Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!hao!cires!nbires!ut-ngp!werner From: werner@ut-ngp.UUCP Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: Flame against 55MPH speed-limit Message-ID: <344@ut-ngp.UUCP> Date: Fri, 10-Jun-83 20:48:45 EDT Article-I.D.: ut-ngp.344 Posted: Fri Jun 10 20:48:45 1983 Date-Received: Sat, 11-Jun-83 23:34:09 EDT Lines: 53 I bet this topic must have "flowered" repeatedly, but I had not been around on the net - so : EXCUSE MY FLAME. I have often wondered how many people like and dislike the 55MPH. Judging by the number of people speeding, I am not, necessarily member of a minority, when I believe that 55MPH is too slow and here is my argument: First, to torpedo the argument about the number of traffic accidents: I am as appalled as the next fellow, but with that argument you cannot stop at 55 - why not 35, so why not 75. A decent mass-transportation is the only feasable solution to a) move at a speed compatible with the state of technology and b) keep traffic accidents down. So if we can't achieve that, 55 as a speed-limit on high-ways is a "non-win" Second, the argument not everyone is physically able to go faster. Certainly true, but it's not only me which gets bored and distracted at 55, and I consider myself "more dangerous" at 55 than at 75 or more, when I concentrate well at what I am doing - driving. I got my "wheels" in Germany and am quite comfortable at driving as fast as the car will go, given that I am driving VW's, Fiats, Opels, etc. A VW was considered slow, but easily does 75. Even the slowest go 70 (I am thinking of a Citroen deux-chevaux). Now, I also had the opportunity to drive some BMW, Mercedes, Porsches and I would not like those to be driven at full power at most traffic hours. But I did go faster than 200 KPH at some rare opportunities, and I call anyone a bigot that calls me more irresponsible than all those folks that drink/smoke and drive. Nor was I more dangerous than many drivers who don't know when it is safer to accelerate rather than to brake. Third, the speed-limit must be a conspiracy of insurance companies and police departments to raise funds. What about the rest of us whose time is worth money, and, in most cases, is spent contributing to the economy's progress while not wasting time getting from here to there and back. That pays taxes which pays police departments, too, however, does not contribute to the profits of insurance companies. Forth, I believe dealing with things in order of priorities, and I feel that the current speed-limit is turning things upside-down. Drinking is a considerable bigger problem than speed. Next, is probably lack of skill to handle several tons of steel at any speed. Then driving attitude, lack of taking driving serious, comes to mind. The sorry shape of many cars, and the joke of the car-inspection done by most gas-stations is next on my list. And, considering that dead=dead, if we can't get ourselves protected from guns, I really don't mind taking the risk of driving quite a bit faster than 55. Enough , let's here it from you believers in using a car the way it is meant to be: driving where mass-transportation is not feasable due to the lack of a MASSive demand, but then at somewhere closer to 100MPH rather than 50. Driving a car on the highway at 55 reminds me of programming in FORTRAN. It works but it often takes you an awful long time to get where you want to go. And, of course , your productivity goes to hell.