a meditation on the speed limit

[HL2addict]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1121745508403211770&q=55+atlanta

these kids actually did nothing wrong by going the correct speed limit, am i right or wrong?

 

[tehsolace]

wow... thats a pretty good idea actually. they made a legal blockade!!!

 

[Paintballer]

Well since the left lane is usually a passing lane, they could have been doing something wrong... but, I'm not sure if the left lane was a passing only lane in this situation. I'm sure they could have been ticketed for wreckless driving.. even though you might say they were just going 55mph, but the fact is that no matter what speed they were going, they were restricting the flow of traffic intentionally. You saw what those other drivers ended up doing because of those kids, not to say the kids were doing anything horribly wrong, but you saw what happened, they didn't create the safest situation.

Personally, I would have been pissed if I was stuck behind them. Yes, because its slowing me down, but mostly because of how packed together those cars were. At rush hour you might get that close, but its like 0-10-35 mph... being that close and going 55mph is pretty dangerous. Again I'm not saying that its totally the kids' fault, but they ended up creating that situation.

 

[Ennui]

i think the fact that it was unsafe mostly proves their point, 55 is a stupid speed limit for that area.

 

[TCfromBN]

Thats f*cking awesome, and retarded at the same time.

 

[HL2addict]

i disagree, the other drivers were TRYING to speed and break the law while this group of drivers were OBEYING the traffic laws... i would say the ones trying to speed were creating an unsafe driving condition

 

[tehsolace]

The kids created the situation on purpose... it was perfectly legal, and they were demonstrating how unyielding other drivers can be when it comes to forcing them to go the speed limit. They literally resort to some crazy sh*t just to get past them to go > 55.

 

[theotherguy]

i disagree, the other drivers were TRYING to speed and break the law while this group of drivers were OBEYING the traffic laws... i would say the ones trying to speed were creating an unsafe driving condition

I agree completley. Speeders, not the slow people, are the problem on the highway. 55 is not an "unsafe" speed, it is the speed of highest efficiency and makes accidents less deadly. Police officers need to enforce the speed limit.

I always go the exact speed limit on every road, unless I am passing someone going below it. If the speed limit is 55, I go 55. If it's 40 I go 40. None of this 5 or 10 miles over bullshit, go the goddam speed limit.

All traffic jams would be solved if everyone travelled at exactley the same speed and maintained equal spacing.

 

[Ennui]

I either drive 0-5 over the speed limit or 20+ over. as far as I'm concerned, if you're gonna break the law, you gotta break it right

 

[Qonfused]

That was awesome. The shot of the highway practically clear then their line followed by a mass of cars was breathtaking.

I usually drive three or four over because I'm a rebel.

 

[[RnL]Stefan]

don't think they did something wrong. but they caused dangerous situations by just obeying to the law. not their fault but the fault of those who reacted this way.

i'm not a friend of speed limits everywhere and on the german autobahn i go as fast as traffic allows, while in other areas speed limits are fine and i will obey to them.

 

[Glirk Dient]

I would say they could be nailed for obstruction of traffic. They stopped traffic from being able to flow.

However that is hillarious. My friends and I have been talking about doing this but always thought cops could still bust ya for something.

 

[Smoke]

That wins, a good way to prove a point.

 

[The Monkey]

Crappy editing. I could only hear about half of what they said because there were some ****ing indian music blocking the sound.

 

[[RnL]Stefan]

I would say they could be nailed for obstruction of traffic. They stopped traffic from being able to flow.

However that is hillarious. My friends and I have been talking about doing this but always thought cops could still bust ya for something.

obstructing the traffic thats not allowed to go any faster anyway? cannot be an obstruction, if it was it would mean the speed limit is not valid ;D

 

[The Monkey]

In dunno about the law in the US, but you aren't allowed to obstruct traffic in Sweden, even if you're driving at maximum speed. You will get fines and/or lose your licence if you prevent people from passing. You can't control which speed other people wish to drive; you aren't the polce.

 

[[RnL]Stefan]

that is a point, but still in this case both (passer and blocker) would break the law.

 

[lePobz]

The laws about this aren't written very clearly. If the cars in the inside (slow) lane were doing the maximum speed limit, there would be no reason for any cars to be in the overtaking lanes (as it would be impossible to overtake without breaking the speed limit). If the car in the slow lane was going less than the speed limit when the other cars decided to overtake, but during that overtake the car in the slow lane sped up, then the car in the outside overtaking lane would be fine to just hang there next to it.

 

[CyberPitz]

They were doing nothing wrong. The speed limit *The law* was 55, they were going 55. It's not their fault that the other IDIOTS were creating the reckless situation. They were following the law, the other people were trying to break it.

Honestly, they could probably get a ticket from a cop, but if they went to court, they could easily just get out of it.

 

[Krynn72]

I dont lol a whole lot, but I did when I saw how much traffic they actually built up behind them.

 

[Pauly]

I would say they could be nailed for obstruction of traffic. They stopped traffic from being able to flow.

However that is hillarious. My friends and I have been talking about doing this but always thought cops could still bust ya for something.

But the speedlimit is 55. So if all cars are going @ 55 MPH, then there is NO interruption of traffic flow... everything is running at teh correct speed.

Awesome video.

 

[Parrot of doom]

Regardless of whatever the local laws say, they are creating a dangerous situation.

1. You do not drive alongside other vehicles for any distance. Doing so restricts your ability to manoevere in an emergency.

2. You do not block other motorists from making progress. Doing so, you increase the risk of frustration leading to dangerous situations.

3. Lane 1 is for travelling. The other lanes are for overtaking (at least in the UK). If you cannot reasonably pass other vehicles, you reduce your speed and move back to lane 1.


The video does raise an important point. Adhering to the speed limit without regard for any other factors of safe driving, can create a more dangerous situation. I see this all the time in SPECS controlled zones on UK motorways.

Also, the speed limit is not a target. It is a limit. Anybody who says they're a safe driver because they never break the speed limit clearly isn't very knowledgeable on the subject.

I invite you to read further at www.safespeed.org.uk