Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
Options
Comments
ANOTHER keyboard, filled with coffee!
Thanks for the laugh!
:P
Not a bad idea....
Yep it would be nice to moor your car instead of parking.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Big Chevy pickup stops in the middle of a major intersection on green, slowly turns, then hits signal. Plan ahead? Personal responsibility?
And my favorite, middle aged woman in 02-04 ES300, playing with phone at red light. Light turns green, she's distracted and reacts late which throws of the light sensor which throws an early red, causes many cars to miss the light so at least 15-20 are backed up in the next sequence, including myself, who was 2 cars behind her. I hope the next time she is distracted, she pulls out in front of a semi, get her off the road for awhile.
Whatever floats your land yacht.
Ahhh.. here's the rub. It is not the Police Officer's job to waste motorists time for perfectly safe driving violations such as speeding in most cases.
They should be spending their time on unsafe driving hazards, such as LLCing.
Or maybe they could actually prevent a rape or murder, even better!
Now maybe their boss thinks revenue enforcement with no relation to safety is a good idea... and maybe his boss is the reason why, and the boss of the boss, but I want to get to the man in charge at the top that's encouraging the lunacy!
Ahhh... Here's the rub. Just because you think it's safe doesn't mean it is safe.
And while we're at it here is another rub. Just because you disagree with a law that doesn't give you the right to break it.
And yet another rub. Just because you think a SL should be higher doesn't mean it should be.
Slow down a little you will live longer.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Just because a revenuer alleges that something is unsafe doesn't mean it is unsafe.
"Just because you disagree with a law that doesn't give you the right to break it. "
If that was a universal truth, the USA wouldn't exist.
Speed limits have zero to do with living longer.
If the 85th percentile rule backs my thinking, then my thinking is correct.
Just because you disagree with a law that doesn't give you the right to break it.
If the law talks about safety hazard being a component of the violation (such as in CA's basic speed law, then yes, I can break the speed law; which allows for such exceptions by making safety an issue when looking at the speed limit).
Also, I have a right to break any law I so wish. It is called free will, however, the authorities might seek to make me pay for such civil disobediance.
Again, if the SL is below the 85th percentiles, then it should be raised.
Fatality statistics in countries that have no speed limits do not support your slow down and live longer statement.
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
Didn't see a single bad driver on my evening commute today, just the usual negligently managed traffic controls. Time to get some class action lawsuits going. When jogging I did see a stereotypical middle manager in a light blue shirt and tie in a G35 kind of thing go straight from a turn lane, but the RAV4 behind him was aware of his cluelessness and was watching out.
We went over this before, the 85th percentile rule is just a rule of thumb and is many times wrong.
Also, I have a right to break any law I so wish.
Actually you don't have that right, if you did there wouldn't be fines and such associated with breaking those laws. And since you acknowledge such fines for breaking said laws then you shouldn't complain when you get caught and fined.
Fatality statistics in countries that have no speed limits do not support your slow down and live longer statement.
Two things.
1.) Safety, or lack thereof, has many factors of only one which is speed. Once you take into account those other factors and then compare apples to apples you would be surprised.
and
2.) thats not what I was talking about. Think about that then slow down you will live longer.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
How did you guess that it was a manager rather than some other occupation? Could he have been an engineer? Or, an accountant? Or whatever? Maybe what you do?
No vaccine, darnitall.
True, but I am far more inclined to trust a group of road engineers and traffic engineers than I do someone whose only qualification is holding a drivers license.
If that was a universal truth, the USA wouldn't exist.
Seriously? You are equating the tyrany of German George with people disagreing with speed limits. Really?
Speed limits have zero to do with living longer.
Who said anything about speed limits?
See my response to Andres above.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Yes, I am relating the BS revenue collection of the tyrannical nation which spawned the US to the BS revenue collection of those who make road rules.
Speed limits, fast speeds, whatever.
However... there is an old man that drives a similar little pickup to mine sans canopy, although it is decked out with just about every other accessory you can get from the rear bed spoiler to the chrome wheel well strips. And he doesn't squirt around. Rather, he does drive just like you describe...
hoodlums be lookin at my car. that is hilarious. please always post funny stuff like that. one of the most popular threads on fred's tdiclub is "funny stories while refueling". Edmunds may need a forum like that or funny-refueling-stories may take over some other forum.
I figure the more-horizontal-than-vertical lady was probably on bluetooth and talking to her friend, and worrying/talking-about if A3/the-thug-looking-dude was OK and/or let out of an institution.
A3, it's sort of sad if you are getting fashion advice from me, but here goes:
what are you doin tryin to look like a thug?! do you have hang-low pants and wear a wool hat AND a hoodie with the hood up during 90 degree weather?
In conclusion and out of consideration for your fellow drivers, A3, I recommend that you lose the hat/hood/do-rag. Think about moving in the hello-kitty/yellow-volkswagen-beetle direction.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
in other news, it's sort of funny that some folks here are cheering/hoping for others to get speeding tickets! each day about 500,000 or a million commuters around boston all drive 25 mph above the 55 mph speed limit. or 15 over if its a 65 limit. (amazing how somehow drivers actually find the reasonable and prudent speed on their own? who knew?)
imagine the revenue and the adjustments drivers would make if on some particular highway where the traffic is ALWAYS super-fast during commuter hours, easily 100k drivers per day - if EVERY rush-hour commuter was accurately/correctly/justifiably issued a $350 ticket via a new superfast computer-photo-radar system. They are ALL speeding, with some at more than 25 over the limit! why not pick one day and make everyone pay, and watch the driving habits change as soon as the tickets arrive in everyone's mailbox. one result would be gridlock because when a road is over capacity, the only way to avoid stop & go flow is if the traffic flow substantially EXCEEDS the speed limit - that's one reason the police allow it only during rush-hour.
tickets for 24 over are quite expensive. at 25 & above over the limit, they are 4-pointers on the drivers license rather than 3-pointers.
CHA CHING!
I don't wish a speeding ticket on anyone, per se, but pick your spots, people!
I remember when I was a kid, the old man pickups tended to have the tall canopies too.
Ah yes the old, they don't know what they are doing because they cannot time all the lights argument. Well truth be told you cannot time all the lights properly. If you take one street and time the lights one way the opposite way cannot be timed properly. It's not easy to do and most time cannot be done unless on a very limited scale.
But traffic and road engineers do have engineering degrees and none I have known have been in union positions.
Yes, I am relating the BS revenue collection of the tyrannical nation which spawned the US to the BS revenue collection of those who make road rules.
So you see you thinking that speed limits are to low to be the same as the King of England dissolving legislature bodies simply because he doesn't like their laws? or to prosecute alleged criminals without a trial by jury and taking them far away for trial? or the multitude of other offenses committed by German George?
If you do then you truly have a warped sense of priorities.
Speed limits, fast speeds, whatever.
Who said fast speed?
Did you read my response to Andres?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
If you're working public sector, virtually impossible to fire and with benefits almost always far and away exceeding the private sector, indeed you are in a union whether or not it is on paper. Has a "traffic engineer" ever been fired for incompetence or negligence? Or does the buck just get passed and excuses made? "It's not easy to do" - cop out. Could any private sector group outside of the FIRE industries get away with such results?
Yes, arbitrary laws made with no accountability or public say, virtually no recourse against (how long did it take to toss out 55? a generation more or less?), no proof being required to set and enact rules and limits, no consistent enforcement, et al, are no better than the crap that the formative US rebelled against. Simply because overpaid untouchable arrogant sucks are able to make something a law does not mean it is just. Laws are not good just because they are laws.
And what's with the "German George" routine? You'l have to go back a ways to find limey royals without that connection. He was simply another leader of the savage and never punished, and now thankfully dead (or is it, as we still ask "how high?" when they say "jump") British empire. Another weird red herring you are dropping.
With all due respect, you thinking something is warped doesn't exactly shoot it down. After I read a certain volume of clatter, I tune it out. You explained nothing about speed to Andres, just vague hints and claims. How about you slow down all you want, keep to the right lane where you belong, and let others proceed. You'll live longer, right?
I would trust them too, unfortunately, revenuers see fit to contradict the recommendations of traffic and road engineers (who all overwhelmingly agree speed limits should be set using the 85th percentile rule). There is really no legit reason to deviate from the 85th percentile rule except to enhance revenue, which is illegitimately gained. All I ask is that the gov't follow their own rules and enforce all laws equally. Use radar on an underset speed limit road, and you are breaking the law worse than the speeder himself. It is called a speed trap, and there is a vehicle code for it. Why can't gov't officials follow their own rules? Is it really that hard?
I heard a lady from Arizona recently argue that the video cameras on one certain freeway were a good thing because they deterred speeders. Apparently the ends justified the means for her. She admitted they removed them because they were deemed "illegal." I prefer the word unconstitutional.
She said people would speed and kill themselves on this particular stretch of highway. I think Darwinism is a good thing for those few; we are overpopulated anyway. Again, just because the speed limit is set higher doesn't mean you should automatically drive the speed limit; most people know and abide by this. For the most part, I thought the 75 MPH SL stretches in Arizona had perhaps the same or maybe 1 to 2 MPH less average flow of traffic speeds than the 65 MPH SL sections. Make the speed limits more reasonable and realistic, and people are naturally more willing to comply.
How'd those abolition laws work out?
Here too, if an old man has a canopy on his truck, it is typically the extra tall ones. I took mine off actually for awhile because it is just a short one and because I mountain bike a lot (plus use the truck for "truck stuff"), it was more of a hindrance than anything. Now that we've moved, I have no place to store it, short of selling it (which I don't really want to do) so back on the truck it sits.
But that is exacty what CA is doing to enforce traffic revenue and laws. They make a criminal charge and call it an "infraction." In exchange for only stealing your property (via fines) and not your time via incarceration (because that wouldn't be profitable), you lose your right to a trial by Jury, and must put up with the latest corrupt "traffic referee" who's some lawyer that probably doesn't want to be there but got forced into the bottom barrel of their profession due to incompetence. I know if I was a judge I wouldn't want to oversee traffic cases....(for one, I'd be voted out and disbarred for lowering revenue too much by acquitting the innocent).
Sounds like the EXACT same thing as what England was doing centuries ago according to you.
England is now famous for having a big brother cam on every street corner. We do not want to follow in their footsteps.
About 10 years ago, my dad bought a big early 90s Dodge 4x4 out of an estate, for a pittance. It had an old man tall canopy on it - first thing he did was take it off. When it's too old for someone in their 60s, that says something.
Speaking of driving fast, I remember my dad was a fast driver when I was a little kid - I remember riding in his Horizon with the speedometer pegged. He never got a single ticket. But when he hit about 60 years old, he slowed down. Always kept right too.
Individuals & business are taking care of that just fine.
Maybe soon more drivers will set up their smartphones as videocams to record the bad-actors in traffic.
Maybe soon there will be many dedicated in-car cameras in vehicles like many copcars have...
http://www.youtube.com/user/Portreem/videos
I've thought about getting one of these to preserve memories of the local obliviousness and traffic light nonsense.
Worst driver goes to a middle aged woman in a Kia Sedona who tangled with a gigantic Harley with typical rider. I saw it just after it happened, before aid arrived (but a cop was there and didn't seem to be doing much). Both vehicles were probably of similar weight, rider was laying on the ground but did not appear to be in terrible shape, probably a low speed bump.
Last night I had a whacko or drunk or both behind me. I was taking a buddy home from work at about 2 am and the streets where nearly deserted. This guy followed us out of the parking lot (although I didn't notice that) and as toodled down the road at about 43 ish (SL is 45 and the one thing I have learned is that at 2 am you DO NOT do anything to attract attention including even going a modest amount over. Silly because it is safer to go 50-60 on these deserted wide multi lane roads at 2 am than it is at 2 PM when EVERYONE is trying to go that speed and not one single cop can be found to generate revenue. However, speed even just a little at 2 am and you're instantly driving in an unsafe and aggressive manner)...
Anyway, I glance at my mirror and I notice this car on my tail. Like practically eating my bumper. I'm in the right lane, there is a turning lane next to me that veers off to the right and an intersection coming up after that. I thought that maybe he wanted in the turning lane. Maybe I did something to piss him off earlier (Not sure what, this is the first I have noticed him) but he is really riding my tail. Just before the turning lane veers off and long after you should have gotten into it, he moves over into it. Then abrubtly changes his mind and gets back behind me. Then cuts across to the left turn lane and flips an illegal U-turn and heads off...
Thats what's implied when people here complain abou sequencing lights.
If you're working public sector, virtually impossible to fire and with benefits almost always far and away exceeding the private sector,
Actually I am curently working in the public sector. I have been seeing people getting the boot right and left. As for those better benefits where are they?
And what's with the "German George" routine?
You are the one that equated your fight against SL's with the American revolution.
How about you slow down all you want, keep to the right lane where you belong, and let others proceed. You'll live longer, right?
Again thats not what I ment, think about it.
Then slow down, you'll live longer.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I think that a lot of legal experts would disagree with you.
you lose your right to a trial by Jury
I don't know about that, last time I was in a traffic court the judge explained that you could have a jury trial if you asked for one.
England is now famous for having a big brother cam on every street corner.
And this relates to the fact that you don't like a simple SL law how?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
The second I was stopped at the light and someone on the cross street pushed the yellow light and actually entered just as it turned red making a left turn a bit to fast almost hitting me still stopped at the light.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Find me one. No legit expert will disagree with me. The writing is on the wall. Laws do vary state to state.
I don't know about that, last time I was in a traffic court the judge explained that you could have a jury trial if you asked for one.
Ask for one in CA on an infraction case and you will be laughed out of the courtroom, or simply told "That option is not available to you."
And this relates to the fact that you don't like a simple SL law how?
Speed Radar and Photo Cams show how extremely far the industry will go to make a buck at the expense of our foundational laws, values, and Constitutional protections.
Taking from the latest issue of the NMA newsletter "Driving Freedoms" Vol. 23, Issue 2 Spring 2012, and paraphrasing/improving/adding to a passage from the article "How Camera Companies and Policymakers Silence Voters":
A template now exists for these camera companies:
1) Wine and Dine and Gift Local Public Officials (Basically bribe them into installing cameras)
2) Cameras go up
3) Public rebels.
4) Vendor sues City.
5) City pays up.
6) Taxpayers lose.
7) Motorists lose.
The fact that these companies have the power of lobbyists and lawyers to overturn the voters' will from ballot initiatives that strike down cameras, and get corrupted judges to ignore the will of the people, speaks volumes as to the companies real interest not being for the people's best interest.
Someone asked how I could have such animosity towards the courts and police departments that I've said often (though far from always) have "judged" in my favor on cases.
As he puts it at the end of his article:
"Case dismissed. I left a free man, yet unsatisfied that I did not opine on how the court trampled on my right to a speedy trial (among other things). Heartening though it was, that the court's delaying tactics ultimately worked in my favor, I felt abused by a system that I had fought against for so long."
Weirdo behind you might have been drunk or just a bad driver..or mistaken identity. I see things similar sometimes, especially in slow moving gridlock - someone will plant themselves an inch behind my bumper and stay there...all I can think is "I can't go through the car in front of me". But when I study the driver, they aren't acting agitated, that's simply how they drive.
Today's dumdum was a woman in a white Lexus ES loaded up with plants, pulls out of a parking lot, heads for the left lane of a busy suburban street, and goes about 20 in a 35.
It depends on the state; some jurisdictions have redefined traffic violations as administrative violations, meaning that most constitutional protections no longer apply- such as trial by jury. They also employ other cute tricks such as extorting a large non-refundable fee in order to appeal, meaning that they keep your money even if your appeal is successful.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive