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From: trb@floyd.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.auto,net.flame
Subject: Re: Penis Substitutes
Message-ID: <1568@floyd.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 13-Jun-83 10:54:47 EDT
Article-I.D.: floyd.1568
Posted: Mon Jun 13 10:54:47 1983
Date-Received: Tue, 14-Jun-83 02:31:24 EDT
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Donn Seeley gave his impassioned defense of strict laws against
speeding and of the 55mph limit.  He did use some biased examples
though, and I'd like to reply.

He talked about what happenned to his little brother and implied that
we all should think about our little brothers.  Had his little brother
died while riding a bicycle or drowned in a pool or choked on a peanut
shell, he could make impassioned pleas about those activities as well.

Seeley used the example of the president of some company wasting
himself in his Ferrari right after his company went public.  NO
mention was made to whether the guy was drunk or whether the guy had
ever driven the car before.  My guess is that he was and he hadn't.

I drive a GTI, which performs pretty well.  It knows how to go around
a corner, even in the rain.  I have driven my parents' Hondas with
their Bridgestone tires and I can control my GTI with Pirelli P6's
much more easily than I can control the Hondas, even at "safe speeds."
I am not advocating that everyone's car must have Pirelli tires.

When I drive down the sparsely populated highway at 75 or 80 mph I'm
not endangering anyone.  When I drive 45 in a 35 zone on the way home
from work late at night I'm not endangering anyone.  I've never been
in an accident and NJ still charges me $1200+/year to insure my car
with $500 deductible.  Tell me which laws we should change.

Donn compares car control to gun control.  Donn, criminals use guns
as violent weapons to intentionally commit crimes and intentionally
kill people.  I've never heard of a case of a criminal pointing a car
at someone and asking for his money.

I agree with Donn that people should be responsible for their actions
when driving.  A person who has had anything to drink or who is sleepy
shouldn't be driving AT ALL, not at 85, not at 55.  I don't drink, I've
never driven while under the influence of alcohol.  I have driven
(twice?) while sleepy, and boy, that's scary.  As Ralph Nader would
say, unsafe at any speed.

People who drive irresponsibly should be treated harshly.  I don't
think that driving 75-80mph on a clear, well kept road in a car that
can do it is irresponsible.

	Andy Tannenbaum   Bell Labs  Whippany, NJ   (201) 386-6491