Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site gatech.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!eagle!mhuxt!mhuxi!mhuxa!houxm!hocda!spanky!burl!sb1!sb6!emory!gatech!spaf From: spaf@gatech.UUCP Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: Re: 55mph and tailgates Message-ID: <337@gatech.UUCP> Date: Mon, 1-Aug-83 11:11:51 EDT Article-I.D.: gatech.337 Posted: Mon Aug 1 11:11:51 1983 Date-Received: Wed, 3-Aug-83 20:08:29 EDT References: <921@rlgvax.UUCP> Organization: Georgia Tech, School of ICS Lines: 50 Someone made a comment to the effect that: "whoever is going the fastest in the left lane has the right of way." In a number of states it is against the law to exceed the speed limit when passing another vehicle. If you don't have enough room to pass safely at the speed limit then you are not supposed to pass. Impatience is not an excuse for breaking the law. I know of individuals who have been given tickets for speeding while passing. The way the law is set up in many (most? all? I don't know) states, the speed limit is a LIMIT. It is not a recomended speed. It is a not the speed to be used when cruising. It is not the speed to be done +/- 10%. It is a limit, and you aren't supposed to exceed it for any non-emergency reason. In fact, I have heard of cases where emergency vehicle drivers (police included!) have have been issued tickets for speeding, although it has usually been coupled with reckless driving or unsafe passing. When I took EMT training in NY and went through the section on driving an ambulance, we were told that the way the law was written we had no LEGAL right to exceed the posted speed limit, even with sirens and flashing lights on. Other cars are supposed to yield right-of-way to an emergency vehicle with lights/siren on, but we were not supposed to exceed the speed limit. The person conducting the course (I seem to remember that he was a state trooper) indicated that driving up to 65 or so on the expressway was generally tolerated, but he had and would continue to give tickets to anyone he felt was driving an ambulance too fast. The law is the law on the books. I won't argue about if the laws are just or fair or even reasonable. Before anyone else flames on about "right of way" or other such, check with a state patrol office in your home state and find out when it is legal to exceed the speed limit. Then ask under what conditions they *strictly* enforce the law -- there is a big difference. In fact, I'd be interested in hearing if *any* state has the law written so that it is sometimes legal to exceed the posted limit. Instead of angry defiance, work to change laws you don't like. Ignoring something doesn't make it go away. -- The soapbox of Gene Spafford CSNet: Spaf @ GATech ARPA: Spaf.GATech @ UDel-Relay uucp: ...!{sb1,allegra,ut-ngp}!gatech!spaf ...!duke!mcnc!msdc!gatech!spaf