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Can someone please tell me where the dividing line is in deciding which traffic laws we must follow and which we can disregard at will? I was always taught that in a civilized society, we all agree to follow a set of norms. If we disagree with the norms, we use legal channels to change the norms. Some think using the shoulder lanes is OK during non-legal hours because it helps the flow of traffic. Ok, so by that same logic, let's all consider red lights as mere suggestions - if there is no traffic from the opposing direction, why you just sail across intersections to improve traffic flow. And while we're at it, when traffic is sparse on 130, forget about those pesky speed limits - go as fast as your car can go. That will improve traffic flow too. Heck, every time I've driven 130 in the post 6:00 pm hours, the Hilo-bound lanes are fairly empty - so if it's clear, feel free to drive on the left side of the road whenever you want - if one illegal lane is good, two would be even better!
I agree that the shoulder lane hours are arbitrary and not expansive enough. We should be beating on our elected officials' doors to get changes enacted. But until we do, we need to obey and enforce the law. When the majority of drivers are following the established procedure, those who choose to drive illegally in the shoulder lane are injecting uncertainty and risk into a defined system that requires the cooperation of all drivers to maximize safety. They're not altruistic heroes willing to get a traffic citation in order to make life better for all of us. They're selfish drivers who think their time is more valuable than everyone elses', egotists who think laws only apply to other people -- who are putting themselves and those around them at risk so that they can potentially arrive home 5 minutes before everyone else.
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Couldn't say it better, KeaauRich, thank you.
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Yes, VERY well said KeaauRich. Re my comment earlier in the thread, I always asked myself why they just didn't enforce the speed limit.
BTW, I use a road every day that has a 55MPH speed limit. I go 64 just to keep from being a traffic hazard, but even THAT is evidently too slow. I seldom pass people, and am always being passed by people going well over 70. I very rarely see people pulled over by police.
I would speed up to keep up with the flow of traffic, but it would be my luck that I would be the one to get pulled over, and I'm sure the "I was just keeping up with traffic" excuse wouldn't work.
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quote:
Originally posted by KeaauRich
Ok, so by that same logic, let's all consider red lights as mere suggestions - if there is no traffic from the opposing direction, why you just sail across intersections to improve traffic flow. And while we're at it, when traffic is sparse on 130, forget about those pesky speed limits - go as fast as your car can go. That will improve traffic flow too. Heck, every time I've driven 130 in the post 6:00 pm hours, the Hilo-bound lanes are fairly empty - so if it's clear, feel free to drive on the left side of the road whenever you want - if one illegal lane is good, two would be even better!
Right. I'm sure some people would be totally comfortable with those rationalizations, and good luck talking them out of it.
In DC, and maybe other places, they actually do change directions of traffic lanes in some areas at set times. I learned that the hard way, by retracing a route at night that I had traveled earlier in the day, only to see headlights coming straight at me.
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Yes too many thuggish pigs traveling at 56 mph down 130 tearing at the fabric of polite Puna society
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those who choose to drive illegally... are injecting uncertainty and risk into a defined system that requires the cooperation of all drivers to maximize safety
Yes, it's the unexpected traffic maneuvers that lead to unexpected reactions, and then accidents.
For some reason I've observed a larger than usual number of drivers run stop signs lately. Mostly they're out of harms way, but last week a low rider Toyota with four XL occupants blew through an intersection on Kaloli Drive right in front of me. I had to hit my brakes, hard, as a car was also coming in the other direction so I couldn't swerve around the transgressors.
The driver was definitely not TomK or one of his work associates, as this fellow seemed to be unfamiliar with any known laws of physics governing motion, mass, or acceleration. Especially acceleration. It took two or three blocks for his weighted down car, with at best three of four cylinders working properly, to even approach the speed limit.
tearing at the fabric of polite Puna society
At the moment they rolled through the stop sign I committed the most unforgivable breach of Hawaiian Traffic Etiquette by beeping my horn. Not in a loud, long, aggressive manner, more of a tap to say "hey, in case you hadn't noticed, there are other cars on the road, dude."
Instantly, as perfectly choreographed as a Busby Berkeley music and dance number, four arms shot out each window, and in perfect unison every one of them flipped me the bird.
Sometimes you wish you had a microwave in your car.*
* Reference to Anyone Trust the FDA? thread discussing the impact of microwave ovens on bird life.
"Only fear real things, such as minds full of delusions." -Last Aphorisms
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
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"Sometimes you wish you had a microwave in your car.*"
Good one HOTPE. I was ready for a chuckle.
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" The driver was definitely not TomK or one of his work associates, as this fellow seemed to be unfamiliar with any known laws of physics governing motion, mass, or acceleration. Especially acceleration. It took two or three blocks for his weighted down car, with at best three of four cylinders working properly, to even approach the speed limit."
Perhaps not. Maybe the driver was traveling so fast before the intersection he or she didn't realize they should have been using special relativity to calculate their relativistic mass but, instead, was using simple Newtonian physics and therefore underestimated the vehicle's momentum.
I know it's a long shot, but a good defense lawyer may have pointed that out in court had there been an accident. [  ]
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should have been using special relativity to calculate their relativistic mass but, instead, was using simple Newtonian physics
That's certainly a possibility I hadn't considered. I'm still leaning though, toward a theory that this was a simple Fig Newtonian run to Orchidland, and they needed some cookies fast.
"Only fear real things, such as minds full of delusions." -Last Aphorisms
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
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Or a bunch of rogue astrophysicists contemplating supersymmetry. That would explain why they all put their arms out at the same time. They clearly didn't want to violate the physical laws governing symmetry.
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