the white camera vans (Phoenix: photo radar, tax, live in)

[mattpresley]

Are rediculous. i was in AZ in early january and they are everywhere. In Mississippi these are needed because everyone speeds but in AZ traffic seems to flow at least 5 mph under the speed limit anyway. Glad to see where taxpayer money goes.

[w1ngzer0]

what's the difference between Mississippi and Arizona, besides the obvious weather and different stance on world views? Arizona 5 MPH under? I've yet to see that. Try 10 to 20 over the speed limit on the weekends and 10 on the weekdays.

[mattpresley]

Originally Posted by w1ngzer0

what's the difference between Mississippi and Arizona, besides the obvious weather and different stance on world views? Arizona 5 MPH under? I've yet to see that. Try 10 to 20 over the speed limit on the weekends and 10 on the weekdays.

you must not live around the old folks.

[buckeyenative01]

Originally Posted by mattpresley

Are rediculous. i was in AZ in early january and they are everywhere. In Mississippi these are needed because everyone speeds but in AZ traffic seems to flow at least 5 mph under the speed limit anyway. Glad to see where taxpayer money goes.

Were the idiots driving under the speed limit in the far left lanes of the freeway? We kinda have a problem with defensive/curteous driving out here...

Since photo radar cameras started popping up all over Phoenix, a local phenomenon involves people speeding and then hitting their brakes as soon as they see a camera or van parked alongside the road.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by mattpresley

Are rediculous. i was in AZ in early january and they are everywhere. In Mississippi these are needed because everyone speeds but in AZ traffic seems to flow at least 5 mph under the speed limit anyway. Glad to see where taxpayer money goes.

Admittedly, I've never been in Mississippi, but it just seems like an entire world (and a culture shock) away from Arizona, and much of the nation for that matter. If people there speed excessively, then they need to put more police officers on patrol.

Actually, Phoenix drivers tend to be fast (during non rush hour times). You're one of the few posters who has complained about drivers being too slow. Most everybody else from out of state bellyaches about how fast & aggressive we are on the roads. There are actually legitimate reasons for why people in Phoenix drive fast. Most of our highways are wide, multi laned, and in good condition. Also, we don't have the inclement weather conditions like many other parts of the country do. With 300 sunny days in an average year, there is really no need for slow driving here. Therefore, I agree with you about the speed cameras being ridiculous.

Photo radar was not implemented with safety in mind. Arizona is facing a huge budget crisis (one of the worst deficits in the nation), and our former Governor Napolitano approved speed radar cameras with the notion of the citations helping to reduce the deficit that she obviously couldn't handle. She even admitted it was intended for revenue collection purposes. It's basically a motorist tax without actually labeling it a tax.

[Finger Laker]

or worse yet the people who already drive under the speed limit jamming on their brakes.............

when I moved out here I heard how fast people drived - i found the complete opposite to be true - never in my life have I gone the speed limit and just flown by people

i'd be going 65 on the 101 and cutting in and out of lanes just to maintain the speed limit on weekends when the freeway was wide open

you'd have the occaisonal guy go flying by at like 85 - but all in all it was slow going

[mattpresley]

Originally Posted by Valley Naptive

Admittedly, I've never been in Mississippi, but it just seems like an entire world (and a culture shock) away from Arizona, and much of the nation for that matter. If people there speed excessively, then they need to put more police officers on patrol.

no they dont need more police corruption in southern ms is well known. always trust cops to do there job. unjustly pull you over, harass you then put words in your mouth

[chandlerguy]

Photo radar is the only growth industry we have in Arizona, besides building prisons.

[jgunn72]

Phoenix was ranked the safest city to drive in with a population over 1Million. That's all you need to know to figure out the vans are all about profit and not safety. They try to fool the populace that phoenix is the most dangerous city to drive in to justify the cash cow. Unfortunately many people to this day still believe phoenix is a dangerous city to drive in.

"
Here are the top 10, nationally:

1. Cedar Rapids, Iowa
2. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
3. Chattanooga, Tennessee
4. Huntsville, Alabama
5. Knoxville, Tennessee
6. Des Moines, Iowa
7. Topeka, Kansas
8. Lakewood, Colorado
9. Fort Collins, Colorado
10. Birmingham, Alabama Clearly, those of us who live in bigger cities face bigger risks. In the category of big cities--those with a million or more people--Phoenix, Arizona was the top ranked city in the country, mirroring the national average of a collision once every ten years."

"
Here are the top 10 cities over 1 million in population:

(the number represents the national ranking) 64. Phoenix
111. San Diego
121. Houston
167. San Antonio
169. New York City
173. Chicago
177. Los Angeles
180. Dallas
182. Philadelphia"

[TurcoLoco]

Phoenix drivers are aggressive and fast? I agree with the agressive part but fast? Harrrdddly!
With the exception of a few rebellious, zig zagging 'Fast Eddies' who think they are racing in Formula1, most of the drivers are uncourteous, inattentive and undeniably lack skill behind the wheel.

This topic has been discussed many times before, Phoenix is a new town with a lot of transplant with their own righteous way of driving, everyone points to finger at others.

You want aggressive and fast? Drive around downtown L.A.
You want defensive but fast? Drive in Orange County (anywhere south of Huntington Beach).
You want defensive and slow? Try some small mid West town.

...but, if you want to:

- be stuck behind 3 cars driving next to each other in a 3-lane road at or below speed limit without giving any opening (or a damn) to people behind who want to go faster...

- see the far left lane to be reserved to the slowest and far right lane to those who slam their brake and make a right turn without signaling...

- face an idiot who starts making a left turn without a worry of any kind when you are like 30 yards away from the intersection coming towards him at 50 mph...

- experience the excitement of 'fastest feet in the West' by driving on a freeway while people in front of you slam their brakes without a warning every mile or two...

- fill up your underwear with doodoo due to sudden very bright flashing that can occur without notice on a freeway at night time...

- out of the blue, receive a photo radar ticket in the mail and find out that playing safe would mean bye-bye to $184 or not playing safe would mean playing hide-n-seek with a process server for the next 4+ months.

...then say hello to Phoenix!