From: woods@robohack.UUCP (Greg A. Woods)
Subject: Re: sdebar re passing or right (was sidebar re 401 (: -))
Organization: Elegant Communications Inc.
Distribution: can
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 92 01:34:05 GMT

In article <3169@isgtec.isgtec.com> robert@isgtec.com (Robert Osborne) writes:
> By speeding it takes 3 hours instead of 4 to get to my parents.
> What is your definition of "all that much time"?

Whew!  Either your trip is done on roads with really low speed limits,
or you've greatly exceeded the speed limit.  If I've not forgotten
basic algebra, that's a 33% increase in your *average* speed, even
with the entire trip on a clear highway!

> I see: it's perfectly safe to drive the speed limit but if you
> drive 20 kph over it's instant death to everybody in a ten
> mile radius.  By this theory we should all be driving 10 kph;
> after all is even a few hours worth a life?

Sorry, but you've completely missed the point.

The speed limit is the law.  Rightly or wrongly people assume other
people are going to follow the law (and some even expect a certain
amount of courtesy!).  Speeders cause such assumptions to fail, often
causing chain reactions that may result in accidents.

I'm not going to claim any particular speed as safe, even after
specifying the skills of the driver, the capabilities of the vehicle,
and the road conditions.  Such things are usually judgment calls, and
can be twisted many ways by playing with statistics.

> Speed limits are rather arbitrary and anybody driving the speed limit
> is usually driving faster than the average traffic flow.

Ah!  So, you don't drive long highway miles between large population
centres then?  On two and four lane highways in Western Canada, the
average traffic flow is usually within 5% of the speed limit.  The
speeders usually balance out the slow-pokes, though the slow-pokes do
indeed usually follow the rules.

> My judgement leads me to drive well under the average traffic flow
> and the speed limit in wet, icy, or snowy conditions.  I guess I
> should stop following my judgement and just drive the speed limit?

No, please don't, though don't be selfish and only consider your own
ability and that of your vehicle.  Please also consider the skills,
capabilities, and potential assumptions of those near you.

> Since I don't tailgate, flash lights, blow horns, or weave, my speeding
> doesn't endanger anybody anymore than driving the speed limit would.

How blind you are!

If you speed in any area where others might need to enter or leave
your lane, you are endangering them.  Period.

> A lot of people only want to drive 90 kph at any time.
> Should they always drive with 4-ways on?

That's a rather obvious number.  I believe the law says something
about percentages, but I'm ashamed to say I can't quote it.

> It isn't safe OR legal NOR will it "help cool his jets".

Just depends.  As I said, the cirumstances where this is possible are
rare indeed.

> I didn't say you had to take responsibility for him,  he is still an
> idiot.  However since he is weaving because you refuse to yield you are
> also endangering everybody else on the road because you are a
> self-rightous jerk who is just as much into power trips as the speeder:
> your power trip comes from having forced a speeder to "cool his jets".

Well, at least my power trips are within the bounds of legality (if
you stretch the "safe-to-change-lanes" rules a bit -- after all, this
is a true judgement call that I'm responsible for).

> Since I've yet to have an accident or cause an accident who have I
> harmed?  If the speed limit dropped to 30kph tomorrow would it suddenly
> be dangerous to drive 100kph?

Harm?  How do you know you haven't scared the living bejesus out of
some poor sod you've gone screaming past?  Just because he didn't have
an accident doesn't mean you didn't endanger him.
-- 
						Greg A. Woods

woods@robohack.UUCP woods@Elegant.COM  VE3TCP	UniForum Canada & ECI
+1 416 443-1734 [home] +1 416 595-5425 [work]	Toronto, Ontario; CANADA
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