size tire than factory but never got the speedo
recalibrated.

Thanks for any help,

Brad
-- 
SHERIDAN,BRADLEY RYAN
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332
uucp:	  ...!{decvax,hplabs,ncar,purdue,rutgers}!gatech!prism!gt7460c
Internet: gt7460c@prism.gatech.edu
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: apuzzo@rintintin.Colorado.EDU (Tony Apuzzo)
Subject: Re: Do HOV lanes work?
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 03:37:15 GMT

In article <1993Jan3.225143.10333@athena.mit.edu> jfc@athena.mit.edu (John F Carr) writes:
>
>I-84 through Hartford has some very-expensive looking carpool lanes (at
>interchanges and exits there are separate over/under-passes; when the HOV
>lane parallels the road there is enough unused pavement to add 1.5 new
>lanes).
>
>Is this really worth the cost?  I go through Hartford a few times a year at
>off-peak hours, and there is very little traffic on the HOV lane.  Is it
>different during rush hour?  It seems to me the money would have been better
>spent making the main road wider.
>
>If you do take the HOV lane, you have to travel at the speed of the slowest
>car because there is no room to pass.
>
>--
>    John Carr (jfc@athena.mit.edu)

This is major flame-bait, but it is my opinion that HOV lanes are a
symptom of rampant busybodism that borders on socialism.  Our
governments are using vehicle registration and tax funds to force a
misguided social agenda on the American public.  For more info on this
philosophy, read back issues of Car and Driver.  Also P.J. O'Rourke
talks about similar moronic ideas in "A Parliment of Whores"

HOV lanes are totally without merit.  The only thing worse are Bus only
lanes.  Other stupid ideas that are springing from these busybodies:
Seat-belt laws, speed limits, oxygenated fuels, public transportation,
gas guzzler taxes and passive restraint mandates.


-Tony
-- 
*                                                         
* Be a non-conformist like me and don't use a .sig at all.
*
From: stecz@pencom.com (John Steczkowski)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: Re: What are some common myths about driving?
Date: 28 Dec 92 16:23:37 GMT
Reply-To: stecz@pencom.com
Distribution: austin
Organization: Pencom Software

In article <1992Dec24.144208.9227@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>  
bqueiser@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Brian J Queiser) writes:
> 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.
> 
> 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.

Actually, on the new Mercedes SL (the one with the automatic pop-up rollbar).   
The doors *unlock* if the car decides it is in a very bad situation (the same  
situations that make the roll-bar pop-up), i.e. more than one tire is off the  
ground, the car is tilted past a certain point, x amount of deceleration, etc.

--
  John Steczkowski                        stecz@pencom.com
  "Achilles raised his spear, took careful aim, and hurled."
  					    from the Iliad
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: russotto@eng.umd.edu (Matthew T. Russotto)
Subject: Re: How Fast are They Driving Out There?
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 92 04:01:47 GMT
Organization: Project GLUE, University of Maryland, College Park
Distribution: na

In article <1728@tekgen.bv.tek.com> tkpowell@tekgen.bv.tek.com (Terry Powell) writes:
>I recently got into a bit of a flame fest over on wreck.motorcycles
>involving a statement I made on speed in the USA.  Basically I questioned
>a statement made that there were a lot of folks out there traveling at
>100mph.  I said I doubted there were many traveling at 100 mph in fairly
>heavy traffic (I didn't define heavy traffic).  Anyway, I got quite a few
>responses indicating that I obviously hadn't driven on IXXX lately.  Now
>I'm really curious.  Whats the average speed on your daily commute?  How
>fast are the 'flyboys' going?  What are the off hour speeds?  Reports from
>the great wide open?  A few people mentioned that police patrols were
>virtually non existent in the fast areas (makes sense).  Are they cutting
>back in your area?

Stop and go on the commute (I-270 south from 109 to 118), then it
opens up to three lanes and speeds range from about 60 to 75 to my
exit.  Off hour speeds are all over the range, from 55 to 80+.  Just
after the worst part of the commute, I-270 north will be very heavy but
move at 70+ mph, sometimes.

I-70 seems to average a bit faster (off hours only)-- fewer 55mph
people, average probably around 70mph-- I drive around 75mph and am
still passed fairly often.   There are fewer cops on this road.

I've seen a few people who could have been doing 100mph or better, on
I-70.  Not on I-270, but I travel I-70 off peak more often.
-- 
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)
From: dos@major.panix.com (Dave O'Shea)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: Re: Speeding ticket
Date: 3 Jan 93 03:52:38 GMT
Organization: Department of Redundancy Department

gt7460c@prism.gatech.EDU (SHERIDAN,BRADLEY RYAN) writes:

> Does anybody know if the State Patrol is required to calibrate their radar
> guns? I was pulled over and wasn't able to talk my way out of the ticket,
> so I asked the pig to calibrate his radar. He claimed he didn't have to.

As far as I'm aware, this is a requirement, or really procedure, that
varies from one police department to another. If the cop made the bust
in keeping with his department's usual procedure, you'll be fighing an
uphill battle. Remember, the judge gets his paycheck from the same
people as the cop.

*if* you ca find out what the procedure is, you can hammer the cop on
the details of it, and if you find an error that could, *realistically*,
introduce a significant error into the reading, you might have a chance.

> 
> Also, when I go to court, what are they(cops) required to bring in as evidenc

Diddly. Cop's testimony is enough, unless you have good reason to
believe the equipment is provably defective.

> If I bring in proof that my speedometer was off by 13mph will the court
> dismiss the ticket(78 in a 65)? Would anyone believe my speedometer was off
> that much? I have a different size tire than factory but never got the speedo
> recalibrated.

As to whether they'd belive you were unaware of the speed difference,
not too likely, and not even relevant, unless the judge takes a liking
to you. I wouldn't even bother with the tire defense.


--
4x4 owners do it in the mud. And snow. And dirt. And rocks. Kinky, huh?
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: dutcher@seas.gwu.edu (Sylvia Dutcher)
Subject: Re: How to answer the Officer when pulled up?
Organization: George Washington University
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 02:18:06 GMT

>>>	When the cop came by and asked me, "Do you know what speed
>>>	you were going at?" I replied, "35!"
>>>	While handing over the citation he said, "You have the right
>>>	to appeal the citation, but remember that you *admitted*
>>>	driving over the [posted] speed limit of 30!'
>>>
>>>Cops pick up on this technique and use it in the field.  Remember Miranda: 
>>>"Anything you say can and will be used against you".  Satya, you ask if it
>>
>>Whoa.  *You're* forgetting Miranda.  Unless the cop advised him of his
>>Constitutional rights beforehand, any such remark is inadmissible.  Isn't 
>>that what Miranda was all about?
>
>While I believe you are probably technically right (warning: not a
>lawyer, don't play one on TV), can you imagine trying a constitutional
>argument in traffic court?

Um, not quite.  He's wrong.  Miranda and its progeny have to do with
*custodial* interrogation.  So unless you were in custody, what you 
blurt out is your own problem.  No warning required, no suppression
of your statement.  But, you ask, isn't being pulled over being in
custody?  Nope.  'Twould seem so, but 'taint.  Now being cuffed,
*that's* being in custody.
From: pvmason@cco.caltech.edu (Peter V. Mason)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: Re: Question: Following a car
Date: 1 Jan 1993 01:02:06 GMT
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
NNTP-Posting-Host: alumni.caltech.edu

>
>Under the new "Stalking" laws (in some places), you CAN be arrested.
>
>-- 

Can anyone fill us in on the Stalking laws?

pvmason@alumni.caltech.edu
From: dos@major.panix.com (Dave O'Shea)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: Re: How Fast are They Driving Out There?
Date: 25 Dec 92 04:59:41 GMT
Organization: Spaceley Sprockets, Inc.

tkpowell@tekgen.bv.tek.com (Terry Powell) writes:

I drive 60-65 most of the way to and from work - could drive faster, but
what's the rush? I might spill my coffee. :)

There's a 5-6 mile stretch of I-87 I go on every day, and most people
stay about the same speed as me, but occasionally someone comes blasting
through at about 90, but usually they're pretty polite about it.
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: jennifer@island.COM (J.S.Jackson - Dances with Nerds)
Subject: Re: How to answer the Officer when pulled up?
Organization: /usr/local/rn/organization
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 21:36:18 GMT

As a followup to my last:

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.

This can often times lead to another citation.

Happy New Year!

-- 
Jennifer S. Jackson			jennifer@savage.island.COM
DOD #0999				Island Graphics is not responsible
AMA #580636				for my postings.
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: bqueiser@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Brian J Queiser)
Subject: Re: Driving in gusty winds - info needed
Organization: The Ohio State University
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 14:56:14 GMT

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

Keep both hands on the wheel (10 and 3 are good places) and reduce your
speed to 5-10mph below the limit if the winds are really strong, otherwise
speed limit is okay, IMHO.  Cars certainly might get blown into the air
or overturned if the winds are tornedo or hurricane force, but the strong
20-30mph winds shouldn't be able to do that if you're in an average
3250 lb car on a horizontal road surface.

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