Beware of cops on Milam St. !

[XodoX]

Gotta get rid of the speed limit here! At least outside of the cities ..... Germany dosen't have one and I love the Autobahn!

[Mom2Feebs]

Originally Posted by CitrusFruit

True... 60mph = mortally wounded (may live to get to the hospital). 80 mph = dead on impact. With most of the tin can vehicles on the road today, 60 mph vs 80 mph is a mighty fine hair to split when it comes accidents. I'm not condoning speeding, just making an observation from responding to many accidents.

/former EMT

Well, I guess if you're driving a Geo Metro, that might be accurate.

I'm sorry, but as a former EMT, I would *hope* you would know that 60 vs 80 can be a huge difference in mortality for all involved--the type of car, the reaction time, brake application, and of course, experience of the driver all have to do with whether the victims live or die. At 80 mph the ability of the driver to control any semblance of the situation is virtually impossible. At 55-60, he/she at least has a chance, and the car they are driving may also be able to withstand certain elements at that rate of speed that at 80, could not. Furthermore, let's admit right here that most (notice I didn't say all) drivers going 80 + are young, single, male, and not nearly experienced enough to maneuver a 3,000 lb Honda Civic once he has lost control. At 60, he might be able to not kill half the people immediately around him.

Physics--it is what it is. There's no getting around it (er, no pun intended).

Check the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's stats, they do studies all the time on rate-of-speed mortality.

[CitrusFruit]

Originally Posted by Mom2Feebs

Well, I guess if you're driving a Geo Metro, that might be accurate.

I'm sorry, but as a former EMT, I would *hope* you would know that 60 vs 80 can be a huge difference in mortality for all involved--the type of car, the reaction time, brake application, and of course, experience of the driver all have to do with whether the victims live or die. At 80 mph the ability of the driver to control any semblance of the situation is virtually impossible. At 55-60, he/she at least has a chance, and the car they are driving may also be able to withstand certain elements at that rate of speed that at 80, could not. Furthermore, let's admit right here that most (notice I didn't say all) drivers going 80 + are young, single, male, and not nearly experienced enough to maneuver a 3,000 lb Honda Civic once he has lost control. At 60, he might be able to not kill half the people immediately around him.

Physics--it is what it is. There's no getting around it (er, no pun intended).

Check the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's stats, they do studies all the time on rate-of-speed mortality.

You're dealing on the end of "mights" and "maybes", I was dealing on the end of "dead". 60 mph collision vs 80 mph collision...people were still dead. Again, it's a mighty fine hair to split. Shoot...my first DOA pronouncement in the field was from a 60 mph collision (SUV). I have, however, seen people walk away from collision were the rate of speed was greater than 80 mph (mid size car). Living proof, typing right here for you.

Again, I'm not condoning speeding. I'm just saying, again, it's a mighty fine hair to split.

[Grunn]

Originally Posted by XodoX

Gotta get rid of the speed limit here! At least outside of the cities ..... Germany dosen't have one and I love the Autobahn!

Agreed. The difference is your average German is reasonably skilled behind the wheel and doesn't use a cellphone while driving.

Wouldn't work here at all because generally speaking the people are very poor drivers and couldn't cope with high speed driving.

[texas7]

I don't think people here could handle a speedless society safely. Being an international city - we have residents from all over the world who bring the driving habits of that country with them. People here can't stay within their lines, assume that because they want over a lane - they can just move and if you are behind them, well you'd be happy to slam on your brakes and accommodate them. And, of course they have to text because it can't wait until they are home to tell that pal about the great bag they found at Macy's and how it will match that great skirt they got last week or to tell Bob at work how they shot par at Redwood that morning. That info is a must tell now to Houstonians so of course they are going to get on the freeways and roads and text away and if texting isn't their thing then they'll be yapping away. And of course, the new cars here have a hookup for your laptop because we all want to know that others on the freeway are surfing the web while driving at top speeds. No speeds -- no thank you.

[XodoX]

Originally Posted by texas7

I don't think people here could handle a speedless society safely. Being an international city - we have residents from all over the world who bring the driving habits of that country with them. People here can't stay within their lines, assume that because they want over a lane - they can just move and if you are behind them, well you'd be happy to slam on your brakes and accommodate them. And, of course they have to text because it can't wait until they are home to tell that pal about the great bag they found at Macy's and how it will match that great skirt they got last week or to tell Bob at work how they shot par at Redwood that morning. That info is a must tell now to Houstonians so of course they are going to get on the freeways and roads and text away and if texting isn't their thing then they'll be yapping away. And of course, the new cars here have a hookup for your laptop because we all want to know that others on the freeway are surfing the web while driving at top speeds. No speeds -- no thank you.

International city? You mean Mexico City.... don't you

And yes, you could turn this whole thing around by actually educating the people here. The driving test is too easy.

[tstone]

Originally Posted by Mom2Feebs

What does this have to do with judging? Nothing. It has to do with the law. I don't live in the Golden Triangle, so I really don't give a rat's behind how fast people drive there. I care about HOUSTON. ...and I'm not saying go so slow that you endanger others...but be reasonable...and 80 isn't reasonable.

Well when you make blanket statement such as:

"Why does one have to do 80 mph, anyway? Unnecessary, and putting other lives at risk."

it really sounds like you're casting down judgments from your throne.

I wasn't talking about how people drive over there either; I was talking about a long, daily commute from here to there with people riding 85 while a Chambers County sheriff weaves 100+ through the crowd (many times with no lights flashing). But if you want to talk about Houston--

If you're ever in the left lane there are plenty of times when you could be in a cluster of cars cruising 80. No different in any big city in the US. Go with the flow or get out. Perhaps just stay out of the left lane altogether, but I find it to be the safest because there is usually an empty, emergency lane next to me and no one merging into it.

As far as ''the law'' goes for traffic/transportation in TX, the point is moot. Most of it has to do with money/economics, while hiding behind the guise of safety. According to the TX law, as long as you're not going 95+ and are not speeding 25+ you can simply pay the court to take defensive driving once a year. (Some extreme exceptions apply.) After that, there is a deferred adjudication option, but 3 strikes to close to each other = you're out (points and the insurance co will find out). That's pretty darn lenient.

So if you're wily enough to know the loopholes and have a good enough job, you can simply work a few extra hours OT once or twice a year, and use that to pay the tolls & fees. (Even hire a law firm to do the paperwork for you.) Then take the online course, and never have it on your record. You didn't really learn anything because you knew you were still trying to being safe by driving to conditions, you didn't get your children involved, and you know the limitations of your vehicle. What really happened was you were just robbed of your nickels and dimes to support some pi$$-ant, gov workers' (and perhaps paralegals') salaries. Gives you the warm & fuzzy.

[texas7]

Originally Posted by XodoX

International city? You mean Mexico City.... don't you

And yes, you could turn this whole thing around by actually educating the people here. The driving test is too easy.

No, I truly mean international. Yes the majority of Houston's immigrants are Hispanic; however, there is a large Asian population as well as those from African countries and the Caribbean as well. I work in a company where it is like a United Nations of countries and they work and live here from all over the globe.

[jluke65780]

Originally Posted by CitrusFruit

True... 60mph = mortally wounded (may live to get to the hospital). 80 mph = dead on impact. With most of the tin can vehicles on the road today, 60 mph vs 80 mph is a mighty fine hair to split when it comes accidents. I'm not condoning speeding, just making an observation from responding to many accidents.

/former EMT

Either way, you can died from both hits. People have died from being hit by cars going 30 mph. If you get hit by a car going 80 mph and died (and riding the highway), you should have never been driving.

You don't do the speed limit on the highway, you go over it. Slow drivers is also another contribution to traffic as well.