Re: [Rollei] tailgaters

[Marc James Small <msmall >]

At 03:17 PM 8/3/01 +0200, Merlyn wrote:
>
>While I do understand  the need to go fast ( it's fun)

The need to drive rapidly is a simple one of economics.  If I have to be
in, say, Danville Federal Court at 10:15, and it is ninety miles (150km)
distant, then the equation works out rather simply:

50 mph (85 kmh)	approx 1:45
60 mph (100kmh)	approx 1:30
75 mph (125 kmh)	approx 1:10

The prevailing rate for attorneys in this neck of the woods is around
$150/hour.  Saving half an hour means saving $75.

(The roads in question are four-lane, divided highway, open, with few sharp
curves, through rural and unsettled country, for the most part.  The posted
speed limit is 55 mph.)

American speed and traffic control laws are based on "safety", not on
efficiency.  I have been tangentially involved with the professional end of
this on several occasions, and there is invariably a split, with the
highway engineers pointing out that US road-construction and design
standards were developed in 1955 to allow 70 mph traffic with 1956 cars,
thus allowing speeds today on the same roads of around 100 mph without
undue risk, while the politicians wail and moan about all those "little old
ladies of all ages and both sexes" who are scared to drive on modern roads.
 (My State Delegate will not drive on an Interstate -- and THIS is the guy
setting my speed limits!  Wow!)

What is needed in the US is more enforcement of basic highway laws, such as
the need to travel in the right-hand lane on multi-lane roads and the need
to use turn-signals when changing lanes, and less worry over speed
enforcement.  But policemen get to notch their radar guns for each speeder
they ticket, and there is no like glory for citing a driver for hogging the
left lane, though this is arguably the single most dangerous practice on
our Interstates.

As to tail-gaters, I am surprised that anyone ever encountered a tail-gater
in North Carolina:  folks around here know how to pass on two-lane roads
(though NOT nearly as well as do the Irish!).  But the simple solution to
tail-gaters is to be courteous and to pull over to let them by.  In some
states, this is the law.

Finally, why does Hawaii have Interstate Highways?

Marc

msmall    FAX:  +540/343-7315
Cha robh bàs fir gun ghràs fir!

------------------------------