Hi, Guest
10-05-2007, 07:24 AM
I agree with your assessment but I also think you've got it backwards. Excessively low speed limits do not make incompetent drivers - incompetent/stupid/dangerous drivers prevent speed limits from being what they should be.
The fact is that punitive measures are relatively ineffective in terms of creating a change in behaviour - that's why governments are looking to technical innovation to create change - everything from breathalyser interlocks to TPMS to adaptive cruise control to night vision cameras to --- well you name it ... will be considered in lieu of well trained, intelligent, considerate drivers and vehicle owners - because the bottom line is we don't have too many of those on our roads these days and things haven't improved in 4 decades.
And why? Because the vast, vast majority of so called "accidents" are no accident at all - they are predictable and preventable collisions ... and they take the life of 2800 people and cost the economy $25 to $30 billion every year.
We did this to ourselves folks - by not making it a lot harder to get a license ... by not making it socially unacceptable to do things like taillgate, pass on the right, pop wheelies 2 feet from the sidewalk or at 160 kph on the highway, or race on the streets ... by not eliminating drinking and driving ... by not demanding a much higher standard of behaviour on our roads.
The vast majority of Canadians don't give two shiites about driving enthusiasts - and will gladly accept any government intervention that they think gives them a better chance of surviving the daily commute.
And now it's too late - because it's a lot simpler, a lot faster and a lot less expensive for governments to legislate the technology than to change human behaviour - because the technology is relatively cheap and capable of getting the "job" done - and drivers as a whole have demonstrated time and again that we don't want to change.
The fact is that punitive measures are relatively ineffective in terms of creating a change in behaviour - that's why governments are looking to technical innovation to create change - everything from breathalyser interlocks to TPMS to adaptive cruise control to night vision cameras to --- well you name it ... will be considered in lieu of well trained, intelligent, considerate drivers and vehicle owners - because the bottom line is we don't have too many of those on our roads these days and things haven't improved in 4 decades.
And why? Because the vast, vast majority of so called "accidents" are no accident at all - they are predictable and preventable collisions ... and they take the life of 2800 people and cost the economy $25 to $30 billion every year.
We did this to ourselves folks - by not making it a lot harder to get a license ... by not making it socially unacceptable to do things like taillgate, pass on the right, pop wheelies 2 feet from the sidewalk or at 160 kph on the highway, or race on the streets ... by not eliminating drinking and driving ... by not demanding a much higher standard of behaviour on our roads.
The vast majority of Canadians don't give two shiites about driving enthusiasts - and will gladly accept any government intervention that they think gives them a better chance of surviving the daily commute.
And now it's too late - because it's a lot simpler, a lot faster and a lot less expensive for governments to legislate the technology than to change human behaviour - because the technology is relatively cheap and capable of getting the "job" done - and drivers as a whole have demonstrated time and again that we don't want to change.
P-51,Oct 4 2007, 02: Wrote:Dumbing down driving with excessively low speed limits reduces overall driver competency. That's where we're headed.
Did you guys know that they intend to pass (or already have) a law requiring all cars to have adaptive cruise control that is always on. That's right. You won't be ABLE to tailgate, the car won't let you. They will restrict you to 2 second gaps. This will cause traffic chaos, as older cars without the system constantly cut into your space, causing your car to decelerate.
It will also take away one more thing from drivers. Now our only responsibility will be to "keep it between the lines". We'll be able to play racing games on our PSP's while driving. ;)
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2003 Focus ZX5 infra-red Track Rat - R*I*P
2003 ZX5 CD Silver Track Rat - retired, but still in the driveway
New track rat: 2000 ZX3, Atlantic Blue * JRSC with lots more to come
* New Zetec crate motor - NFG - thanks Topspeed *