Speed Cameras = Safety Mechanism or Money Making Machine?

[Kamakazie Sith]

I don't think we've ever owned a car with cruise control, and we've had a lot, though they've mostly been European; BMWs, Mercs, Fiats.

At any rate, the point wasn't that people are unable to check their speedometer and pay attention to the road, just that many speed cameras add an unneccessary contrivance that will divert your attention for a moment.

There are numerous other things that can potentially "divert" your attention. As a driver it is your responsibility to not allow that to compromise your ability to drive safety.

[Darth Wong]

If the mere sight of a speed camera can cause someone to become dangerously distracted, then how does he function on a highway where there are other drivers in other cars moving around at varying speeds, changing lanes around him, etc? How does he function in rain, or snow, or hail?

Any driver who becomes dangerously unaware of his surroundings the moment he sees a speed camera should not just lose his license; he should be taken out and shot for being a fucking idiot and an embarrassment to the human race. I can't believe this bullshit tangent has even gone on for this long.

[Admiral Valdemar]

I agree. But given enforcing the speed limit via a time-saving technological gadget is seen as socially acceptable to many motorists as eating a baby on live TV, I think their sudden disproportionate response of paranoia against cameras is ingrained in their psyche. They will happily drive normally around any obstacle, so long as it isn't a camera that can dish out fines and points.

Think of the number of people who get pulled over by cops, then consider how more furore is made over the automatic and electronic version than the human in a car version we've had for years.

[Durandal]

If the mere sight of a speed camera can cause someone to become dangerously distracted, then how does he function on a highway where there are other drivers in other cars moving around at varying speeds, changing lanes around him, etc?

In that vein, am I the only one that thinks highway billboards should be outlawed?

[Einhander Sn0m4n]

If the mere sight of a speed camera can cause someone to become dangerously distracted, then how does he function on a highway where there are other drivers in other cars moving around at varying speeds, changing lanes around him, etc?

In that vein, am I the only one that thinks highway billboards should be outlawed?

No. But I already think advertising should be severely curtailed and regulated.

[Darth Wong]

Ironically, I actually feel that billboards should be installed on the Highway 401 stretch between London Ontario and Windsor. It's currently empty of advertising, so that you can see the scenic panorama of the boring flat farmfields off to either side of the highway. Apparently, drivers just can't get enough uniformity in their landscape.

The problem is that this stretch of highway is also exceptionally lethal by Ontario standards, in part because so many motorists fall asleep.

[The Yosemite Bear]

hmmm p0rn billboards....

[FSTargetDrone]

Ironically, I actually feel that billboards should be installed on the Highway 401 stretch between London Ontario and Windsor. It's currently empty of advertising, so that you can see the scenic panorama of the boring flat farmfields off to either side of the highway. Apparently, drivers just can't get enough uniformity in their landscape.

The problem is that this stretch of highway is also exceptionally lethal by Ontario standards, in part because so many motorists fall asleep.

Out of curiosity, does this stretch of road have rumble strips installed on the shoulders? Many of the major roads around here in the US have them (at least where I live, it seems), especially along curves.

[Broomstick]

(sigh) Obviously, I'm out of touch with the low-end automobile market.

Just a bit.

We opt for the package that included cruise control on our '99 Ranger, but the base model didn't have it. Our '02 Echo didn't have that option from the dealer, we added it as an after-market item.

[Aaron]

Out of curiosity, does this stretch of road have rumble strips installed on the shoulders? Many of the major roads around here in the US have them (at least where I live, it seems), especially along curves.

I don't know about the 401 but there on the 417 and 17 in Ottawa and the Ottawa Valley. As well as various shitty little "highways" throughout Ontario.

[SCRawl]

Ironically, I actually feel that billboards should be installed on the Highway 401 stretch between London Ontario and Windsor. It's currently empty of advertising, so that you can see the scenic panorama of the boring flat farmfields off to either side of the highway. Apparently, drivers just can't get enough uniformity in their landscape.

The problem is that this stretch of highway is also exceptionally lethal by Ontario standards, in part because so many motorists fall asleep.

Out of curiosity, does this stretch of road have rumble strips installed on the shoulders? Many of the major roads around here in the US have them (at least where I live, it seems), especially along curves.

They're pretty common on our major highways, though I can't say about that particular stretch of road. It's been many years since I've traveled that way.

[Rye]

Apparently, the best way of getting people to slow down are the vehicle-activated digital speed signs. These things.

[FSTargetDrone]

Apparently, the best way of getting people to slow down are the vehicle-activated digital speed signs. These things.

I've usually seen these in locations with a lot of pedestrians crossing the street (usually along the local Main Street with storefronts), near youth soccer fields and other similar places.



I've also seen similar signs mounted near toll interchanges.

[Darth Wong]

I find that the best way to make people slow down is to have a squad car on the side of the road with its lights flashing, actually giving someone a ticket. Cars always slow down as if they hit a brick wall when the drivers see that.

Ironically, you're not too likely to get stopped in that situation, because the cop isn't going to stop in the middle of writing one ticket to jump in his car and nab somebody else, unless the second guy is really going fast.

[Flagg]

I find that the best way to make people slow down is to have a squad car on the side of the road with its lights flashing, actually giving someone a ticket. Cars always slow down as if they hit a brick wall when the drivers see that.

Ironically, you're not too likely to get stopped in that situation, because the cop isn't going to stop in the middle of writing one ticket to jump in his car and nab somebody else, unless the second guy is really going fast.

That's not the best idea. I live right on a speed trap and there are always 3 or 4 fender benders a month from people rubbernecking a traffic stop. I've personally witnessed 2 happen in the 5 months I've lived here, and heard the rest.

[Broomstick]

Yeah, well, they slow down and if they don't pay attention they crash and then they STOP which is really slowing down!

[Master of Ossus]

Out of curiosity, does this stretch of road have rumble strips installed on the shoulders? Many of the major roads around here in the US have them (at least where I live, it seems), especially along curves.

I don't know about the 401 but there on the 417 and 17 in Ottawa and the Ottawa Valley. As well as various shitty little "highways" throughout Ontario.

Apparently, they're really expensive to maintain in areas that get a lot of ice, so they may be a lot harder to put in on Canadian highways than American ones. Even Caltrans complained about the expense of adding them to mountain roads, although admittedly Caltrans always seems to be running late and overbudget.

[Durandal]

I find that the best way to make people slow down is to have a squad car on the side of the road with its lights flashing, actually giving someone a ticket. Cars always slow down as if they hit a brick wall when the drivers see that.

Ironically, you're not too likely to get stopped in that situation, because the cop isn't going to stop in the middle of writing one ticket to jump in his car and nab somebody else, unless the second guy is really going fast.

It's not that cop you need to be worried about; it's his buddies. I'm sure it's a department-by-department thing, but a lot of times, another unit will do a swing-by when a cop pulls someone over, just to make sure everything is going okay. If you see one cop, there's another one nearby that you're not seeing.

Cops in New Jersey have a trick where they'll put an officer in an abandoned car on the side of the road with a radar gun. When he spots someone speeding, he radios ahead to another unit a mile up. And the state police in Illinois have several speed traps on I-55. They'll have a guy sitting on one side of an overpass, and it's impossible for you to actually see him until he's in your rear-view mirror. Then there's a line of 5 or 6 squad cars sitting on the on-ramp. I've seen lines of cars pulled over on the side of the road before. They're sneaky.

And besides, I slow down and give at least one lane of space when I see someone outside his car on the side of the road anyway. You never know, the cop could trip and fall into the road or something.

The problem is that this stretch of highway is also exceptionally lethal by Ontario standards, in part because so many motorists fall asleep.

Yep, road hypnosis. It happens to me from time to time, and it's scary every time. One thing you can do to ward it off is to periodically glance at the steering wheel.

[RogueIce]

And besides, I slow down and give at least one lane of space when I see someone outside his car on the side of the road anyway. You never know, the cop could trip and fall into the road or something.

That's actually the law now in Florida. I heard that the alternative to this (if you can't change lanes because of traffic or whatever) is to slow down to some speed (I heard 20 but that'd be insane on the Interstate I think) but I don't know for sure.

Not that I always see people doing it, but I saw the little posters on gas station pumps.

[Pu-239]

Ironically, I actually feel that billboards should be installed on the Highway 401 stretch between London Ontario and Windsor. It's currently empty of advertising, so that you can see the scenic panorama of the boring flat farmfields off to either side of the highway. Apparently, drivers just can't get enough uniformity in their landscape.

The problem is that this stretch of highway is also exceptionally lethal by Ontario standards, in part because so many motorists fall asleep.

Out of curiosity, does this stretch of road have rumble strips installed on the shoulders? Many of the major roads around here in the US have them (at least where I live, it seems), especially along curves.

Incidentally I've fallen asleep on I-95 and had a rather bad accident (in terms of property damage only due to just luck), and have decided not to drive anymore (hence earlier thread regarding folding bikes), due to issues with staying calm and tendency to fall sleep at very inopportune moments.

Those strips above obviously only help if you drift to the sides of the road and not into the opposite/middle lane. They've saved me once before though on I-66, just not that last time when I had my accident (was driving in middle lane, and I don't think I-95 has them anyway).


As an aside along the lines of hazardous distractions, does anyone think traffic related sounds should be banned from radio? It always jarred me significantly when some advertisement came on that decided to mix the sound of car horns in.

[The Yosemite Bear]

we need them up here in yosemite...

[Vejut]

Pu-239, I don't know about down in Virginia, but I do know they're on I-95/495 and I-95 up here in Maryland.

Also, honks on the radio usually don't bother me, but whenever the radio or song I'm listening to gets sirens, I always start looking around for the police car so I can get out of the way until I figure out it's just the radio.

[aerius]

As an aside along the lines of hazardous distractions, does anyone think traffic related sounds should be banned from radio? It always jarred me significantly when some advertisement came on that decided to mix the sound of car horns in.

Again, this is basic driver training and competance. If you're that easily distracted, then drive with the radio off or practice driving some more until this is no longer an issue.

From reading this thread, it seems like what I consider as the minimum acceptable level of driving skills are unreasonably high for the average person. And that's worrying since I don't consider myself to be that good of a driver.

[Enigma]

There are rumble strips on the 401 but I do not know how far it goes. I do know that between Odessa and Ottawa the 401 has rumble strips. As Cpl. Kendall said highway 17 has it but the west end section, I don't think the east end 17 has it but I am not sure. Certain sections of the 417 has it but not through Ottawa itself.

I'm not a fan of speed cameras but I am a fan of red light cameras. I've seen way too many idiots cross the red light without even slowing down ever since the snow came. What is it with these drivers? Hell even when I had all season tires I still stopped at a red light. All I had to do was make adjustments in my braking. But apparently this is too much for "summer" drivers. And people wonder why there are a lot of accidents in the winter time.

[Phantasee]

There are rumble strips on all the highways around Edmonton, just not on the ones through town (those are more like freeways anyway). So the Yellowhead/Trans-Canada HWY 16, the Anthony Henday ring road, HWY 14, 21, and all the other ones around the city, and of course, good old HWY 2/Queen Elizabeth II. All the way to Calgary, even.