Driving The Speed Limit....Not!
Driving through the heart of Atlanta on my way home today, I decided to conduct an unofficial but interesting experiment. The posted speed limit, on the six-lane-interstate through the city and into the suburbs, is 50 miles per hour. Instead of going with the flow of the traffic, which is almost always my driving habit, I chose to slow down and go 70 miles per hour. In a stretch of about ten miles, I counted the cars that I passed and the cars that passed me. I passed ten cars, and most of those because they slowed down for exit ramps. I was passed by 68 vehicles. I am not a statistician, but I think I can interpret the results- almost all of these drivers are totally disregarding both posted and sensible speed limits. I'm breaking the law, and they are really breaking the law!
When I drive through a neighborhood, I drive carefully and according to posted limits. When I drive through the latino areas of the County, I am especially slow and cautious, because many of these drivers-for whatever reason- have proven to me to be hazardous. And some of them are uninsured. But if it is an obviously unreasonable posted speed limit, and if my adhering to that limit will actually endanger myself and other drivers, then I will drive with the flow of traffic. It just makes sense.
I have been told by local officers that they do not even consider pursuing a speeder unless he is going at least ten mph over the speed limit. I think a 50 mph limit, except during rush hour and inclimate weather, is unreasonable for a 6-lane-interstate. So is 40 mph on a rural blacktop, which is also common in this area. Keeping a speed limit posted 30 years ago when a road was two-lane and gravel makes no sense when it is now four-lane with a median. And, allowing drivers to exceed the limit, unabated, all throughout the year- and then to set up a speed-trap out of the blue is exasperating and unreasonable.
If we want people to adhere to the law, then the law ought to be fair, reasonable, and consistently enforced.
Do you drive the posted speed limits?
For those who are serious about their faith, do you think God expects you to obey the speed limits?
Is it safer to go with the flow of the traffic?
05.29.06 (7:34 pm) [
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posted by:
ruined (
reply)
post date:
05.29.06 (3:33 pm)
On the highway, I tend to do about 5 over... not enough to make any real impact on my drive time, but that seems to be the flow of traffic. That said, I guess you can count me as a "flow of traffic" kind of guy. Except for that one time I got the phone call that my daughter was in the hospital with a possibly broken leg. That time, I exceeded by at least 15 MPH (often times more than that) for the duration of the 50-mile commute.
posted by:
scubadiva (
reply)
post date:
05.29.06 (3:45 pm)
Ever since I was hit head-on by a wrong-way driver, I drive the speed limit. 2nd lane from the right. (Not the far right lane because a lot of folks need to exit.)
Unbelievable when people are approaching and the other 4+ lanes are open, they still feel compelled to ride on my ass. If you're an attentive driver, you should be paying attention to the traffic in front of you - including traffic that isn't moving 80+ mph on the interstate (like they do here in Atlanta)
Since I've stuck to the personal 55mph rule, my gas mileage has improved and I'm not as stressed driving.
posted by:
lynne (
reply)
post date:
05.29.06 (3:47 pm)
Grr. Tblog is now throwing away comments that contain urls.
Ok, well, I had a whole long post about if it is morally correct to break laws one doesnt agree with. I mean, is it? Driving the speed limit is The Law and while speeding doesnt necessarily hurt others, it is a concept worth exploring. I mean, I generally think it is ok for a person to break bad laws especially if doing so will not harm others and especially when even though one may try to change the bad laws, it is unlikely that they will change. For instance, if a person chooses to break seat belt laws, or drug laws, or other similar "victimless crimes", it is not unethical.
The url I wanted to post was for a little film done by some students at Georgia State where they did a little traffic experiment of their own. You really should see it. I will send it to you via tmail.
Oh and to answer your questions:
I sometimes drive the posted speed limits and sometimes I do not. Although I am an atheist, I do not feel that there is any precident in the bible for obeying speed limits unless one wants to make an argument that when Jesus said "Render under Ceasar what is Ceasar's" it was a suggestion to follow the laws of whatever land one lives in even though they might not necessarily be God's Law. I do believe that it is safer to go with the flow of traffic on most roads.
posted by:
mblog (
reply)
post date:
05.29.06 (4:02 pm)
I also tend to go no more than five miles per hour over. If you know the typical distance that people travel on a limited access highway for a given trip, you can figure out how long it will take at a given speed. For example, if you are going to be on a freeway for 12 miles, and the limit is 60mph, it will take 12 minutes. If you go 65 instead, it will take a mere 11 minutes, eight seconds. At least in theory it would. You might think that you would get to your destination 52 seconds sooner, but in real life, there are no guarantees. Traffic lights, traffic volume, and many other factors can affect the arrival time to the extent that there's no guarantee one way or another.
Perhaps a better solution is to leave home 52 seconds earlier. That will accomplish just as much. I know what some people are thinking. That's a hard thing to do. One way around things is to set your alarm clock to go off 52 seconds earlier. Or perhaps you can give up something unimportant such as watching the last 52 seconds of a television program. It's probably just a commercial anyway. That way you can go to bed 52 seconds earlier and you won't be bothered by your earlier arousal.
What does God expect? God expects me to treat others with respect and dignity. I should not be putting others at risk. That does not mean that I must stick to every artificial limit. But it does mean that I should keep a safe distance. It means that I should not obstruct traffic, or cause others to take evasive measures to avoid me. If you appreciate my comments about saving 52 seconds, you can imagine my feelings about keeping a three second following distance. Except I've found that it does not get me anywhere three seconds later. When I see people darting in an out of traffic, tailgating and cutting others off, very often they are hardly ahead of me by the time I reach my exit. And if they won't let me change lanes because they are tailgating, chances are that somebody a few car lengths ahead of them will let me in. My advice to them is that if they really want to be ahead of me, they should leave home three seconds earlier. Then they can go with the flow of traffic.
Yes, it's safest to go with the flow of traffic, assuming that the road is designed for such a speed and you are keeping an appropriate following distance.
I read your blurt about wanting people to comment here. Now, it's my turn to ask you to visit my blog. I'm not just asking. I'm begging. You are in a position where you can make a difference in the world. Read my latest entry and you will see what I am talking about. It is extremely important to me. It's a matter of life and death. Thanks in advance.
posted by:
eraserhead667 (
reply)
post date:
05.29.06 (4:18 pm)
I have it on good authority that God can't drive 55, just like that stupid '80s metal song. I can't either. Especially when everyone around me is driving 80. Some laws are STUPID and have no relation to reality. Go with you concience, go with what you are OBSERVING. the law is quite often a load of crap constructed by people who have nothing better to do with the time on their hands. Respect others, be safe. And yes, you CAN be safe at 90MPH under certain circumstances, no matter what the idiots tell you. Frankly, I think God has better thigns to worry about than your driving habits. He's busy setting his charcoal bbq temp for Ken Lay. Your ten miles over the speed limit doesn't mean CRAP when considered against eternity.
posted by:
Misguided (
reply)
post date:
05.29.06 (4:37 pm)
i go over the speed limit 2 stay with traffic i am not sure if u ever been 2 pittsburgh but if u do not keep up with them u r mostly likely 2 be in a traffic accident...
posted by:
kaikai (
reply)
post date:
05.29.06 (4:41 pm)
On a motorway, I normally drive at about 85. Off the motorway, I rigidly observe the posted speed limit. Most of the non-motorway driving I do is at 30, and I know from experience the difference between a pedestrian being hit by a car doing 30 and one doing 35.
Even those 5 mph make a huge difference to survival rates.
Having said that, I was in a crash a couple of weeks ago, and that has slowed my motorway driving down to around 75. It will creep back up when I've done enough miles to feel blasé again!
posted by:
Bonegnawer (
reply)
post date:
05.29.06 (11:09 pm)
For those of the serious faith i suppose
the gods law stands above the wordly. As
he doesn us not want to kill or maim somebody
so sticking to the local laws, as they
tends to err on the seure side, seems practical.
As for some generous local laws, come visit Germany, the recomended speed here is 130 km/h ( 80 mph) but you are free to go to the limit. Sometimes its pretty useful to burn hundert miles in one hour. (not to say intoxicating)
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.30.06 (1:26 am)
Reply to: ruined
I think it is amazing that the flow of traffic where you live is only 5 mph above the speed limit. And, of course, when you are needing to get to an injured family member, then all bets are off. I do think we all need to slow down, because you die in a hurry on these roads. Almost everyday there is a fiery and gruesome accident, displayed in all its inglory on the television news.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.30.06 (1:29 am)
Reply to: scubadiva
I guess there is no adequate way to be prepared for a wrong-way driver. It is irritating for the guy behind you to be riding your rear bumper, and it does make me want to slow down even more to be irritating to him, but of course that is not a smart move when both are riding in 2000 pound metallic capsules at high rates of speed.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.30.06 (1:36 am)
Reply to: lynne
I do know a little about this study, although I want to check out the link you reference. I think these guys took several cars and lined them up, side-by-side, on the interstate going the speed limit. The result was that they backed up traffic for miles- confirming what I have said, that almost no one travels the speed limit.
I appreciate you addrssing the main question- is it morally wrong to speed? My thinking is that is is morally wrong to unnecessaily endanger the lives of others or self. Travelling a reasonable amount over the speed limit, in order to conform with the flow of traffic, is is safe and morally acceptable I think. This is especially true when the authorities, thmselves, govern unde this unerstanding. I feel they are morally wrong to arbitrarily change the "accepted" rules and enforce the legal standard.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.30.06 (1:41 am)
Reply to: mblog
I think keeping a safe distance is a proper rule, with your reference of three seconds of response time. It just makes sense. So many accidents, perhaps most, are because the drivers do not consider the validity of this driving rule. I'll try to do better!
I did check out your blog, and you write of an important human issue. I hope lots of folk read about it. What we can do to truly make a difference is the quandary.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.30.06 (1:45 am)
Reply to: eraserhead667
I was driving the interstante on a long trip, yesterday, when I found myself surrounded by semi-trucks and other fast drivers. Of course I do not want to get in the way of these big trucks. I looked down at my speedometer and found myself going 85 mph! I think that was too fast! But, it would have been a true endangerment for me to be in the middle of these guys going 55 mph.
I think you are right about God. He does not sit in heaven with a scorecard, grading my driving habits! Now, with Ken Lay, I'd like to think there is a bit more mercy from the Divine than a bbq fork!
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.30.06 (1:46 am)
Reply to: Misguided
Same here. Probably the same in any major metro area. And I think driving the interstate is much safer to traveling a 2-lane road.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.30.06 (1:48 am)
Reply to: kaikai
85!
Your point about hitting a pedestrian is sobering. I would never want to be guilty of hitting a pedestrian because of careless driving. We should always drive slowly if there are people walking about.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.30.06 (1:49 am)
Reply to: Bonegnawer
I've heard from several about the speed limits in Germany. I have never been in a vehicle travelling over 100 mph. I'm sure it is exhiliarating, at least until you hit something or have a flat tire.
posted by:
Bonegnawer (
reply)
post date:
05.30.06 (3:11 am)
Reply to: PastorDave
As always its all fun and games until someone loses an eye.
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
05.30.06 (4:28 am)
I'm weird. I drive the speed limit. I do stay in the right lane when traffic is going at the normal fifteen or twenty miles over, but it's just what I do. I read once that the the difference in an accident rates on highways when drivers are going over seventy m.p.h. are five times higher than when they're driving slower and the chances of those accidents being fatal are much higher as well. I simply refuse to live a life where getting to a destination 150 miles away twelve minutes earlier will make me a happier person. That's the difference between driving 70 and 80, plus, when you add the fact that gas milage drops by as much as 20 percent for going that extra ten miles an hour? It's a no brainer to me, the rest of the world be damned. Now when you consider that most of the people you see driving 85 or 90 are on trips that are less than 25 miles long, the time difference for trips of that length are a matter of a minute or two overall, and yet the milage thing, and the accident chances don't decrease because most trips are of a short duration. It's nuts to me. Now add the side "benefit" that when just one of the other drivers who's speeding gets into an accident, whether serious or not, it slows the rest of us down to a crawl for an hour while they clear the debris. Personally I'd rather drive 50 at a steady rate than 80 for ten minutes and 10 for an hour.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.30.06 (5:35 am)
Reply to: surrogate
Rational. Sensible. Why can't you be this way politically?
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.30.06 (5:35 am)
Reply to: Bonegnawer
That statement deserves to be in a quotebook.
posted by:
javageek (
reply)
post date:
05.30.06 (7:10 am)
Given the fact that there are plenty of laws that (arguably) run counter to religious beliefs I don't see much connection between breaking laws and breaking commandments. I guess I would apply separation of church and state in both directions :)
posted by:
javageek (
reply)
post date:
05.30.06 (7:56 am)
Given the fact that there are plenty of laws that (arguably) run counter to religious beliefs I don't see much connection between breaking laws and breaking commandments. I guess I would apply separation of church and state in both directions :)
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
05.30.06 (8:22 am)
Reply to: PastorDave
I am! You just don't realize it, having been politically blinded at an early age.
posted by:
JT (
reply)
post date:
05.30.06 (9:37 am)
I follow the limits based on the situation. I admit, I enjoy going fast on expressways. I try to make sure I'm in as much control of the car as possible -- do I have room to stop quickly if necessary? Am I paying attention to the front, sides, and rear of the car?
I'm more careful when the boys are in the car, to be sure. I also go the speed limit or slower in neighborhoods where a ball -- followed by a kid -- is likely to dart out between cars.
I ALWAYS obey stop signs and red lights. However, I'm lenient on yellows. Oops. At least one of my kids is old enough to correct me -- or so he thinks -- so I'm generally cognizant not only of the boys' safety, but my model for them as well.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.30.06 (11:18 am)
Reply to: surrogate
In my late 20's I became the new pastor of a church in Middle Tennessee. It was in a town of about 500. My wife and I registered to vote. My wife became the only registered Republican in the entire town! That's right- I registered Democrat, because I wanted to be able to vote in the local elections, and there were no Republican candidates! Lots of things have changed since then.
posted by:
drforbush (
reply)
post date:
05.30.06 (12:24 pm)
PastorDave wrote: “Rational. Sensible. Why can't you be this way politically?”
Of course you were addressing surogate, but I found the comment strange. I think that I could be wrong here, but the number of SUVs with the W sticker on the back of their car suggests that these drivers tend to be Republicans. These people in these monster cars tend to push the speed limit, tailgate and drive in other obnoxious ways. Of course the speeding is against the law and the other behaviours may or may not be depending on your local laws. But, these same people use the argument that illegal immigrants have broken the law, and therefore should be punished. I am guessing that these very same people would be against the enforcement of traffic speed limits with cameras or other high tech means that would advocate for enforcing the borders.
Personally I believe that the speed limits should be reconsidered if the law is being broken as often as you describe. If accidents are not happening at high rates, then the speed limit should be set to speeds that people are driving at without following the law. Then, that speed limit should be enforced with all means available, because breaking the higher speed limit law is even more dangerous.
The point of speed limits are to protect the public from the dangers of accidents. If people feel that going with the flow of the traffic is the important issue, then the law should be written that way and enforced.
posted by:
scubadiva (
reply)
post date:
05.31.06 (2:21 am)
Reply to: PastorDave
I have my car set on cruise control - doesn't really phase me that much, I just think to myself, what an incredible ass. Esp truckers that do it - and then deliberately pass me on the right and then cut right in front of me - as if I've apparently missed the memo where they exclusively OWN that lane. (If they have any sort of company info on the truck, I make a point of calling...Have once even gotten a call back from the driver apologizing after I spoke to the head of logistics)
