Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 (Denver Mods 7/26/84) 6/24/83; site drutx.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!harvard!talcott!panda!genrad!decvax!harpo!whuxlm!whuxl!houxm!ihnp4!drutx!mrl From: mrl@drutx.UUCP (LongoMR) Newsgroups: net.auto Subject: Re: (A Sermon on) Radar Surveillance Message-ID: <134@drutx.UUCP> Date: Mon, 12-Aug-85 12:23:56 EDT Article-I.D.: drutx.134 Posted: Mon Aug 12 12:23:56 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 15-Aug-85 21:00:32 EDT References: <2493@pegasus.UUCP> <752@dataio.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver Lines: 39 I lived and drove in NJ for several years and never owned a radar detector. I got a few tickets, but could never really justify a detector because the limit, before the 55 mph speed was enforced, was only 60 mph anyway (NJ maximum speed limit on ANY road). In 1980 I moved to Colorado. In this state, and surrounding states, there are long stretches of highway engineered for 70 and 75 mph. When riding from Denver to, say, Caspar, Wyoming, you may go through 3 towns in 5 hours. Other than that, the roads are straight, wide and flat, and there is no reason to go 55mph, especially in a car engineered to cruise at much higher speeds (most cars today will safely cruise at 70, anyway.) Traffic is sparse and it is (relatively) very safe to do 70-75 mph on these roads. The first time I made the trip, I stayed at 55-60 mph. In a situation such as that, slow speeds are, in my opinion, less safe because of the likelyhood of becoming bored behind the wheel. The higher speeds seem to keep me mentally "up" and makes the trip much more enjoyable without decreasing the safety factor. Four years ago, I got a ticket in a 1 year old car for doing 70 in a 55 mph zone out in the middle of nowhere at 7AM on a Sunday morning with one other car in sight (about 1/2 mile ahead of me) who was also pulled over. (For those of you familiar with Colorado, I was on Interstate 76 about 40 miles north of Stapleton with nothing but an exit and entrance ramp on the sides of the road) In this situation, I had a car that actually got better mileage at 70 than it did at 55 (measured myself), therefore, I can make NO argument for going 55 rather than 70. But, you can't argue with the law, even if it is wrong, so I paid my fine. For these situations, I bought a radar detector. My escort has never let me down. I would recommend one HIGHLY for anyone who is ever in a similar situation. I just can't believe that police (spelled POLICE) can't find something better to do than sit out on some entrance ramp of some desolate highway and wait for someone to come along and give them a ticket for breaking a law that is rediculous. I am not against a 55 mph speed limit, where the situation calls for it, I am just opposed to it when the situation doesn't. (but that's another subject). Mark Longo AT&T Denver