![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
I can drive 55, thank you very much.
Dec. 15th, 2021 06:40 pmThe American Addiction to Speeding - How we became obsessed with driving fast, no matter the cost.
A really interesting article, and from my perspective both as a former commercial driver and current crossing guard, I can see all sides of the argument.
In a way, speeding, but not too much, is a truly American form of civil disobedience. "You say 65? Ha! I'm doing 73!" This is perfectly fine with me so long as you're moving with the flow of traffic and not creating hazards.
Of course on city streets, that's another matter. There's just too much going on around you, even on a main artery like El Camino Real here in the South Bay, to forgive speeding. I see it every day, in my little corner, where the speed limit is 35mph, except it's a school zone, so 25mph when children are present, which is from when I show up for my morning shift to when I leave from the afternoon shift. But, since it's a main road, I regularly see drivers doing over 50.
The Waze Factor gets mentioned, and this is something else I've noticed. When people using Waze see a report of police ahead, they drop their speed. Until other users report that the cop is gone. To me, this is a great way to slow traffic! Just as good as the empty police car trick, which the Park Police used to do in the Presidio when I drove for SuperShuttle.
People are going to speed. But for God's sake, slow down around schools and don't drive faster than the flow around you. Come home safe, saving five minutes isn't worth it.
A really interesting article, and from my perspective both as a former commercial driver and current crossing guard, I can see all sides of the argument.
In a way, speeding, but not too much, is a truly American form of civil disobedience. "You say 65? Ha! I'm doing 73!" This is perfectly fine with me so long as you're moving with the flow of traffic and not creating hazards.
Of course on city streets, that's another matter. There's just too much going on around you, even on a main artery like El Camino Real here in the South Bay, to forgive speeding. I see it every day, in my little corner, where the speed limit is 35mph, except it's a school zone, so 25mph when children are present, which is from when I show up for my morning shift to when I leave from the afternoon shift. But, since it's a main road, I regularly see drivers doing over 50.
The Waze Factor gets mentioned, and this is something else I've noticed. When people using Waze see a report of police ahead, they drop their speed. Until other users report that the cop is gone. To me, this is a great way to slow traffic! Just as good as the empty police car trick, which the Park Police used to do in the Presidio when I drove for SuperShuttle.
People are going to speed. But for God's sake, slow down around schools and don't drive faster than the flow around you. Come home safe, saving five minutes isn't worth it.
