Your Sunday sermon

Ditto.

Although sometimes tempted, I really try to avoid even posting in such topics.

And yes, I'm beginning to sound a lot like my father, after telling myself I'd never do that. Its happening anyway!?!

Hi, alexanderrg. I enjoy reading your posts.

I agree with a lot of what you say, and safe driving is important. I haven't had as much as a parking ticket in over 15 years.

That being said, I believe a main reason that speed and redlight cams are set up is for revenue. Of course the cams have the added effect of reducing speed or having people jam on the brakes at lights, but often times I think this is a secondary reason. Someone had the "great" idea of devising these cameras and it has brought plenty of revenue to the companies that market them and to the municipal districts that use them. If a cop gives you a ticket for speeding or running a light, it goes against your driving record and points. If these cameras are so beneficial and legal, why do most municipalities not put points against your driving record? Because there are a lot of technicalities and legalities of using these devices. They don't really care except to rake in the money. It used to be illegal for the Highway Patrol in California to use radar. This was to protect the motorist from the police putting out speed traps all over the place. Since then they have allowed the use in limited areas. Motorists have some rights, and I don't think most of them want "Big Brother" watching over us. Why don't they just put 2-way connectivity in cars and have them send a signal to the police every time we exceed the limit? I believe most people speed at times and often speed limits are unreasonable or set so the police can set up speed traps for the unwary motorist who's not from that area.

You also said:

Sometimes it's not easy to elect "intelligent officials". On a city or county board it's also not easy to get information on which council members or elected officials are for "reasonable" speed limits and what they consider "reasonable".

When I take the highway to the major city here, after it enters the town, the speed limit quickly went from 55 to 45 and very quickly again to 35 on a wide 4 lane road without a lot of traffic. Recently they changed things and kept the speed limit 55 well past where it changed to 45 and to 45 well past where it changed to 35. They even changed the school speed limit from 25 to 35 (there is an overpass walkway to cross the road). I don't know who was responsible, but I applaud them! Where there often used to be cops hiding on the side of the road to generate tickets, I haven't seen any in a long time. Bravo!

Like I said, I believe safe driving is very important, but so are reasonable speed limits and motorists rights to drive without "Big Brother" recording their every move.

I'm glad I live in a part of the country that is rural enough to have few traffic lights and even fewer officers! While I do travel quite a bit in the northeast, my prime use of the GPS is to get me from here to there with a few interesting stops (i.e. brewpubs and mom & pop burger joints) along the way...

I agree that one should follow the law, don't speed, and don't run red lights.

But what bothers me just as much is that the law (and camera suppliers), in some states, believe they are above the law and can do as they please ... da-n the law.

And as far as revenue generators, AZ announced they had a huge deficit to make up just prior to their announcement of setting up multiple speed cameras.

RT

I certainly agree that there are lots of serious flaws with too many of the traffic laws. But look at the alternative. Did you ever need to drive somewhere after the electrical system was knocked out and there were no traffic lights at all??

My favorite trade off is that now at 83 most of my body parts either don't work at all, or hurt like hell when they do. But, in exchange, I get 50 cents off my grand slam breakfast at Dennys. (look forward to your golden years)

That's wonderful alexanderrg! I hope I can be as sharp at your age, if I ever get there.

May you have many more years and many more discount Grand Slam breakfasts!

Now we know from whence this wisdom comes!

God bless!

Mike

I couldn't agree more. It seems that people are more distracted these days, with the likes of cell phones, loud music (not that I don't occasionally listen to it myself), poor traffic courtesy, tailgating, speeding, and other traffic infractions. People don't realize that these traffic control devices are there for THEIR safety.

I used to be a traffic engineer, and I can tell you that, here in NY State, the way they judge how big the stop sign is, and whether or not there is a red light at an intersection, is by how many people have died at that intersection in traffic accidents.

Speed limits are done by figuring out how many curves, driveways, and pedestrians are on a given stretch of road most of the time. You don't want to t-bone someone pulling out of their driveway, do you? Only once in a while are they there due to local laws.

I have seen so many bad crashes that it's any wonder that I still get behind the wheel. People don't realize that they don't only have their own lives in their hands, but the lives of everyone else they cross on the road.

Stay alert, obey the traffic regulations, concentrate on the road, and finally, HANG UP AND DRIVE!

Great sermon! And I didn't nod off once. Sage advice which should be taken to heart by all who have the opportunity to partake of your words of wisdom, based on experience.

Keep 'em coming.

If you don't like what people post, may I make a simple suggestion. Just skip over the thread! Then you won't be bothered by peoples posts.

Ever think some people don't Speed or run red lights, I don't for one. But I do like to have a handle on whats going on around me at all times, even though you think it's wasting so much time.

Gosh you don't sound much like my grandfather, I hope yours is ok. So sit back and relax and don't worry about what I do or anyone else for that matter, be more concerned about yourself. Because I don't do any of the things your worried about, however I do have a radar detector, red light and speed warnings in my GPS and it even warns me when a rest area is approaching if I should want go to the restroom.

If the spray worked, I would use it. Why you ask?

Because I believe the cameras are indeed revenue makers and not much to do with safety. A police officer would be able to see the plate according to the spray manufacturer and the camera would not, hence a job for a human. If I run a light I deserve a ticket, but I want it written by a human that has a job, plain and simple, and thats why I would use it if it did work.

If the light turms red, Stop! I do!
At a Stop sign, Stop! I do!
Before turning right, Stop! I do!
Drive at the posted limit. I do!
Know the distance to next Rest Area I do!

I can say "I do" because I'm smart enough to use the above tools that help me be aware of my surroundings at all times!

Bob

With the huge number of stationary and mobile speed camera in Arizona, no matter how careful one is, there's a good chance your luck will run out. You may not see that 'school zone' sign hidden behind a tree (yes, Mesa has at least one), you may not get stopped in time when the speed limit instantly changes from 65 to 45 at the top of the hill (called a 'speed trap', yes, AZ also has at least one), or you just might make a mistake (none of us are perfect) and fail to see a speed limit sign .... oops, too late!

If I have a legal tool that will warn me of a school zone (there's a much more important reason than eliminating a ticket) or help remind me to reduce my speed, I'll use it. If you don't want that POI, fine ... don't use it.

RT

I was just going to pass over this but I just can not.

I think your opinion is fine but I do not agree totally. Where I live they are put up not for public safety but to make money. The city did not buy these. They pay commission to the business that owns them. The more people they catch the more money they make. We have speed vans also. They too are not owned by the city but make commission. More folks they catch the more money everyone makes. So, yes they are to make money and not increase safety. I do not agree with speeding and running red lights but I do want to keep the playing field fair for both myself and the city.

My thoughts only and if you really do not like what you are reading just go to the next thread. It's like turning the tv station when you do not like what you are watching.

Now I get ready for the Sunday sermon that I will snooze!

If you know the flaws why even bother giving the sermon? thats how even the best at it lose the parishioners within the congregation and the flock goes astray.

I live in the northeast, we get Snow storms like the one outside right now. Of course I have driven after a power outage, And the proper thing to do is,everyone has a four way stop and you yield to the right.

My last point about this whole sermon crap is, you always need to be aware of whats going on around you at all times and treatments available. Maybe you should go to the doctor,at 83 most if your body parts either don't work at all, or hurt you can get them fixed, the technique is called joint replacement, and they have been around at a minimum of half of your life and get better everyday.

And when you feel better,instead of worrying about saving the .50 you can spread the wealth,add it to the tip for the waite staff.

Bob

83 years old ... living in FL ... driving below the posted speed limit (in a Jag or Mercedes)

Pretty much sums up FL!

FYI ... driving below the speed limit is as dangerous as speeding!

Love the idiots driving 35 on the highway ... as likely to kill someone as the person driving 85 - maybe more!

And, how can anyone think that tickets aren't meant to be a revenue stream ... the mayor of NY came right out and said that the city was going to make a concerted effort to write more tickets in an effort to overcome some of the city's budget deficits!

Yes, I consider myself human too. Last time I drove north on I 95 I exceeded the posted limit. I was doing 85 in a 70 mph zone and a boat passed me. The driver of the pickup dragging the boat trailer probably was well aware of his surroundings and I wouldn't be surprised to learn that he had sprayed his plates and was paying full attention to his GPS and radar detector.

If I promise not to preach any more, could we find some common ground to just make the roads a little bit safer?

In my own rationalization for illegal behavior, I was at least in a new car with new tires on a highly engineered road with a design speed of 95 mph (yes I formerly worked for the Dept. of Transportation) and paying full attention to my stupid decision to break the law.

now that's not safe ... a pick-up truck trailing a boat going over 85mph - yet there were no cops to address that!

BTW .. 83 yrs. old and driving 85mph? You just moved to FL didn't you? You're not a real resident yet! LOL

whats stuffing noise? Geez!

I do agree with you alexanderrg.

I just enjoy the fact it lets me know about all thise cameras, speed enforcement, school zones, etc. The GPS is just a form of "radar detector" which has been around for many years, only with more perks! But, again, I do agree with you, the GPS should not be used to get around the law, but like someone else said, it doesn't hurt to get that alert that you are approaching a school zone.

We have angel living among us.

The problem we have here is, we are on common ground. How many people do yo think actually download these POI's to break the law? Probably very little to none. You don't say much for the operators of the community or your fellow man if you think thats what we use them for is to break the law.

Sometimes you have to take the blinders off and look at the whole picture, and understand if you don't familiarize with your surrounding, thats when you get hurt.

The guy driving the truck and pulling the boat was a hazard no doubt, however your are taking liberties in stating, probably he had his plates sprayed and was using GPSr and a radar detector because he was speeding, chances are not.

There is no problem with preaching and sermons, as long as they have valid content can be substantiated and not a fabrication from within your own mind.

Don't like the thread then click out and go to another, there are hundreds of them.