Ron Johnson wrote:
> On 03/01/07 00:19, Steve Lamb wrote:
>>> Ron Johnson wrote:
>>>> As in, the difference in speed between you and the tree you
>>>> just smashed into after losing control because you were
>>>> fiddling with the stereo.
>>> *eyes his motorcycle* Uh, what stereo? Besides, you know full
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Gold_Wing
Yeeesssss and didn't I say in this subthread I owned an ST1100, not a Gold
Wing? Or do you believe every motorcycle out there is a 'wing?
> Point being that the momentum of a meatbag traveling at 120kph is
> much higher than that of one going at 95kph
Point being that at either speed said meatbag is dead. If people who were
so gung ho about going slow in the fast lane actually followed the rules of
the road, which is slower traffic moved RIGHT, there would be a lot less
accidents. But such a thing is barely taught here much less enforced. Ever
wonder why the Autobahn's unlimited speed sections don't have a higher
accident rate? I mean if speed alone causes more accidents then clearly
unlimited speeds means a huge spike in accidents, but it doesn't. Why? Well,
my parents recent trip to Germany to visit the parents of the exchange
students they host yielded the answer. Enforced laws where:
# The right lane must be used when it is free, (Rechtsfahrgebot) and the left
lane is generally intended for passing maneuvers only. Drivers using the left
lane when the other lanes are free may be fined by autobahn police.
# Overtaking on the right (Undertaking) is forbidden, except in traffic jams
where it may be practiced with caution. The fact that the car overtaken is
illegally occupying the left-hand lane is not an acceptable excuse. In these
cases the police will routinely stop and fine both drivers.
Contrast that to here where poking along in the left lane, blocking
traffic and, as one poster on here said, "You can kill yourself, I'm going the
speed limit" is the dangerous behavior. If those people were more aware of
their surroundings and followed the rules they were supposed to be taught
they'd move out of the left lane so people who are travelling faster can pass
as they should.
On my daily commute I see this all the time. In an earth-shattering
revelation that Paul and I have something to agree upon I noticed that most of
the "left lane at slow speeds, safety be damned" drivers were with California
plates. I rarely have to worry about someone with Nevada plates not moving over.
Hell, I overtake at a meager 15mph and I still move from the left lane to
the middle lane /even if there is no traffic behind me/ so that in the event
someone overtakes me and I did not catch them in my mirrors they can pass on
the left without a problem. Want to know where I learned that habit? Driving
18 wheelers where I was stuck doing 55 and cars could legally go 70mph past
me... or 15mph overtake. If I could be contentious of overtaking vehicles in
a 40 ton, 60' long vehicle I think schmucks in a 1 ton, 12' long car can learn
it, too!
--
Steve C. Lamb | But who decides what they dream?
PGP Key: 8B6E99C5 | And dream I do...
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