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Post by rockynv on Feb 7, 2015 8:08:13 GMT -5
Problem is that the company in Arizona that monitors and maintains many of the red light cameras and lights around the country sets the yellow so short its hard to not run the red unless you make a panic stop as soon as you see the yellow resulting in more rear end collisions. It can get quite difficult when you are driving something like a 10 ton truck or bus as they just don't stop as gracefully as an automobile or bike and then after a few consecutive lights the brakes may start to fade from the heat adding to the difficulty. The local news channel did quite an expose of this and got the yellows lengthened in many areas since they had gone so far overboard with the impossibly short yellow lights endangering people since when the yellow is too short then the other folks get an early green and drive out across the path of traffic that could not stop during the span of the yellow. Fortunately I have not seen such corruption here. I find that if one is doing the speed limit, one has ample time to stop. It's sad that people have to try to ruin a good thing, often because of greed. I think the cameras are a great tool and it's good that people are investigating corruption for the people. There are still plenty here that if you are not at 5/10 or more mph below the posted you will not be able to stop on the yellow before it turns red unless you do a panic stop and still you may not be able to stop without going over the stop line. Even if you are able to stop chances are the person behind you may not. Its really bad if your on a bike. Choices are try to stop and then go if you end up blowing the red into the middle of the intersection while attempting to stop and take you chances on the guy behind you or maintain speed (some actually speed up) and hope you don't get to red before you pass the camera trigger. Add to that the elderly who went too heavy on their meds, texters and other distracted drivers along with snow birds seeking Florida warmth as a respite from the harsh winter up North and it gets to be quite a demolition derby. Now they are adding traffic calming obstacles that you have to go over at 10 to 15 mph below the posted speed limit. Many are placed right before dangerous curves and will send a vehicle with a stiff suspension airborn so you have no chance of making the corner if you don't see the calming device in time. You can tell by the new bruises on the trees that many are not making the corners lately now that these "Calming" devices have been put in place. Muffler, tire and suspension shops are also doing more business now due to these devices which damage vehicles or cause premature wearing out of the suspension regardless of what speed you go over them. Some roads are now like an auto manufacturers torture test track and its getting harder to avoid them. |
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Post by scooter on Feb 7, 2015 9:31:27 GMT -5
Fortunately I have not seen such corruption here. I find that if one is doing the speed limit, one has ample time to stop. It's sad that people have to try to ruin a good thing, often because of greed. I think the cameras are a great tool and it's good that people are investigating corruption for the people. There are still plenty here that if you are not at 5/10 or more mph below the posted you will not be able to stop on the yellow before it turns red unless you do a panic stop and still you may not be able to stop without going over the stop line. Even if you are able to stop chances are the person behind you may not. Its really bad if your on a bike. Choices are try to stop and then go if you end up blowing the red into the middle of the intersection while attempting to stop and take you chances on the guy behind you or maintain speed (some actually speed up) and hope you don't get to red before you pass the camera trigger. Add to that the elderly who went too heavy on their meds, texters and other distracted drivers along with snow birds seeking Florida warmth as a respite from the harsh winter up North and it gets to be quite a demolition derby.I see people texting all the time. They think people don't notice but when they are doing 25 in a 45 and holding up traffic, we notice. I think voice to text software is the answer, but my phone can't even understand simple names when I try to voice dial. It is literally ALWAYS wrong, dialing people whose names sound nothing like what I said into the phone. I think it's unrealistic to try to make people stop texting. You're running late and your buddy or boss wants to know where you are. Do you really want to waste time to stop and text back? No. People don't have the self control to stop, so the answer, as I see it, is to give them a safer way to do what they want to do. As for older drivers, I think people ought to have to take driving tests more often and relieve the family of the burden of having to take away relatives' driving privileges. Self driving cars, autonomous or semi-autonomous, are going to stop a lot of these problems. |
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Post by ricardoguitars on Feb 7, 2015 10:03:53 GMT -5
I see people texting all the time. They think people don't notice but when they are doing 25 in a 45 and holding up traffic, we notice. I think voice to text software is the answer, but my phone can't even understand simple names when I try to voice dial. It is literally ALWAYS wrong, dialing people whose names sound nothing like what I said into the phone. I think it's unrealistic to try to make people stop texting. You're running late and your buddy or boss wants to know where you are. Do you really want to waste time to stop and text back? No. People don't have the self control to stop, so the answer, as I see it, is to give them a safer way to do what they want to do. As for older drivers, I think people ought to have to take driving tests more often and relieve the family of the burden of having to take away relatives' driving privileges. Self driving cars, autonomous or semi-autonomous, are going to stop a lot of these problems. For me, self driving cars are the answer, even if you manage to make voice to text work correctly, it still distracts people, even talking to a passenger is a distraction, your mind is somewhere else, not on the road where it should be. Self driving cars would make the roads safer for bikers, not just for cagers, if you are a biker you know the self driving car is predictable and is not going to make something stupid unless the software goes wrong, but that is less likely than a cager doing something stupid. One of the things I like about motorcycles is that you are focused 100% on driving, you don't have people or stuff distracting you, you know if you crash you WILL get hurt, of course there are reckless motorcycle drivers, but that is different, they are not distracted, they are just dumb. |
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Post by SylvreKat on Feb 7, 2015 19:46:00 GMT -5
Several things from me. One, our yellow lights have not been noticeably shortened with RLCs attached to the lights. And an extra goody in KC, a lot of lights have been reset so there's a couple/few seconds of everyone-is-red before the next light goes green. ODing meds--it's not just the seniors who might've done this. It's anyone who didn't bother to think "Oh, this one says don't drive after taking" and takes the danger to drive drug anyways. Seniors taking tests--KS doesn't do that, but they do give seniors a shorter term on their DL. And finally, texting work that you're running late. WHY THE FLAMIN' HECK WOULD YOU TEXT YOUR BOSS INSTEAD OF JUST PLAIN CALL HIM?!?!?!  ?!!!!!!!! Sheesh. I don't really get the texting thing anyways, but that's beyond stupid. Yeah, I'm your boss and you're not here yet, so I'm gonna' be checking my text messages in case you contacted me that way instead of following proper procedure and calling me. Wouldn't happen. Please, just call, folks. Seriously. Leave a voice message. Or call again. Realize that texting is not the solution to all the world's communications issues.    Sorry, rant over. Btb, rocky, what's a "calming device"? And kev', keep on healing up. And keep thinking it's winter, it's winter, there's snow on the ground (surely somewhere in the US.....) >'Kat |
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Post by rockynv on Feb 8, 2015 8:06:47 GMT -5
I do not make or answer calls when I am driving unless it is a real bonafide emergency period and not I am late for work or I forgot the milk, etc. If I need to call in late due to a traffic accident or blocked roadway that can be done while stuck unable to move and if I got up late the time to call is before starting the motor or at the latest while it warms up.
Never mind driving - texters will walk into you on the sidewalk, in malls and at the office.
The answer is harsh penalties for texting while driving and making an example of people who engage in the practice or mandate that cell phones can not text or make calls when moving except to dial 911.
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Post by SylvreKat on Feb 8, 2015 8:52:48 GMT -5
Amen, rocky. Amen. My new car will read incoming texts to you. And I think maybe lets you "write" a text back speaking. Although it might be speed-controlled, and over a certain Ford-set fairly-low speed it won't. I'll admit, I skipped the texting section since it'll never apply to me anyways. I know, still distracted driving. But no worse than talking with a passenger, and driver's eyes don't need to leave the street, so it IS a step better. Btb, you're right rocky that forgetting the milk is a SERIOUS & TRUE bonafide emergency!  >'Kat |
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Post by bandito2 on Feb 8, 2015 11:03:14 GMT -5
Btb, rocky, what's a "calming device"? And kev', keep on healing up. And keep thinking it's winter, it's winter, there's snow on the ground (surely somewhere in the US.....) >'Kat Calming devices are things often embedded in roadways like speed bumps and rumble strips, but also are things like lights and traffic cones, guard rails and retaining walls all with the purpose of getting drivers to take notice and slow down and/or before reaching a part of the road that is not safe to negotiate at the posted speed limit for whatever reason for that area. Think speed bumps near school zones and rumble strips at the edge of expressways to alert drivers that they are drifting off the roadway or on exit ramps to get drivers to slow enough before the end of the ramp. Calming doesn't mean calming to the driver it means calming to the vehicle traffic. One certainly doesn't feel calm running at speed over rumble strips... they're a bit unnerving in fact. But that is what they are meant to do; get your attention and induce you to slow down. OH YEAH!! we have snow on the ground here and frigid temps to go along with that here in Michigan. Can't wait for spring. And Kev, hang in there buddy. It'll feel better when it quits hurting.  I know... I've been knocked off of my scoot before too, but I was fortunate to not get any bones broken.... still sore as heck for a week or so though which I am sure doesn't even begin to compare with what happened to you. Get well soon. |
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Post by JerryScript on Feb 8, 2015 11:12:36 GMT -5
In many places there are laws specifically about texting while driving, and yet the same jurisdiction might have no laws about applying makeup. I have had more than one close call with a lady attempting to look in her vanity mirror as she puts on her makeup! That's why many jurisdictions are creating generic distracted while driving laws to as a catch-all for various types of dangerous activity behind the wheel.
Note- I've never seen a motorcycle rider attempting to apply her makeup on her bike, but I'm sure it has happened!
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Post by SylvreKat on Feb 8, 2015 16:16:42 GMT -5
Thanks bandito! And you guessed right, I did think it meant something calming to the driver.
Jerry, I've seen a motorcyclist holding a cell phone to their ear while turning a corner. Dumb....
>'Kat
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Post by javarod on Feb 8, 2015 22:24:34 GMT -5
I do not make or answer calls when I am driving unless it is a real bonafide emergency period and not I am late for work or I forgot the milk, etc. If I need to call in late due to a traffic accident or blocked roadway that can be done while stuck unable to move and if I got up late the time to call is before starting the motor or at the latest while it warms up. Never mind driving - texters will walk into you on the sidewalk, in malls and at the office. The answer is harsh penalties for texting while driving and making an example of people who engage in the practice or mandate that cell phones can not text or make calls when moving except to dial 911. I have taken calls while driving, but my attention is still focused on the road, making for some odd chats, and me once dropping the phone because driving needed my attention. And never text, the most i would do is glance at the phone to see if an alert icon was from something important, and pull over if it was, ditto for involved phone calls. |
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Post by JerryScript on Feb 9, 2015 1:14:45 GMT -5
I just had a very close call tonite! Was riding home from work, coming down a bridge into my neighborhood, a car was at the next intersection on my right. I was the only vehicle on the road, and my headlight was shining right on his car, but he still pulled out right in front of me. I slammed on the brakes and prepared to jump/roll over the car and leave my scooter behind, but luckily he saw me at the last second and slammed on his brakes, allowing me to release mine and swerve around the front of his car sticking out across my lane already. This is why I always watch cars in cross streets as I approach them, it's not the first time this has happened to me. I'm still sitting here with adrenaline flowing!
A note - notice I said I was preparing to jump/roll over the car and leave my scooter behind. Your best course of action in a motorcycle/scooter wreck is to not attempt to hold on to your ride. Let it go, and attempt to roll/slide depending upon your speed and circumstances. Being on the bike when it hits an object turns the frame into a slingshot that will throw you in ways you cannot be prepared for, best to take action yourself, and separate yourself from that throwing mechanism!
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Post by spandi on Feb 9, 2015 3:02:56 GMT -5
OMG! this is unreal! hope you make a complete recovery and like Jerseyboy said, get a good lawyer and seek damages for the injuries you sustained. All the best from all the dawgs.  |
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Post by scootdude on Feb 9, 2015 3:30:31 GMT -5
OMG! How did I miss this post?? Wow man! What a horrific thing to happen. I'm really glad to hear that you're still with us. Sorry to hear about all the broken bones and what must be a very painful recovery. I hope you're well soon and recover 100%. Stories like this make me want to mount machine guns, flame throwers and grenade launchers on my scooter. The best defense is a strong offense!  |
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Post by SylvreKat on Feb 9, 2015 8:06:43 GMT -5
Jerry reminded me of another thing the MSF taught me.
Watch the front wheels of that stopped car. They're the first things that you'll be able to see that shows the car is moving.
I do this, car or bike. Has helped me several times when folks either "didn't see" my green wagon or else figured they could beat my "only a station wagon."
And just last week coming home from work, I had a truck sitting at a mall entrance, waiting waiting, waiting 'til the open space closed up as I approached, to THEN pop out in front of me. Got to find out what new car's horn sounds like--pretty hefty for a smallerish car. Ford does do good beefy horns!
>'Kat
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Post by JerryScript on Feb 9, 2015 11:08:34 GMT -5
Jerry reminded me of another thing the MSF taught me. Watch the front wheels of that stopped car. They're the first things that you'll be able to see that shows the car is moving. I do this, car or bike. Has helped me several times when folks either "didn't see" my green wagon or else figured they could beat my "only a station wagon." And just last week coming home from work, I had a truck sitting at a mall entrance, waiting waiting, waiting 'til the open space closed up as I approached, to THEN pop out in front of me. Got to find out what new car's horn sounds like--pretty hefty for a smallerish car. Ford does do good beefy horns! >'Kat Great advice Kat! |
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