Speed limit? Need some opinions from cops?

Question

Ok driving REALLY frustrates me and I never know what to do..whats RIGHT..or what everyone else is doing??
The speed limit is 60..but if I do that (on the 'slow' lane even) I get tail gated, people swerving out from behind me to cut back in front..ok I do 65..same thing..where does one 'call it' because I get sick N tired of morons half trying to kill me. If I play along and go with the flow..Im liable to get a speeding ticket..if I dont, I get extremely pissed off with the tail gaters and cutters-in-front and feel like Im causing mayhem.
How do cops view the speed limit and what advice to follow?
To be fair I have passed cops doin speed checks and I was 5-10 over the limit and they hav'nt stopped me..perhaps I was lucky.
I get the feeling people in the U.s. really cant drive as they take out their aggression for lack of happiness on the road, with their Beemers and 70k modded 4 bangers..

incidentally I drive with the cruise control ON for clear freeway conditions so Im not tempted to speed, with my 350z its very easy and I just dont want the hassle of racing 'mr.mom' in his SUV

Answer 1

There are several things I consider when I make traffic stops for speeding.

First, weather. Is it safe to be driving the actual speed limit? I have cited people for going the speed limit, but in real bad weather (heavy snow, rainstorms).

Second, the flow of traffic. If the flow of traffic is approximately 10 miles per hour over the speed limit, I generally won't pull over someone going 11 over.

Third, the driving of the speeder. If they are going with the flow and not "darting" in and out of traffic, they are fine.

That being said; here are some reasons I pull people over for speeding. They are going 15 over. I do not care about the "flow" of traffic excuse. Like I said, most go about 10 or less over. They are going over in a school zone or neighborhood. The driving in a neighborhood is very different from the highway. I will not let children be put in potentially dangerous situations.

Generally speaking, most officers I know do not pull people over for speeding when they are going 12 or less over the limit. I try to make sure I take into account all of the above that I mentioned.

I too am amazed at the audacity of some drivers who even tailgate me while I am on patrol. I make it a point to slow down and try to get behind them to wait for them to tailgate someone else then pull them over.

My suggestion is to ask your local police department or Highway Patrol Troop and see if their traffic unit has something similar to what we call, Traffic Complaint Areas (TCAs). With TCAs,citizens call in and complain about a certain area that is having many violations being commited. We catalog them into a file and deal out an updated TCA list once a week. With this list, mainly traffic; but patrol does as well when not responding to regular calls, takes the list and "stakes" the area out. The intention is to bring that problem area under control. I have seen this be an effective tool for traffic areas. Again, I would suggest you try to call the Highway Patrol, for the highways you travel and the local PD for the other streets and major thoroughfares.

I hope this helps and continue to drive safe.

Answer 2

I am a former cop and as a scientist, I understand physics.

For the most part, the faster you go the better chance of getting into a non-survival accident. This is pretty much common sense. However, and here is the caveat: Stability of the vehicle at higher speeds depends on the skill of the driver (which has little to do with the number of years the person has been driving - you can drive for 30 years and still suck at it), the particular vehicle (the 300ZX and Corvette are going to be much more stable at higher speeds than a SUV or Corolla, for example).

I subscribe the methology used by the Germans. Rate each type of vehicle with a speed rating. The Geo Metro has a maximum speed of 80 KPH; the MB sports car has 150 KPH. I think the maximum speed limits on some roads are pretty arbitrary. If you have ever shot down I-5 in California, or driven in the open roads of Texas, Wyoming, or Montana, you would understand this.

Additionally, speed limits are set up mainly for back-door tax collection. Despite some of the rhetoric that you will hear, cities and counties make anywhere from between 15-40% of their annual tax revenue from traffic and other citations. Sounds pretty much like a backdoor tax to this MBA.

I hate tailgaters myself. They tailgate no matter how fast you are going and when you pull over, will tailgate those in front of you. They are the real cause of most accidents.

Answer 3

You are dealing with today's traffic congestion. I have actually had the same problems, but not everyone out there is a morons, they are as frustrated as you are.

There is a posted speed limit on each freeway, you should not exceed it nor drive way under the speed limit.

but there is "the rule of the roadway" and that is to drive with the conditions of the road, IE; if it is raining or snowing, the speed limit goes to the common sense rule, not the speed limit posted.

Yes you were lucky that you did not get a ticket for doing 10 mph over the speed limit, there must have been a bigger fish to fry!

Call the local police that patrol that highway, you might even have to make more than one call, voice you concerns and hopefully they will have more patrolling on the freeway at that time.



good luck

Answer 4

I asked a Hiway Patrol guy. If the traffic is heavy, go with the flow. If not, go at your slower speed. I drive with cruise on only when the traffic is light mostly to save on gas!

The speeding got really bad the very week that laws went into effect that speeding tickets for less than 10 Mph over speed limit would not be reported to insurance companies. Bad move, but it's been around for some time now.

Answer 5

Like your home? Like your job? Like your financial well being? Okay....say you are doing 44 in a 35 and you hit another vehicle...or you hit someone on a bike. You were speeding in violation of the posted limit. You my friend are subject to being cited, because you were over the limit and certainly are responsible for the accident and may, depending upon the injuries get sued and loose everything you have ever worked for or will work for.

So.....go ahead and speed away. Or....let the jerks behind you who want YOU to go faster either pass you or slow down. Let them take the financial hit and let them be the cause of an accident.

Answer 6

The only sure way not to get a speeding ticket is to the speed limit. Different cops have different buffer zones. One cop might not write for less than 15 over and won't stop someone for less than 10 over. Another cop might stop you and write you for 6 over. Besides the speed, it can also depend on your attitude. Sometimes, I might have intended on writing a ticket but after talking with the driver, I've given them a pass.

Answer 7

Who cares what other people are doing. That's the poorest excuse I've ever heard. Speed limits are absolute. 10 mph over the limit is usually safe, but that doesn't make it correct. You can be cited for 1 mph over the limit, but that rarely happens if ever. If you're are that intimidated by other drivers, don't drive. No one else is going to pay for your insurance, of traffic fines.

Answer 8

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