ticketed for speeding, then ticketed for not speeding

[Thorin]

http://www.drivers.com/article/149/

It's a story from about ten years ago about a guy who got ticketed or speeding on the 401, then got ticketed for not speeding (driving exactly the speed limit) in protest, also on the 401.

I get what they're saying about a social contract and all that, but man, I would not have pleaded to a lesser charge.  I would have taken this right up to the top level and forced the government to state that either speeding is not allowed and I'm not wrong for driving the speed limit, or speeding is allowed and I'm not wrong for driving with the flow of traffic.

The second-last comment on the story is from the guy who did this:

10 years on, and I still have the best defense for any "speeding" infraction. I have observed that the new unofficial speed limit on the 400 highways is 120.. on other major highways, 100 seems to do. (less in hazardous conditions)
Was I wrong to drive 115 in a 100 zone?
Was I wrong to drive 100 in a 100 zone?
I'll admit that one may be wrong, but everyone must agree, it's impossible to claim that I was wrong in both instances.

[Darren Dirt]

Speaking of the 401 and speeding / speed limits etc.


http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/speed-limits-is-faster-safer-1.3280254


Notice the complete disconnect between the "consensus" of law-makers vs ACTUAL DRIVERS WITH ACTUAL EXPERIENCE ON THE ROADS (i.e. the comments in the article)


law-makers = fearmongering = "speed kills" (claimed in theory)

ACTUAL DRIVERS = "slow drivers in the passing lane, and follow-too-close idiots, and bad drivers changing lanes unsafely, THAT'S what is dangerous" (proven in practice)


One comment clearly demonstrates how out of touch the law-makers and PR suits really are:

" I drive 60,000km per year in all weather (lifetime accident free) and the most dangerous thing I encounter are slow drivers. Those driving 20+km behind the rest need to take the side roads, they cause traffic flow disruptions and frustration that leads to mistakes. If you can't keep up then get off the highway, or at least get in the "slow lane" (like the signs say to). Yes, up the limit. We are 90km/hour around Thunder Bay on double laned divided highways, its ridiculous and most people go at least 110 anyways, including the OPP. "

Lucky to be in a province with a 110 posted limit, but 115-130 was the typical flow in all but the far right lane when I drove to/from the airport twice in the last month. I can't imagine a 100 posted limit in freedom-loving Alberta!

[Thorin]

Lucky to be in a province with a 110 posted limit, but 115-130 was the typical flow in all but the far right lane when I drove to/from the airport twice in the last month. I can't imagine a 100 posted limit in freedom-loving Alberta!

The 110km/h limit is only on a few roads, almost all primary highways are 100km/h.

The QEII (ie highway 2 between Calgary and Edmonton) routinely sees people driving in the 130km/h-150km/h range, and it's not entirely rare to see people exceeding 150km/h.  So, is that because they're really good drivers and all those slow drivers are making life dangerous for them, or is that because they don't give a @%&# about others and blame others for anything that happens to them?

[Lazybones]

Speed limits on a number of highways are now 120 in BC
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/news/industry-news/why-increasing-speed-limits-makes-complete-sense/article23590965/


Speed limit review report
http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/Publications/eng_publications/speed_review/index.htm


There are also a number of US discussions on the fact that many posted speed limits do not match the engineering off the roads.

[Darren Dirt]

Speed limits on a number of highways are now 120 in BC
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/news/industry-news/why-increasing-speed-limits-makes-complete-sense/article23590965/


Speed limit review report
http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/Publications/eng_publications/speed_review/index.htm


There are also a number of US discussions on the fact that many posted speed limits do not match the engineering off the roads.

For some weird reason at home I still had a browser tab opened to this thread. So I skimmed it again, and this time actually clicked the link to that BC speed limit report or whatever.

I eventually got to the PDF, and skimmed the first dozen or so pages to find a "conclusion" of sorts.

http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/Publications/eng_publications/speed_review/Speed_Review_Report.pdf


In case anyone was curious what the results would be from a government review of an issue that is to some people manipulated as a revenue-earner rather than related to safety etc.

Page 6 was surprisingly reasonable in how it summed it up (and pretty much harmonizes with "common sense" anecdotal wisdom)...

Based on years of experience and observation, the following fundamental concepts have been used to establish realistic speed zones.

-The majority of motorists drive at a speed they consider reasonable, and safe for road, traffic, and environmental conditions.  Posted limits which are set higher or lower than dictated by roadway and traffic conditions are ignored by the majority of motorists.

-The normally careful and competent actions of a reasonable person should be considered legal.

-A speed limit should be set so that the majority of motorists observe it voluntarily and enforcement can be directed to the minority of offenders.

-A driver?s choice of speed can impose risks on other road users.  Crash severity increases with increasing speeds because in a collision, the amount of kinetic energy dissipated is proportional to the square of the velocity.
Crashes, however, appear to depend less on speed and more on * the variation in speeds.  The likelihood of a crash occurring is significantly greater for motorists traveling at speed slower and faster than the mean speed of traffic. *

-Maximum speed limits are set for ideal road, traffic, and environmental conditions.

Establishing safe and realistic uniform speed zones is important because it invites public compliance by conforming to the behavior of the majority of motorists and provides a clear reminder to violators.