Posts: 2,635
Threads: 125
Likes Received: 1 in 1 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Jun 2016
Here in NJ, a normal commute is 80mph- and by normal I mean right past state troopers sitting in the median. All day long, every day.
Keep an eye on your rearview though, and understand lane discipline. Slower traffic keep right- because probably 20% of the drivers are doing over 80 and will get right up on you if you don't get out of the left lane.
That's when they will move to the middle or right to get by- THAT is what causes the problems, not the speed.
Posts: 1,368
Threads: 10
Likes Received: 131 in 75 posts
Likes Given: 329
Joined: Apr 2025
Don't get me started. If you don't get run over doing 20mph over the speed limit here, someone will shoot you just for sport. Awhile back I was making a left turn in my pristine '03 Miata at a pretty good clip and a guy in a 20 ton gravel truck over took me and slammed into me 4 times before I could get away from him, stop the car and jump out and yell at him. His expression said "Where the he** did he come from?" Now I know that he couldn't see me once he was on top of me, but he had plenty of time to see me before he got up next to me. He had to be on his phone or looking at his shoes or something. Miata was totaled. If I'd been on a bike, I would be pushing up daisies now.
Posts: 59
Threads: 2
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Feb 2017
(03-08-2022, 01:08 AM)misterprofessionality_imp Wrote: The best wisdom re: traffic and speed anybody can take to heart is this: traffic is at its absolute safest when everybody is traveling in the same direction at the same speed. Going fast isn't inherently the problem. The problem is going fast relative to everybody else, Which is often what people choose to do. Being on the road is an exercise in teamwork. Everybody has to agree on a speed and stick to it, or close to it, or it's chaos. What we have is chaos. Follow the flow folks. Don't treat traffic like a parking lot and dont park in front of traffic and we'll all be fine.
Well said, I agree completely
Posts: 23,416
Threads: 697
Likes Received: 498 in 228 posts
Likes Given: 624
Joined: Apr 2025
(03-08-2022, 01:08 AM)misterprofessionality_imp Wrote: The best wisdom re: traffic and speed anybody can take to heart is this: traffic is at its absolute safest when everybody is traveling in the same direction at the same speed. Going fast isn't inherently the problem. The problem is going fast relative to everybody else, Which is often what people choose to do. Being on the road is an exercise in teamwork. Everybody has to agree on a speed and stick to it, or close to it, or it's chaos. What we have is chaos. Follow the flow folks. Don't treat traffic like a parking lot and dont park in front of traffic and we'll all be fine.
It would be nice if they could agree, but if the speed limit is 65 with entrances and exits, there is no way that everyone is going to agree to run close to any particular speed. There will be those merging and exiting at 45-60, those running the speed limit at 65, those running +5 to 10 at 70-75 and those running 80 and above, so a spread of maybe 40-45 mph difference, and you are right it is chaos. But everyone is in a hurry these days and their needs are more important than everyone else's needs.
If everyone stuck within 5 mph of the speed limit there would be much less chaos
Ask any semi driver what it's like when people blast past him, swerve over and then nail the brakes so they can make the exit without slamming into the back of someone already slowing down in the exit.
Posts: 703
Threads: 78
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Sep 2020
(03-08-2022, 01:08 AM)misterprofessionality_imp Wrote: The best wisdom re: traffic and speed anybody can take to heart is this: traffic is at its absolute safest when everybody is traveling in the same direction at the same speed. Going fast isn't inherently the problem. The problem is going fast relative to everybody else, Which is often what people choose to do. Being on the road is an exercise in teamwork. Everybody has to agree on a speed and stick to it, or close to it, or it's chaos. What we have is chaos. Follow the flow folks. Don't treat traffic like a parking lot and dont park in front of traffic and we'll all be fine.
MisterPro, this is perfectly correct on a speedway, but in a city, or a two lane highway with access roads or drive-ways feeding into it, at traffic lights and many other situations it is "absolute speed" paired with an unexpected event ... which kills.
Posts: 862
Threads: 30
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Jan 2019
(03-08-2022, 12:25 AM)Sparky80_imp Wrote: I think that in addition to speeding, it comes down to how people view law enforcement. Since the "woke" movement and the idiots in DC that don't think that LEO's are credible humans, I'm sure this plays a part in it.
I recently got pulled over for doing about 75 in a 55 and was VERY respectful to the officer. I pulled over as soon as I saw him approach me, well before he even turned his lights on. I didn't argue with him or make excuses for anything.
Luckily, he just gave me a warning after verifying my MC endorsement, valid license and registration. The "Retired Air Force" plate always helps and I thanked him for his kindness and we parted ways.
I hear that! I've been stopped a few times on PCH for being over the limit, but I learned how talk to LEOs years ago, and I have yet to get a ticket. The
VETERAN - U.S. ARMY licence plate frame on both bikes surely helped out.
