Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!genrad!decvax!harpo!seismo!rlgvax!jsg From: jsg@rlgvax.UUCP Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: Re: 55 saves lives Message-ID: <681@rlgvax.UUCP> Date: Mon, 20-Jun-83 13:28:09 EDT Article-I.D.: rlgvax.681 Posted: Mon Jun 20 13:28:09 1983 Date-Received: Tue, 21-Jun-83 01:13:23 EDT Lines: 32 I was going to keep quiet on this discussion, but my boiling point was finally exceeded by the following remark by David Sher (...!rochester!sher): "....People east of the appalations are not bothered by the 55 speed limit." How can anyone refer to such a large and diverse group of people and make a sweeping statement like that. Maybe, Mr. Sher you fail to realize that the Appalachian Mountains extend fron Quebec to Alabama. That covers a lot of territory. I don't know where in N.Y., Conn., and N.J. you drive but it obviously isn't the same roads that I drive. Travel the N.J. Turnpike sometime and tell me what percentage of the traffic is traveling at 55. I will agree that it is easier to go much faster than 55 out west but, consider that it is also tougher for "radar wielding" police to hid on flat non-winding roads. While back east the stands of tree in the median strip of most of the major highway are a great place for a trap. One policeman sits in a ditch or group of trees in the median, and "takes your picture". Just when you think you got past him, you go around a turn and there is a policeman standing in your lane, waving you over to the shoulder. They get speeders 8-10 at a time lined up on the shoulder this way. How can that be done out west? Basically, if you want to chances of getting caught, take the chance. If you can drive at 70 or 80 without threatening anyone else on the road, go ahead. But don't tell me that just because I live on the east coast I can't drive fast because the roads aren't straight. If they hadn't intended for us to go fast, they wouldn't have given us four lanes to use. jeff ...[seismo, brl-bmd, mcnc, we13]!rlgvax!jsg