[NefCanuck]

ZTWsquared,Jun 27 2007, 08:12 AM Wrote:↓ x2 ... + speeding alone (no racing, no drugs, no aggressive driving, no weaving, no tailgating, no alcohol etc.) isn't nearly the menace that those other things are even at the speed limit.

Not to mention that it is still too easy to get a license here ... there isn't nearly enough respect for the rules of the road that allow traffic to move along ... and the speed limits are too low.

But street racing is a matter of choice and IMO is somewhat unrelated to other types of aggressive driving. And in addition to being incredibly stupid and dangerous, the so-called epidemic of street racing is also making it more difficult for those of us who think that with a little more training and a lot more common sense and courtesy on the roads, we could easily and safely manage a speed limit of 130 on the 4-series roads.

I wonder what Kenzie's stand is on this issue.

Most of you probably don't remember, but I remember driving when the speed limit on the 4-series highways was 70 mph ... and at a time when vehicle dynamics, brakes etc weren't nearly as good as they are now. I may be looking at the past through rose coloured glasses, but I recall everyone drove between 70 and 75 and the fastest was 80 (max. 10-12 mph spread fastest to slowest) and I don't recall people tailgating much or weaving in and out and I do recall most people moved to the right. Drunk driving was a huge problem of course and tires were crap ... but the bottom line was you could get from A to B in a reasonable time and traffic jams weren't nearly as bad as they are now.

Fantino and the rest need to take a more holistic view of what's happening on our roads ... including the role that traffic patterns and inadequate road capacity play in generating aggressive behaviour ... and the need for revised driver training and education and licensing standards.

Crushing modified cars might make for good headlines ... but as pointed out here it does nothing to get the stupid drivers off the roads.
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ZTWsquared,

The problem is, that back when the speed limit was 70MPH there were a lot fewer cars on the roads, the cars that were on the roads were generally speaking, all the same size and society wasn't in such a blasted rush to get everywhere at once.

Today you get cars that are all over the map in terms of size, making in nigh impossible for someone driving (for arguments sake) a Miata to see safely around an H2 Hummer for example. Another one of my pet peeves is the absolute deporable condition I see some of the cars in that are driving the roads. I mean we're talkin' "Bondo Condos" on wheels. Where's the vaunted "mobile inspectors" to take these rolling wrecks off the road? <_<

Add to that driver training that hasn't IMO kept up with the changers in the traffic flow (it doesn't even include a mandatory winter driving component) and a society where "ME, NOW!" is the rule rather than the exception and there's a receipe for disaster right there.

Sure I'd love them to raise the speed limit on the 400 series highways, I maintain my car and like to think that I'm a reasobaly decent driver... I'm just afraid that not everyone else on the road with me feels the same :ph34r:

NefCanuck