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Re: The Federal Study that Finds Speed Limits Irrelevant...
In message <3v7flg$186@murrow.corp.sgi.com> - Corey Alambar <corwyn> writes:
:>
:>Tom Glaab <tglaab@nooster.navy.mil> wrote:
:>>
:>>How can NASCAR drivers go bumper-to-bumper at 200mph without incident while Joe
:>>Driver can't handle 70 on the open road? Training and alertness. Getting a
:>>driver's license is a joke in America :-(
:>>
:>
:>Think about the penalties over in Europe. I know some of this is anecdotal,
:>but considre the following:
:>
:>In many countries in Europe, I believe the average fee for a driver's livcense
:>is in excess of $500. Far cry from $20 here in the US.
[examples deleted]
:>Conbversely,traffic may seem "insane" in some places (no speed limits on the
:>Autobahn, sudden traffic movements in London and Paris), the general driving
:>safety is much higher.
:>
:>And you can see that in the United States, too. This NASCAR example.
:>
:>Think about it.
:>
:>-Corey
Having driven quite a lot in europe, its not safer in general, only on the
"freeway" equivalents, and only in western european countries (excluding
italy, which is insane).
Driving in the cities (excluding most of germany) is nuts, with people going
every which direction, cutting in and out, etc... etc... and having witnessed
god knows how many fender benders, accidents happen quite as often, if not
more so, than out here (based on Los Angeles/Bay Area driving experience).
What is noticeable on the freeway equivalents, though, is a respect for the
other driver, especially by those in slower moving vehicles (and by slower, I
mean, slower than *me*, not slower than X arbitrary speed). Drivers move out
of the way of faster cars, just because I'm going 75 doesn't mean I sit in
the fast lane, and people actually use their rearview mirror during regular
freeway driving to check for cars coming up behind them and stay current with
the flow of traffic *all* around them, not just the car in front of them.
I agree that driver education in America is pathetic/non-existent. But what
really needs to change more than driving *skill* is driving *attitude*. What
ends up getting people into accidents is generally inattention. But what
makes driving a chore rather than a pleasure is the guy doing 60 in the fast
lane, the guy with his left turn signal on while making a right hand lane
change, the lack of knowledge on how the merge correctly, and the idea that
it's my car, my road, and you'd best figure out how to drive around me,
'cause I'm not moving.
(uh, sorry, kinda got carried away with pet peeves there).
Behram Parekh
bparekh@directnet.com
-------------
Speed doesn't kill, it's the speed differential that will get you.
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