"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein

 

Here is some info on the road, for those who are speculating. The speed limit is not 65 as someone assumed previously. I believe it was 45 mph when I drove on it a couple years ago.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_Parkway_(Long_Island)

 

Really???

 

Funny how disagreeing with the "mob" makes me stupid and an idiot.

 

I don't know how that fits into the discussion.



Proper training to go 200mph? It's just as dangerous on the autobahn. People may not be able to react to a car at that speed. He could lose control and take out other cars and kill people. Which, again, makes it a double standard.


The onus is put on the driver was all that meant by that.

 

Ah, you're one of THOSE people. Now it all makes sense. I question lots of things, probably more than most. But arguing that155mph over the limit is no more dangerous than 10 over makes you an idiot.

 

IIRC its a 35 and 45 zone in the Jones Beach area, then a bit down the road heading towards Captree (I dont remember if its the Suffolk border or just before it) it jumps to 55. I think. Its been about 2 years since Ive been there.

 

Well, it's a good thing I never said that. :wink:

 

Do you know what your point is? I'm on my POS Droid and not about to sift through this thread.

 

yeah, we get what you're saying... basically "People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."

so, since none of us are perfect and we've all gone over the speed limit at one point or another... would shouldn't be putting down this guy doing 200mph.

I still say it's pretty lame arguement

 

I'm not for a nanny state either but it definitely curbs dangerous driving. I don't know this for a fact but I can assume if there were no speed limits or no laws of the road in general, people would drive 40+ mph in residential neighborhoods more than they already do. The main thing is our driving education needs to get a lot better, and speed limits help with uniformity. As mentioned in this thread already, some people (and some vehicles) just refuse to go any faster than 60 mph... If there's a guy coming up at 200 mph, they might not be able to judge their speed as well as someone in Germany would be able to. Thats just a disaster waiting to happen.

In any case, you're preaching to the choir. Nobody completely agrees with every single law, but that doesn't mean they don't have their place. No, they don't always prevent things but that doesn't mean they don't help.

 

I disagree.
As I understand it, there is more lane discipline, higher speeds (and thus lower speed differential for the car going 200 mph) and less merging/cross-traffic on the autobahn than on the LIE.
Drivers on the autobahn use the left lane as a passing lane, and they are moving 80 mph in the right lane, as opposed to drivers doing 40 in the left (and every other) lane on the LIE as well as turning or merging onto the LIE without expecting someone driving 293 feet (almost 300 yards) per second down the road.

This makes going 200 mph on the autobahn safer than the virtual suicide run on the LIE.

 

Agree. Having done it over there, there is absolute lane discipline. Hell, if you ride in the left lane too long, you can be reported for unsafe driving. Fact.

A German (or someone desiring a driver's license there) must take a long course about driving and safety, and must be able to drive in all weather conditions, and will drive with an instructor on the Autobahn. Then after all of the instruction you get the test. So you spend a good chunk of time, about $2000 (yes, that is accurate), and then you get a license.

Driving on the Autobahn is a skill. A lot of areas are restricted, and if the sign reads 100 kph, you better do 100. Not 105. 100. When it does open up, pass on the left, drive on the right. On a three lane, slow traffic must move to the farthest right lane. No exceptions. If you pass on the right, people will report you and you will be fined. It is no joke. And if you are doing 125 mph (which I did quite a bit), you better be able to move out of the way quickly and correctly using all mirrors and signaling.

Oh, and don't think that if you have an M5 you can out run the cops. They have BMW 1200 CC motorcycles and specially prepped Porsche that will chase you down, then they will beat the crap out of you.

The drivers there are just leaps and bounds better than the US, UK, Japan, and all of the countries I have lived/worked/visited. Hands down. And it is because of the training, and knowing that if they do something stupid, they will lose their license.

How does this apply here? Speed limits are not arbitrary. Behind the times? Sure. Can they be updated? Sure. Do I advocate speeding in any residential area? Hell no. the sections of the Autobahn that are restricted are heavy traffic and urban areas. So if this were applied to the US with reason, I 95 around DC would be in the 65-75 range IMO. But I 90 or 94 through Montana? I bet 85 to 100 would be OK for some stretches. But with the understanding that once above 85 (just like Germany) you will always have some fault in an accident regardless of how it happened.

Just my two cents......

 

I think the main problem here is that licenses are obtained so easily and cheaply that people simply accept it as a right. Go in, answer twenty questions and you're off. Fail the test? No problem. Come back tomorrow. It's pathetic. My friend passed his driver's test without once cracking the manual...that would never fly in Germany.

I am all for better driver training and increased punishment for violations but every time I bring it up in conversation, somebody inevitably calls me a freedom-hating socialist.