Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 beta 3/9/83; site hplabs.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!seismo!hao!hplabs!piety From: piety@hplabs.UUCP (Bob Piety) Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: 55mph & common courtesy Message-ID: <1660@hplabs.UUCP> Date: Mon, 1-Aug-83 14:06:33 EDT Article-I.D.: hplabs.1660 Posted: Mon Aug 1 14:06:33 1983 Date-Received: Tue, 2-Aug-83 11:50:42 EDT Organization: Hewlett Packard Labs, Palo Alto CA Lines: 40 What's with this "unsafe @ >55"? The speed limits on many of our freeways here in California USED TO BE 70!!! The roads were certainly designed for that speed (or greater). Sure, trying to drive at a speed that departs from the flow of traffic can be unsafe.....and that goes for you 55mph drivers when the flow is actually moving at 65 - 70. Even our Highway Patrol Officers will agree with that. As to the rights of the 55mph driver to pass a 45mph car: Sure, pass the car at that speed, but GET OUT OF THE WAY as soon as you can. DON'T TRY TO ENFORCE THE LAW!!!!!!! On a road with a single lane in each direction, our State Law says to pull over and let cars pass when there are 5 or more cars behind you.... regardless of what speed you are driving. What's wrong with common courtesy? Why impede ANY drivers? Why not pull over (when its safe) and let even ONE car pass? I drive a winding mountain road daily and have found this courtesy quite refreshing as most of the drivers follow it. Of course, there are the times that a tourist or "sunday driver", who doesn't know the road, seriously impedes the flow of commuters. Its OK for them to not know the road or to simply drive slowly, BUT when they refuse to pull over (at turnouts) and have absolutely no consideration for anyone else....THEY ought to be fined (or worse!!!)! The bottom line is: What's wrong with exercising common (perhaps not- so-common anymore) courtesy and let drivers who wish to go faster, for whatever reasons, do so? Next time, try it. Try going out of your way slightly, just to be nice to the other person and let them do their thing. Maybe, they'll return the favor some day when YOU need to be somewhere in a hurry....such as driving your pregnant wife, or injured child to the hospital. (an ambulance is not always appropriate or available.) By the way, I tend to get drowsy at 55, but am QUITE awake and alert at 65 or 70. I firmly believe that my reflex reactions are much quicker at the higher speed and more than compensate for the quicker reaction times needed. But, what's best for me may not be for you. You do your trip & I'll do mine! SIZZLE-FUME-SMOKE!!!