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Re: Speed Kills?
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Subject: Re: Speed Kills?
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From: stupis@dopey.cc.utexas.edu ()
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Date: 7 Nov 1995 22:04:50 GMT
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Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
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Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
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References: <DHotIx.4EH@cunews.carleton.ca>
Aris Mitropoulos (amitropo@chat.carleton.ca) wrote:
: I'm working on an academic paper trying to argue that there is little
: coralation between speed and accidents. I got some statistics from the
: German embassy; the deaths on roads are not high. This is in a country
: where speed limits do not exist on some highways. Please e-mail me if
: you've read any similar articles... give reference so I can look them
: up. As well is there an e-mail address in the US for any lobby group
: that might help me?
: Thanking-You in advance.
I lived in Germany for three years before I moved to the US. The reason
why there are less speed related fatalities in Germany is simple. It's
because they don't have idiots driving less than 130 km/h (75mph) in
any lane other than the right one!!!
Over there, if you're driving slower than about 130 km/h, you stay to
right, and as your speed gets progressively higher, you move to the
left lane. Over there, if you're hogging the left lane, people don't
tailgate you, they stay at a distance, and turn on their left turn
signal, meaning they want to pass you. And believe it or not, most
people get the hint. Maybe it's the general driving mentality, or 'cuz
they have strict driving instructors, I don't know, but the system
works.
We've been passed on the autobahn when we were doing 230 km/h (143mph,
BMW's rule! :) And we got outta they way of the cop in the Porsche :)
Just because everyone is going fast, doesn't mean that there are gonna
be more accidents. I just think there should be more to learning to
drive than just passing the written and road test. My friends in Germany
spent up to $1400 and 6 weeks learning about cars, first aid, traffic
rules...etc. before they were allowed (by law) to take the test. Compare
that to the US!
Well, think about it... It's the lack of skill, experience and common
sense that kills the average shmoe on the highway, not the speed.
S.
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