I always wonder why the government doesn't make the speed limit on interstates 85 or 90 mph. I always get stuck behind some people that go 70, while everyone is going 80+. It would make trips on interstates much quicker, and to me 90 mph is still as safe a speed as 75 or 80, but I do have a vehicle that can safely travel those speeds. Not everyone has vehicles that can safely go these speeds, so just pass them like usual and go on your way. Now if someone is stupid enough to speed over 90 mph, then hell yea stop them all you want. I just think 70 is slow for the interstates of today. :shrug:
Radar Detector...really worth it?
- Thread starter Jubei
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I always wonder why the government doesn't make the speed limit on interstates 85 or 90 mph. I always get stuck behind some people that go 70, while everyone is going 80+. It would make trips on interstates much quicker, and to me 90 mph is still as safe a speed as 75 or 80, but I do have a vehicle that can safely travel those speeds. Not everyone has vehicles that can safely go these speeds, so just pass them like usual and go on your way. Now if someone is stupid enough to speed over 90 mph, then hell yea stop them all you want. I just think 70 is slow for the interstates of today. :shrug:
Lawman85
Banned
I agree the speed limits seem slow on some interstates. There are a few problems with raising the limits. You mentioned the cars capabilities which is one. Probably the biggest factor is the driver's capability. Another factor is the construction of the roadways and if they are designed to handle that speed. The last factor I believe is just basic mathmatics.
Example:
A person's average reaction time while driving is 1.5 seconds. Which means if someone is driving down a road and identifies a hazard, it takes them 1.5 seconds to recognize the hazard, decide to stop, and move their foot over to brake pedal. Here is what that means:
If your traveling 60mph or 88 feet per sec. your car will travel 132 ft in that 1.5 secs it takes you to react.
If your traveling 90mph or 132 feet per sec. your car will travel 198 feet in the 1.5 sec reaction time.
Then you realize it takes longer for your car to stop after you applied the brake if your traveling 90 vs. 60.
That is why the limit is lower to give you more reaction time in case of emergencies. Seems pretty logical.
Yes that does seem logical. I guess when everyone's going 80 and you're the only law abiding citizen going 70...the others almost slam into you from behind, so i just go with the flow. I hardly ever 90+ because that's just asking for trouble with the law. Most state troopers I see won't pull anyone over for going 80 if we're in a pack, but if you're on the road by yourself...good luck. Just though I would comment on this. Later
:beer:
:beer:
If you think that's bad... the fastest posted speed limit in Illinois is 65. You should feel lucky to be able to legally go 70!
The interstates had 60+ mph limits in the days before the gas crunch and 55 mph national speed limit. The cars back then sucked. Still, in most places the speed limits are the same.
FWIW, 1.5 seconds is a bad reaction time! Of course, one must remember that half of all drivers are below average.
FWIW, 1.5 seconds is a bad reaction time! Of course, one must remember that half of all drivers are below average.
Actually, 1.5 seconds is a decent reaction time, if you think of it just as it is to be interpreted - as a reaction to an action that is not anticipated.
Over the years I've scraped enough people off the roadway to be able to say with certainty that most people who consider themselves "good drivers" are not, and those that think owning a high performance car makes them a high performance driver are even bigger fools.
I can show you hundreds of photographs from accident scene investigations where drivers who were gifted in the area of acceleration found themselves losers when it came to collision avoidance. Two straight, locked wheels skids leading up to the POI where they learned the hard way about safe following distances and that a locked wheel cannot steer.
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Lawman85
Banned
It's amazing how seeing a few dead bodies can change your idea of speeding isn't it mswaim?
I was chasing a 94 GT on our interstate a few years ago and lost control at 120mph. Somehow, I saved the car and slid along the median wall. Let me tell you, our roadways are not designed to handle speeds much over 70mph. The curves don't leave you enough visiblity, the lanes are too narrow, and the shoulders aren't large enough to avoid any type of collision at that speed. I did catch the guy, but I had to clean my shorts out afterwards!
I was chasing a 94 GT on our interstate a few years ago and lost control at 120mph. Somehow, I saved the car and slid along the median wall. Let me tell you, our roadways are not designed to handle speeds much over 70mph. The curves don't leave you enough visiblity, the lanes are too narrow, and the shoulders aren't large enough to avoid any type of collision at that speed. I did catch the guy, but I had to clean my shorts out afterwards!
Fact of the matter is people are gonna speed, wether some consider it a risk, it happens. I'll be straight up honest with, I consider myself as a very good driver, why? Because I'm always on defense and looking out for the idiot who isnt paying attention. But its not always the driver nor the operator of the vehicle next to you that always cause the accident, I do understand there are MANY other factors to consider, mechanical failure,nature, etc....
My point is that there are times that Im gonna speed as well as others. Does that make me the bad guy? Hell no, because were all guilty of doing it. I didnt buy a Lightning just to drive it or look at it, I bought it to make that supercharger scream when conditions deem safe. But in order to do that without getting a ticket I want a radar detector that can keep me out of the laws hands.
My point is that there are times that Im gonna speed as well as others. Does that make me the bad guy? Hell no, because were all guilty of doing it. I didnt buy a Lightning just to drive it or look at it, I bought it to make that supercharger scream when conditions deem safe. But in order to do that without getting a ticket I want a radar detector that can keep me out of the laws hands.
Wow this one went off course in a hurry.
Let me share my experience. I used to use a radar detector all the time. I used to get pulled over all the time too. It helped, but it also gave me a sense of false security, especially with all the false alarms going off even on rural interstates (semis will do this).
Then one day I lost a rubber suction cup on the stand and I had to take it down.
Oddly enough the detector never went back in the car. You know, the ole "I'll get that fixed someday." That was nearly 10 years ago.
Since then I've been pulled over once and I just wasn't paying attention to the speed in a little rural town. 15 over. The officer was nice and he basically said "we're making money today." It happens. :shrug:
I'm no angel I'll tell you that, but I feel that a blast in speed once in a while is understandeable by most LEO's. It's the "I'm going 90 and I have the cruise control on" or "I'm racing down a residential street with kids around" or better yet the weaving through traffic at mach II that they have a problem with.
So my recommendation is to save your money, stick with traffic, and if you are going to let er rip, do it on a nice straight, car free road in the middle of nowhere. :beer:
Let me share my experience. I used to use a radar detector all the time. I used to get pulled over all the time too. It helped, but it also gave me a sense of false security, especially with all the false alarms going off even on rural interstates (semis will do this).
Then one day I lost a rubber suction cup on the stand and I had to take it down.
Oddly enough the detector never went back in the car. You know, the ole "I'll get that fixed someday." That was nearly 10 years ago.
Since then I've been pulled over once and I just wasn't paying attention to the speed in a little rural town. 15 over. The officer was nice and he basically said "we're making money today." It happens. :shrug:
I'm no angel I'll tell you that, but I feel that a blast in speed once in a while is understandeable by most LEO's. It's the "I'm going 90 and I have the cruise control on" or "I'm racing down a residential street with kids around" or better yet the weaving through traffic at mach II that they have a problem with.
So my recommendation is to save your money, stick with traffic, and if you are going to let er rip, do it on a nice straight, car free road in the middle of nowhere. :beer:
My .02 worth
One thing you can count on...you will NEVER get a warning ticket from an officer if you have one. I would tell the driver..his warning was "on the box and sales receipt" when he purchased it. I am no longer a LEO but have a lot of friends I work with that are. They have the same feeling about detectors that I do.
One thing you can count on...you will NEVER get a warning ticket from an officer if you have one. I would tell the driver..his warning was "on the box and sales receipt" when he purchased it. I am no longer a LEO but have a lot of friends I work with that are. They have the same feeling about detectors that I do.
It's in the section marked "How to encourage other drivers to drive at a safe speed".
That's what police are trying to accomplish by taking radar in the first place isn't it? They should welcome Joe Public's assistance in this matter.
Originally posted by gnxs
That's what police are trying to accomplish by taking radar in the first place isn't it? They should welcome Joe Public's assistance in this matter.
You've just identified the difference between safety and revenue.
You want to slow traffic down without officers? Just flash your hi's for about 6 miles. Everyone on the oncoming side of the road will drop speed even without enforcement.
I like to also do the switcharoo. Cruise faster than traffic like you're in an extreme hurry, then dramatically slow down and head for the right lane going the speed limit. Ride the lane without exiting. Everyone on the road will think you've got a radar detector or ESP and will follow you like lemmings. It's funny.
Re: My .02 worth
When you see the cop pull a u-turn or pull out to get you... take it off your windshield and throw it under your seat... he'll never know.
When you see the cop pull a u-turn or pull out to get you... take it off your windshield and throw it under your seat... he'll never know.
Re: Re: My .02 worth
Unless it is at night and he sees the glow of the digital lights reflecting off the glass.
When I worked the road, I saw that all the time!
Unless it is at night and he sees the glow of the digital lights reflecting off the glass.
When I worked the road, I saw that all the time!
Lawman85
Banned
Or the dirty suction cup rings on the windshield...lol
Re: Re: Re: My .02 worth
New detectors (ie: mine), have a feature that blacks the display completely for night driving. The alerts are audible only with a small alert down on the cigarette lighter bung. In other words, my detector is pitch black at night with audible alerts only. It cannot be seen since the detector is black itself.
New detectors (ie: mine), have a feature that blacks the display completely for night driving. The alerts are audible only with a small alert down on the cigarette lighter bung. In other words, my detector is pitch black at night with audible alerts only. It cannot be seen since the detector is black itself.
Re: Re: Re: My .02 worth
Double post
Double post
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I gotta newer cobra, when I got it from my girlfriend it was about 3 months old. Now it's been about 2 years and for some reason the speaker went on me. Bout t20 weeks ago it started getting distorted and breaking up and now nothing. I'm checking up on it but besides this its worked wonders. Voice alert V1 radar it's good.
My $300 Escort Passport 8500 X50 just stopped working on me for the 3rd time. It is a good detector, but it is not reliable. Also, customer service at Escort sucks. I ordered the brand new Valentine 1 detector tonight for $400.00 at www.valentine1.com
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