Georgia's Super Speeder Law

State of Georgia ^ | 1/1/2010 | State

[bkepley]

If you want safer highways: 1)If you do not currently have a law against cruising in the fast lane then create one and 2)Enforce it.

[cuban leaf]

If you want safer highways: 1)If you do not currently have a law against cruising in the fast lane then create one and 2)Enforce it.

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We are in 100% agreement there. It was a real problem where I lived in Seattle. Fortunately here in Kentucky, though it happens, it is much more rare.

[a fool in paradise]

When the speed camera people (politically connected private industry) get involved, expect the program to be expanded incrementally to include things like 65-70 in a 55 zone.

What with half the money going to camera folks, new “revenue streams” will need to be factored in.

[Kenny Bunk]

Back in my fabled jeunesse dorée, super sports cars like Ferrari, and my own more modest 1.6L Alfa Giulia, were doing 0-60 in 7 and 10 secs, respectively.

Nowadays, the crummiest 5 yr-old Corolla, or a new KIA can do better than that, and these 3.0 L turbo rocket Soccer Mom vans and family sedans much, much better.

My question is "Why?" I used to drive between Ohio and DC quite frequently for business, and the normal cruise was 75+, but many is the 18-wheeler convoy doing a whole lot better than that.

Meanwhile, back in the motherlands, turbo-diesel family cars are giving the Euros 65 mpg as they cruise in comfort at 75-80. The VW TDI does close to that here.

Why are American spec vehicles sacrficing mpg for jack-rabbit starts and performance potential that cannot be legally used? Why not more Diesel sedans? Why no Diesel SUV's?

Instead of electric cars, the next phase maybe should concentrate on Diesels and CNG (we have, as Jay Leno pointed out, q 600-year supply!)

[TChris]

My question is "Why?"

Legitimate question. According to your priorities and judgment, it doesn't make sense. But it seems that there are other customers who prefer the higher performance, and it's their right to buy what they want.

[Kenny Bunk]

I think a wonderful way to restart american auto manufacturing would be to build a a "new VW",a "new FIAT 124," or even a "new Volvo B-18" sedan. Something that can carry 4 people without too much trouble. Diesel or Diesel CNG, no airbags, no power windows or locks,etc. etc. Aluminum chassis, plastic body panels, all up weight of max 2000, 1.5 liter engine, bring it in under $12,000, or perhaps closer to $10,000. Top speed should still be around 95, but should be geared for econo-cruise.

IOW, fed-spec it back to 1973, except for emissions. Euro-emissions, CA emissions are, IMNSVHO, are about as far as the IC engine is ever going to go before we switch to hydrogen, 200 years from now. A/C, CD-DVD? Sure. After- market mods? Sure, it's a free country. Tax break the heck out of it.

As to your point of "customers right to performance," OK! But why have speed limits, then?

Oh yeah, one more thing, elect me President and I shall shoot every tenth "green environmentalist" at least once a week.
Definition: Environmentalist = Rich Lefty who already has a nice house in the woods and doesn't want you close and who uses the word "pristine" a lot.

[TChris]

As to your point of "customers right to performance," OK! But why have speed limits, then?

Driver and/or road limitations.

For a long time, I've wished there was some sort of speed-graduated license available, like the current vehicle-weight-graduated licenses. Prove you can safely drive at 100 mph and have the requisite eyesight and reflexes, then you get a driver license which says so, and a sticker for the rear window of your car which says so. Or, maybe something like "20+", which permits you to drive 20 mph higher than the posted freeway speed limit, whatever that may be.

I think the minimum skills required for a driver license in the US are too low. Driving is treated like a constitutional right, when it's not.

Germany has far lower accident rates on the autobahn than we do on our interstates, notwithstanding higher speeds.

[Kenny Bunk]

I actually drove in Germany for quite a few years. The discipline would do some of our fellow citizens a lot of good ... not to mention the much stricter license requirements.

HOWEVER, it's not all that free and easy and has left me with some habits that do not endear me to our fellow citizens. In town, or built up areas I am a fanatic about observing the speed limit, absolutely slowing down for yellow lights, and really stopping for stop signs. On the interstates, if there are three lanes, I keep up with traffic in the middle lane, but never do more than 5-8 more than the posted speed limit. On the autobahn, I learned to drive to the safe envelope of my equipment, maxing at about 100MpH and staying out of the way of the rich boys in their big-bore stuff. Off the autobahn and driving through towns and especially villages, super careful. Gets me a lot of fingers in this country ... especially driving in Florida.... (Not in Maine, thank you!)

Not too many of us would like a German parking ticket, either, for the meter fraulein can write one up for a dirty car, a rusted car, a bad tire, bad wipers, hanging trim, cracked lenses or windshield, etc. ad inf.

One more thing on German safety, when they do have an accident on the autobahn, it ain't no fender bender. It's time for multiple meat wagons and life flights. In all, though, driving is for sure on a much higher performance and intellectual plane in Germany. And where BTW, murder is treated one hell of a lot more leniently than driving "under the influence."