Meditation on the speed limit

Jims5543 · 03-07-2006, 07:23 AM

Cliff notes:

College students experiment to see what happens if 4 vehicles all go 55mph (i.e. posted speed limit) at the same time on the perimeter in ATL.

Is obeying the law safe?

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5366552067462745475&q=%22meditation+on+the+speed+limit%22

Mr_Wizard · 03-07-2006, 07:39 AM

Great video

masraum · 03-07-2006, 07:42 AM

I'm not impressed. Young people often just don't get it, they usually see things as black and white and are generally idealistic.

The problem really isn't the speeds. I believe that in today's world 55 is probably much safer than 75. But I believe it's due to the fact that people are poorly educated and trained to drive and they don't take it seriously enough.

And I believe that the requirements to get a license are too lax.

What the kids did was dangerous and stupid, but not because they were doing the speed limit, but because they were trying to control others. They spent a lot of time laughing while they were talking about the experience. What would have happened if the white van had killed someone? That wouldn't have been funny.

island911 · 03-07-2006, 07:42 AM

The trend is, to have so many laws, that the populace will always be in violation of something. In "the eyes of the law" that group, no doubt broke many laws, in making that piece.

. . .tho, no laws of physics were broken, or challanged.

Jims5543 · 03-07-2006, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by masraum
I'm not impressed. Young people often just don't get it, they usually see things as black and white and are generally idealistic.

The problem really isn't the speeds. I believe that in today's world 55 is probably much safer than 75. But I believe it's due to the fact that people are poorly educated and trained to drive and they don't take it seriously enough.

And I believe that the requirements to get a license are too lax.

What the kids did was dangerous and stupid, but not because they were doing the speed limit, but because they were trying to control others. They spent a lot of time laughing while they were talking about the experience. What would have happened if the white van had killed someone? That wouldn't have been funny.

I disagree, the law is black and white. How many threads are there on here where the poster is chastised for complaining about a apeeding ticket. The reply by many is if you speed you get a ticket, you play you pay.

The guy in the white van broke the law he passed on the shoulder. The people in the cars are obeying the 55 mph speed limit.

This video shows how much of a joke speed limits are and how much bigger a joke speed enforcement is. Georgia is known for its speed traps.

I get the point they are making.

Mr_Wizard · 03-07-2006, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by island911
In "the eyes of the law" that group, no doubt broke many laws, in making that piece.

What laws did they break?

masraum · 03-07-2006, 07:58 AM

Yes, the law is black and white, but the situation that they created was quite dangerous and had probably much farther reaching ill effects than any potential good that they may have created.

They really aren't much different than the left lane bandits. Speeding is illegal, but taking it upon yourself to police that is not much better.

Jims5543 · 03-07-2006, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by masraum
Yes, the law is black and white, but the situation that they created was quite dangerous and had probably much farther reaching ill effects than any potential good that they may have created.

They really aren't much different than the left lane bandits. Speeding is illegal, but taking it upon yourself to police that is not much better.

I agree with you. I have been behind many many many rolling "cock blocks" as we call them. A dufus in the left lane doing 1 over the speed limit passing the guy in the right for 10 miles. The line of cars behind them is insane.

I do not think these kids go out and do this as a joy ride thing. It was an experiment showing just how rediculas the speed limit is on some roads.

So next time someone complains about getting snagged in a speed trap remember this thread. I am sure some will tell the speeder he broke the law and to except it. This video shows what happens when everyone obeys the law.

island911 · 03-07-2006, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr_Wizard
What laws did they break?

You're kidding, right?

I don't know that particular States specific laws, but in general "keep rigt, except to pass" . . . something about seeing how an accident might happen (the van with no room where it expected) . .and Encouraging that accident to happen. (WTH? . . holding your ground to encourage anccident?) . .. Then various laws exist about distracted driving/cell phones....

TheMentat · TheMentat's Garage

anybody know what tune that is at the end of the video?

masraum · 03-07-2006, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TheMentat
anybody know what tune that is at the end of the video?

finally, something interesting

hahahah

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by island911
I don't know that particular States specific laws, but in general "keep rigt, except to pass" . . .

I've always found this strange. Taken literally, everyone would form a conga line in the right lane, and the left lane is reserved for leap-frogging in and out of the right lane?

Moses · 03-07-2006, 08:23 AM

Beautiful example of why the Califoria "keep right except to pass" law begins with;

"Notwithstanding the prima fasie speed limits..."

There are members of this board that have argued that when travelling the speed limit, you are under no obligation to yield the number one (left) lane to faster moving traffic. That video is a beautiful illustration of the absurdity of that position.

Moses · 03-07-2006, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by widebody911
I've always found this strange. Taken literally, everyone would form a conga line in the right lane, and the left lane is reserved for leap-frogging in and out of the right lane?

Yep. If you want to drive faster than the conga line, get in the left lane and pass. You may stay in the left lane as long as you are travelling faster than those in the conga line. If someone approaches in your lane driving faster than you, return to the conga line when it is safe to do so and allow him to pass.

Christien · Christien's Garage

In general, "keep right except to pass" is a courtesy thing, not a law. The only way that could be enforced as a law would be if the person not "keeping right" were travelling dangerously under the limit and creating dangerous conditions.

I fail to see how these people, all driving exactly the speed limit, create a dangerous situation. Because some @sshole decided he was too important to sit in traffic and passed them on the shoulder, without bothering to look to see if there were any parked cars on the shoulder, nearly creating a serious incident, doesn't in any way make what they were doing unsafe. It just emphasizes the potential dangers of road rage. If the results indicate that obeying the law is unsafe, then the law must be changed.

island911 · 03-07-2006, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Moses
Beautiful example of why the Califoria "keep right except to pass" law begins with;

"Notwithstanding the prima fasie speed limits..." . . .

English?

Mr_Wizard · 03-07-2006, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by island911
You're kidding, right?

No. The only law I know of that requires you to move is an emergency vehicle. I saw no sirens there. What if this had been 5 people who had no affiliation with each other and happened to all be going the speed limit lined up? What law did the break? They were going the speed limit. I say it was incredibly stupid but illegal? The only law I saw broken was the van.

Jims5543 · 03-07-2006, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Christien
In general, "keep right except to pass" is a courtesy thing, not a law. The only way that could be enforced as a law would be if the person not "keeping right" were travelling dangerously under the limit and creating dangerous conditions.

I fail to see how these people, all driving exactly the speed limit, create a dangerous situation. Because some @sshole decided he was too important to sit in traffic and passed them on the shoulder, without bothering to look to see if there were any parked cars on the shoulder, nearly creating a serious incident, doesn't in any way make what they were doing unsafe. It just emphasizes the potential dangers of road rage. If the results indicate that obeying the law is unsafe, then the law must be changed.

Thank you!! I could not express clearly my point and you nailed it! Thanks again!

jriera · 03-07-2006, 08:42 AM

Tom, you are correct. I have done quite a long distance travel in European Highways (not just Autobahn) and the general rule is that you drive on the right most lane unless you are passing. Like anywhere else in the world that rule is not very well observed in highways thru cities where traffic is a mess.
On the other hand highways in Europe are usually at least 3 lanes and not the skinny two lanes we get here.

That is the way people are 'trained', probably will never work for 101 from San Francisco to San Jose or anywhere near the 405

but I don't see why it shouldn't work on I-10 or I-40

bryanthompson · bryanthompson's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by widebody911
Taken literally, everyone would form a conga line in the right lane, and the left lane is reserved for leap-frogging in and out of the right lane?

That is exactly how I thought it was supposed to work. If you aren't passing, you shouldn't be in the left lane. More than two lanes, though... I'm not sure how that's supposed to work. Seems like pure chaos