Want to help my cause? Join the National Motorists Association. I am a member (#117319).
If you drive 100% legally you statistical increase
your chances of getting in or causing an accident. (Well known fact)
Hi there, Welcome to the Reasonable Drivers Unanimous home page. As my titles suggest this page will give evidence, examples, arguments, etc. for reasonable traffic laws. Laws like setting speeds to what drivers drive. Laws that will help keep slow drivers from holding up traffic, etc.
A collection of most of the files (in plain text version) and gif's of this archive is available here as a zip file so that you can read the material offline, or share it with your friends that are not online!
New Look for my Home Page
comming soon. I hope it will be a big improvement as compared
to this page. I tried break up everything and make the to highlight
the important stuff. I think you will like the results.
Check it out and let me know how you fell at
kevinatk@home.com.
New: New version of States' Attitudes Toward Speed Limits now with states new Speed Limits now that the NMSL is a goner.
New: Speed Limits Etc.. FAQ. Currently only a sketchy rough draft but it will improve with time. Submissions are more than welcome.
New: One of the things that aggravates me more than artificially low speed limits is public opinion on the speed limits and speeding in general. Most americans speed but tell their children not too. I have read one article after another where the person writing the article clearly believes speeding is ok however they won't admit it, they will tell the reader they don't recommend speeding but what they do is up to them. In response to this I started a list of those type of articles, web pages etc so that we can write to them asking them why they are trying to be "politically correct". [Goto List]
Coming Soon: (I hope) An interactive step-by-step guide designed to convince skeptics that speed does not kill. As a start be sure to check out "The anatomy of 2 and 3 lane roads: The types of drivers and how they affect traffic flow" one of many papers I plan on writing that will develop into this project. [More Info].
I want cops to stop going after SAFE speeders and start going after the idiot who cuts you off, tailgates, etc. And I want cops to start going after slowpokes in the left lanes and those drivers who are downright rude.
Speed Limits on Interstates:
On the issue of speed limits I believe all interstates should have a
speed limit of at LEAST 70mph. Yes, even on the most congested and
dangerous interstates like the Capital Beltway (495). Why? Because that's
about the speed everyone is going -- doing 55 IS MORE DANGEROUS than
doing 65 because you are going against the flow of traffic.
[Responses]
(Point pending change to something along the lines of the 85th
percentile speed with enforsment practices as stated in
NMA's Model Speed Zoning Law)
Speed Limits and Stop Lights: Speed limits should also be increased on other roads. Slower speed limits on busy high-speed highways tend to create an engineering difficulty with synchronizing stop lights. If stop lights are synchronized using the speed limit, often people will have to stop at the next light when it wasn't engineered that way. If speed limits were raised to the speed of traffic, then this would not be a problem. It also creates a minor hazard in the length yellow lights stay on. (Is this true? I am just speculating here on this whole paragraph. Engineers out there please let me know.) [Responses]
Passing on the Right: Passing on the right AND staying around in the left hand lane for no necessary reason (right lane open, no exits on left, etc. etc.) should be illegal on freeways ONLY. It should NOT be illegal to pass someone on the right on city streets or any other situation were one HAS to be in the left hand lane, like if there is a left exit, for example. It should also to be legal to pass someone in the left hand lane that refuses to budge (flashed you lights, etc., etc. and their is still no response). If you get caught passing a left lane hogger on the right than the left lane hogger would get the ticket, not you. [Responses]
Slow Pokes Pulling Over: I think there should be laws that requires slow pokes to pull over on two lane roads when it is safe. By this I am not implying that that faster drivers have a "right" to intimidate slower drivers off the road. I am simply trying to reach a compromise. Does a slow poke have a "right" to hold traffic up? He shouldn't just as fast drivers shouldn't have the "right" to intimidate slower drivers off the road. [Responses]
Drivers Training and Testing: In one word its a joke. The biggest problem with American drivers is the lack of any real drivers education and testing. Driving around a small test course is hardly a test of a drivers ability; its a test of being able to stop at a stop sign, being able to back up in a straight line, and, if it is a really hard test, being able to parallel park. The tests need to be on the road and NOT in the equivalent of a parking lot. A potential driver needs to be tested on things like: merging into traffic, passing, staying too the right, etc. And how well they can handle emergencys like skidding, spin out, etc. Yeah, they (sometimes) teach it in drivers ed but they usually don't give a motorist any hands-on experience. [Responses]
School Buses: They could be voted as the "most hated vehicles on two lane roads" right up there with slow-pokes. Why? Because they stop in the middle of the road holding up traffic from both directions and there is no way to get around them. There should be laws controlling WHEN they can use their red flashers and when they need to pull over. (1) They should be REQUIRED to pull over after every 3 stops if there is ANYONE behind them to let others pass (if there is a way to pull over). (2) They should only be allowed to use their red flashers when letting off elementary school (or younger) children or when an older student has to cross the street. (3) If they are letting off more than 5 students they should be REQUIRED to pull off the main road and onto the residential street so that they don't seriously hold up traffic. [Details & Responses]
One issue that is involved in increasing speed limits is the loss of fine revenue. This blurb sent to me without a name or e-mail address sums it up nicely even though I don't agree with it 100%.
Airbags: Are they really worth it? Maybe, maybe not... Find out what one person thinks and read a few constructive attacks on what was said. [Goto] I haven't thought about the issue enough to agree or disagree.
Daytime running lights: Do they really save lives. Are they more annoying than helpful. Can they be worse than headlights. The debate is on! Feel free to contribute. [Goto Debate]
Real Automotive Lighting: The quality of US headlights is poor compared to some other countries. Johann Schubert suggests that DOT adopt the Euro-code lighting standards. It sounds reasonable to me! [More Info]
Have an issue you want to add to this list? If so then go ahead and add a point.
I recommend you look at the items in bold at least once
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Want to find out more about me, Kevin Atkinson? If so be sure to check out my home page.
Copyright © 1995 by Kevin Atkinson.