Highway speed demons may be endangered species

[Rob]

What do you think? Agree or disagree?
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Highway speed demons may be endangered species

January 22, 2010 07:58 AM
Boston Globe Staff

This may come as a surprise to someone zipping along the Mass Pike at 85 mph, but the average speed on many US roads only slightly exceeds the speed limit.

That's a conclusion drawn from GPS data analyzed by TomTom, a provider of navigation devices and digital maps. (TomTom has a major presence in Concord.)

The mythology of the open road sings the glories of gear-jamming truck-drivers and Corvettes and deuce coupes barreling along Route 66, but the reality may be different. The fact is that drivers "tend to stay within speed limit range on most major US highways," TomTom said. (Shown at left is a Corvette that was used in an Austin Powers movie. Credit: K. Wright of the AP.)

Full Story: Highway speed demons may be endangered species - Daily Business Update - The Boston Globe

 

[mtrocket]

I'm thinking it's because the Highway Patrol sit behind bushes, trees, whatever, i.e. speed traps. If this didn't happen I'm sure the speeds would be MUCH HIGHER...

 

[cubby558]

What does the 'only slightly' mean--10-15MPH over the limit. I am 'marginally' over when I drive--15-20MPH over the limit.And most of the time it's trying to keep up with the guy in front of me.

 

[mtrocket]

What does the 'only slightly' mean--10-15MPH over the limit. I am 'marginally' over when I drive--15-20MPH over the limit.And most of the time it's trying to keep up with the guy in front of me.

Or ahead of the guy behind you???

 

[rufcar]

speed

Trust me I know better than anyone as I have been stopped 44 times and in over 6 different states! I have been to court most all the time. I have had many points and I have even lost my license a long time ago for wayy too many points. Speeding is how I drive. I didnt say reckless did I? I have a huge problem with speed traps as it is a known fact it IS a income raiser period! They can blab all they want about saftey but its still about raising revenue period.
With all the crime across america dont you think speeding shoud be way down on the list? The last time I got arrested for doing 75 in a 55 on an interstate where the speed zones began there were 5 other people pulled over behind me way up the road. They told me they arrested over 100 that day. When I went to court which I always do. I was able to negotiage a 5MPH over the 55 which meant I then paid about $90 instead of the $190 and I received no points. Is this not a revenue raiser! There were people in the waiting room I spoke to from 3-4 hrs away all for the same thing.
Now they can trace you in some states just by shooting your tag pic with a camera at speed and just send you a fine! PLEASE!
I need to stop here as I am now again getting angry! License and Registration please!

 

[mswaim]

I've been stopped 8 times in the last 6 months, including the CHP motor who pulled us over on the way to Vegas earlier this month.

No tickets.

In fact, I've never received a citation in my life, nor have I ever been involved in a collision where I was the driver.


Unfortunately; Doris cannot say the same thing............

 

[cubby558]

Mark,

I'm guessing you have one of your old badges or something to help.
Or perhaps a case of "grapes" sent over to their house.

I've been stopped 8 times in the last 6 months, including the CHP motor who pulled us over on the way to Vegas earlier this month.

No tickets.

In fact, I've never received a citation in my life, nor have I ever been involved in a collision where I was the driver.


Unfortunately; Doris cannot say the same thing............

 

[mswaim]

What I can say; a little "wining" goes along way along the highway...

 

[Lola's Mom]

You guys keep track of stuff like that???
Martha is right ... Boys will be Boys ....

 

[mswaim]

I make a mark on the back of my drivers license so I can keep track.

 

[ebferro]

Speaking of revenue generation, we live in NW PA. Around December 21, 2006, my wife and I drove to Buffalo, NY to do some last minute Christmas shopping. I always use the back roads to get to I90 in NY. We got off I90 in Westfield, NY and I was just getting out of town. We were almost out of town, there was no one around, it was about 2:00 pm in the afternoon and I had no reason to expect to see the local constable set up in a speed trap but he was. I went by him at about 50 mph in a 35 zone. He pulled me over, I suggested he let me off with a warning since I'd not had a speeding ticket for 34 years but he would have nothing to do with it. He wrote the ticket, it was for $175. The court date was in about 2 weeks but around 8:00pm at night and it was a 50 mile drive so I elected to just pay the fine since there would be no points. Fast forward to December 22, 2007 and again we're coming back from late minute shopping in Buffalo, NY and I get off at Westfield, make a mental note to go slow and do and make it through Westfield without any tickets. I go down the road about 15 miles to Sherman, NY and got pinched for 15 over just at the city limits. It's a $180 ticket and again, the court appearance is later at night and since there are no points attached, I decided to pay the fine and not appear. Shortly after the first of the year, I got a letter from the State of New York indicating that I've gotten two violations in less than 18 months that would have totalled 6 points if they were keeping track and as a result, I've been assigned a Driver Responsibility Assessment which is $450 that I can either pay all at once or at the rate of $150 for the next 3 years. I contacted my attorney and asked him about it and he suggested I just go ahead and pay it because if I don't, sooner or later, PA will find out about it and I won't be able to renew my PA license without paying the assessment and probably interest. So, be careful of the Driver Responsibility Assessment in NY. Besides the speeding tickets being a revenue generator, they've added that Driver Responsibility Assessment to further boost their revenue. Live and learn. Let's just say that I try to avoid driving in NY now.

 

[Lola's Mom]

ebferro: I remember when I used to work in auto insurance that NY had some really strict laws when it came to do with ANYTHING that had to do with autos ... registration, insurance ... everything, pretty tightly controlled. Your post was very interesting to read about because I always wondered if it was as controlled downline .... 'looks like it is.