Well… you would have to be there. It seems someone is always stirring the pot, and today no one was so I figured I might as well get everyone aggravated before I left. I am sure I was badmouthed when I left, I would expect no less.
Its just the way it is there, every topic that should not be talked about at work is, religion, politics, sex, ex wives and money. You should heard the discussions during the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections. Oh and the language, its horrible. I don’t agree with it but its always been that way, and im am not going to change it, some people do not like the lunch room atmosphere and choose to eat in another part of the building which I respect them for. That second lunch area is quiet, pleasant, and no one is yelling or carrying on. Anyone who sits in the rowdy lunchroom knows how it is. Good people , but crazy.
I must admit I do enjoy the discussions in there most days, and I enjoy the ribbings we all eventually get.
Some days I keep my mouth shut, eat and play on my phone, other days im right in the ring, boxing it out. The people I work with is like a big dysfunctional family, we all like each other, but we like pushing each others buttons. But the people that sit in the “linemans room” as its called at lunch know what to expect, and you don’t have to be a lineman to sit in there, we have college kids that join us as well as many other departments. There was a new intern girl that started and we warned her that she was welcome to join us but the “linemans” lunchroom was rather rowdy, some people try to watch their mouths when ladies are in there but its inevitable it will go south most days. She stayed in the rowdy lunchroom and we told her she will learn more about life in that room in one summer than at 4 years of college.
I disagree that if everyone else drives case, then we all should. This hypothesis ignores that the are a lot of people that not only drive the speed limit, but go substantially under it. I encounter this every day during rush hour. Now that vacations have started for the summer, it is possible for people to go very fast on I-95. Some of these folks must be going well over 80 and they weave all over the place. Yet some trucks and cars are going 50 to 55 in the same 65 MPH zone. I am amazed that line of cars no more than 2 car lengths apart and going between 70 and 80 hasn't been part of a chain accident. And I want to remind you that there are two parts to the issue. The one no one discusses is that if there is an accident at very high speed, it is much more likely that the people involved will die. Recall also that stopping distance increases as the square of the speed. Someone goes 55 and has to make a panic stop in 150 feet. If someone else is behind him going 80 in an identical car at a distance of 150 feet, the second driver will hit the stopped first car at about 55 MPH.
GREAT Point +1 @jtsanders
Higher speeds mean that drivers have less time to identify and react to what is happening around them, and it takes longer for the vehicle to stop. It removes the driver’s safety margin and turns near misses into crashes.
Around two-thirds of crashes in which people are killed or injured occur on roads with a speed limit of 30 mph or less. At 30 mph vehicles are travelling at 44 feet (about 3 car lengths) each second. One blink and the driver may fail to see the early warning brake lights; a short glance away and the movement of a child behind a parked car will be missed. Even in good conditions, the difference in stopping distance between 30 mph and 35 mph is an extra 21 feet, more than 2 car lengths.
If an individual drives more than 10 - 15% above the average speed of the traffic around them, they are much more likely to be involved in an accident.
Drivers who speed are more likely to be involved in collisions. They are also more likely to commit other driving violations, such as red-light running and driving too close.
The lifting of the federal 55 mph speed limit in 1995 was responsible for 12,545 deaths between 1995 and 2005. That’s about 45 percent more American fatalities than we have suffered in 9/11, Iraq and Afghanistan put together. And all those human tragedies are due not to weighty national security imperatives but to the fact that we all want to go just a little bit faster.
The theoretical reasons for the increase in road deaths are pretty self-evident. At higher speeds you have to react more quickly and have less margin for error, making accidents more likely. Being on a road with a 65 mph limit instead of 55 mph means a 3 percent higher probability of a crash taking place.
Much more significant is the fact that the extra speed makes the crashes that do occur far more deadly. The difference between a crash on a 55 mph limit road and a crash on a 65 mph one means a 24 percent increase in the chances the accident will be fatal. Along with the higher incidence of crashes happening in the first place, a difference in limit between 55 and 65 adds up to a 28 percent increase in the overall fatality count.
The idiots in our area just increased the speed on connector roads by 5 to 10 mph. Instead of giving sound reasons, they just said; " that’s the speed every one seems to be driving anyway". So, people drive 5 to 10 over the limit, knowing they will normally not get picked up and the response is to increase the speed limit ? You have to be kidding me. Now, when I drive this road, instead of everyone doing 60 in a 55, the limit is now 65 and everyone is doing 70. Dah ! At least come up with a better reason then " everyone is driving that speed" that means next year, we’ll all be driving 80 when the increase the speed limit to 75( which by the way, they have in some areas) .
Now, when the roads turn to ice, there will still be those driving the new speed limit of 65 instead of the old of 55. And, when the 45 mph sign flashes, the speed differential will be greater. It also means people in on ramps now have to accelerate much quicker then their cars are capable of to keep from getting run over. I guarantee that there will be more accidents with more tragic results. All, because people are idiots when it comes to speed and just make up reasons to drive faster that has NOTHING to do with actual studies and common sense.
Rick, you cannot deny posting this subject routinely in the same sentence as you say I respond every time. Make up your mind. Either you post the thread routinely and I respond every time or you don't.... and if that's true, than the other statement has no meaning.
Yes, if the stream of traffic is going 15-20mph over the limit, you should also. To do otherwise creates turbulence in the flow of traffic, and that causes accidents.
Yes, I can see that you’re confused. You’re lumping traffic violations in with felonies.
@thesamemountainbike
With all due respect if these conversations make you angry then you should avoid them. I like many points you make and agree with many things you say on here, its nothing personal, I just disagree with you on this one.
So your telling me if traffic is going 85 in a 70mph zone I should go 85mph? What if I am in My work truck? It can’t go 85mph, it barely can go 70mph, if its very windy I keep it at 60mph on the interstate. What if im in my silverado pulling a 7500lbs load? Should I go 85mph? Should I be banished from the interstate? Tell me, Please do.
What about semis? Is a semi going 85 mph safe? No its not… What about semis limited to 62mph?
There is a minimum speed and a maximum speed on the roads, if you do not like it and I know many others don’t as well, write you elected officials and get it changed, Heck, repeal all speed limits and make it a free for all if you are in that big of a hurry. But a law is a law and it should be obeyed.
The idiots in our area just increased the speed on connector roads by 5 to 10 mph. Instead of giving sound reasons, they just said; " that's the speed every one seems to be driving anyway". So, people drive 5 to 10 over the limit, knowing they will normally not get picked up and the response is to increase the speed limit ? You have to be kidding me. Now, when I drive this road, instead of everyone doing 60 in a 55, the limit is now 65 and everyone is doing 70. Dah ! At least come up with a better reason then " everyone is driving that speed" that means next year, we'll all be driving 80 when the increase the speed limit to 75( which by the way, they have in some areas) .
Now, when the roads turn to ice, there will still be those driving the new speed limit of 65 instead of the old of 55. And, when the 45 mph sign flashes, the speed differential will be greater. I guarantee that there will be more accidents with more tragic results. All, because people are idiots when it comes to speed and just make up reasons to drive faster that has NOTHING to do with actual stu
dies and common sense.
@dagosa
Great example, Around here the first icy morning we get there are wrecks everywhere because some people will simply not slow down. Road conditions do not cause wrecks, speed too fast for conditions causes wrecks.
The 55mph speed limits around here on the state highways are usually not obeyed, many of these roads are curvy with blind hills and hidden driveways, people seem to go at least 65mph to 70mph. If they raise the limit to 65mph people will then do 80 and then the deaths will really start adding up.
Here is my solution. Have one day of the week where you drive as fast as you want and have no alcohol limit. Let people speed and drive drunk legally for one day a week. Us sane drivers would have to stay off the roads, which I know in reality is not possible.
Do this for a year and after that year is up there will be many dead people but the roads will be safer for us other drivers. problem solved.
Just a comment about gas prices. The oil companies are ecstatic to see cars get higher mileage. It’s a reason to raise prices so profits remain constant while selling less gas. With there reduced overhead, their profits are greater. The increase in fuel economy will have no effect on prices or speed. Cars are getting more efficient and if no one has noticed; more powerful ! They accelerate faster and cruise easier at higher speeds while getting better mileage.
I don’t see mileage is related to speed or gas prices. While I am cruising at a legal 75 mph up north in one of my lardo SUVs , a Prius and other economy cars blow by me at 80 plus. This scenario is repeated everywhere.
@texases
You really believe in this crappolla fed to us by oil companies like "raising gas prices to change blends form summer to winter or. Shutting refineries down for maintenance, what ever other contrived reason ? My contention is that over time, economy cars DONOT result in lower gas prices but stimulate their increase. . More cars on the road with higher average mpgs does not lower prices and is an incentive to keep then high. Unless you all haven’t noticed, there is no competition for gasoline and just making cars that still use gasoline but at lower rates does nothing but stimulate gas prices. Electric cars provide little competition at this time and everyone is still using gas in lesser amounts at higher prices. Guess you haven’t actually looked at the facts my good man. Profits of oil companies from gasoline sales has gone up even though the actual amount of gasoline sold has leveled and gone down. It is now in surplus production and yet prices of gas will continue to rise regardless and in concert with higher mileage cars.
You really believe that oil companies have the power to increase prices, except when they for some mysterious reason, choose to let them fall? And no publicity hungry lawyer/investigator/anyone has uncovered this world-wide conspiracy? Why is the easy explanation, that the worlds using LOTS of fuel, and the Mideast is a tinderbox, making folks nervous, so hard to accept? Actual facts, rather than unfounded claims…
And oil company profits are dropping, not increasing. Exxon’s refining income was down almost 50% for the first quarter 2014 compared to first quarter 2013, and down over 10% from 4th quarter 2013. Facts just seem to get in the way…
@WheresRick
There is an overpass on my way to work that iced up routinely during the morning hours . Each week it seemed, at least one car driving 55 to 60 would spin out of control with a slew of us sliding around, trying to get pass. Now, this year, cars will be traveling 10 mph faster. Makes me glad I retired and don’t have to travel that route during the early morning hours.
Rick, I do agree with a great many of the things you say on this forum, I just think you like to ruffle peoples’ feathers occasionally just for the heck of it. You quoted a Billy Joel verse in your earlier post; “I didn’t start the fire”. Well, Rick you DID start the fire. And I believe you did so on purpose. I confess to being puzzled as to why anyone would do this.
I also suspect you really believe the things you write. You truly believe that people could simply start riding bicycles to work. And those that cannot, and there are many many millions who cannot, you show total disregard for.
Why I let this aggravate me is something I myself don’t understand.
@texases
We can justify the rise and fall of gas prices over time for a variety of reasons. But, they have the power and the right to raise prices as they see fit to maximize their profits. There are no price controls and there is no government oversight in fuel pricing when oil not only plays a big role in our security but has a big controlling interest in our government. I am not naive enough to feel that oil as a strategic commodity needs to justify their price increase for what ever reasons. One reason is that the lower demand on that commodity naturally stimulates that increase as well. It does because there is no competition for gasoline. That seems to allude us. Your facts, what ever they are are only recent if true at all. They don’t hold any long term value and they don’t get in the way of what has happened. That’s like arguing climate change assertion is invalid because last year the temperature didn’t change from this. They don’t make your point that I guess, that cars with lower overall economy DONOT stimulate gas price increases. They do…when the market uses less of a fuel that has no competition, the incentive is to raise the unit price to maintain profits. It’s a pretty simple economic fact and exists because there is no direct competition for gasoline…whatsoever ever.
When you have to be stingy, you’d pull out any hyper-miling technique from the book. That includes drafting semis, running stop signs, flinging the car around street corners. Cheap drivers are not necessarily safe drivers or good drivers.
When you have to be stingy, you’d pull out any hyper-miling technique from the book. That includes drafting semis, running stop signs, flinging the car around street corners. Cheap drivers are not necessarily safe drivers or good drivers.
You don’t have to drive dangerously in order to maximize your fuel economy. Simple little things like not accelerating towards red lights and letting your car coast towards stop signs, letting rolling friction and air resistance do the majority of your slowing down, learning the light cycles on your daily route so you don’t needlessly speed only to spend more time going zero mph at the next light, all make big gains in fuel economy and maximize your brake life to boot, a double gain.
I really don’t get it. I seems like the same people who ardently defend and justify speeding get the vapors and need to be revived with smelling salts when some hypermiler travels the last block on his way home coasting in neutral using up the car’s stored kinetic energy to finish the trip instead of throwing it all away with his brakes.
You guys remind me of the “loud pipes save lives” motorcycle riders who refuse to wear helmets or bright clothing.
Rick, I do agree with a great many of the things you say on this forum, I just think you like to ruffle peoples' feathers occasionally just for the heck of it. You quoted a Billy Joel verse in your earlier post; "I didn't start the fire". Well, Rick you DID start the fire. And I believe you did so on purpose. I confess to being puzzled as to why anyone would do this.
I also suspect you really believe the things you write. You truly believe that people could simply start riding bicycles to work. And those that cannot, and there are many many millions who cannot, you show total disregard for.
Why I let this aggravate me is something I myself don’t understand.
I do like a good discussion, After all that’s why were here on discussion boards right? Many things I believe and practice make people angry, I do not do this on intentionally, but im not going to change my behavior or break laws to satisfy other people.
I guess I DID “start the fire”, however I believe there are one or two other people here that agree with me. The whole point was to say if paying more for fuel whether it be 6 or 8 or 10 bucks a gallon persuaded people to drive more efficiently and slow down to at least the speed limit, then I would gladly pay more for fuel.
I do believe what I write. I believe drum brakes were just fine, I drive a 30k lbs truck at work with all drum brakes, it stops fine. I believe the speed limit should be obeyed. I believe that a driver should be completely sober. I believe in the the right to bear arms legally. I believe that many people could ride a bike to the store.
Many people I talked to no longer ride their bikes anywhere but on a trail. This is because its gotten so bad with speeding, careless, reckless drivers that only care about themselves, that you are taking a huge chance trying to ride a bike on the roads.
I really don’t mean to aggravate you, I like you and we agree SO MUCH on certain topics. I am hard headed and I will have to disagree with you on this one, but I respect you and your thoughts.
I really don't get it. I seems like the same people who ardently defend and justify speeding get the vapors and need to be revived with smelling salts when some hypermiler travels the last block on his way home coasting in neutral using up the car's stored kinetic energy to finish the trip instead of throwing it all away with his brakes.
You guys remind me of the "loud pipes save lives" motorcycle riders who refuse to wear helmets or bright clothing.
@ B.L.E.
1,000,000
YES! YES YES!
This is what I have been trying to say for a long time here. You hit the nail on the head B.L.E.
Should a bicycle be allowed to share the roads? They can’t keep up with traffic, with the logic we see here semis shouldn’t even be on the road. Its the speed LIMIT. You can legally go slower, but you cannot legally go faster.
Everyone has the right to get mad at me because I may coast up to a stoplight, but its ok for them to speed and drive recklessly? Come on…
I am going to make a stand by saying I feel to get a drivers license here in the USA, everyone should have to do what us CDL holders have to do. I am an average driver, but I am a much better driver since I went thru my CDL training.
Driving a Big truck really makes you aware of how involved driving really is. If you speed, tailgate, or otherwise drive recklessly in a big truck, you WILL hurt or kill someone, its just a matter of time.
When that semi is coming up to you after a sudden slow down on the interstate, be GLAD they were not speeding, even though he or she is “holding everyone up” by going a legal speed.
Speed limits are there for a reason, and getting behind the wheel of a REAL TRUCK makes it apparent.
60 to 80% of my driving is done in a big truck. Those driving habits have carried over to driving my personal cars.
My contention is that over time, economy cars DONOT result in lower gas prices but stimulate their increase. . More cars on the road with higher average mpgs does not lower prices and is an incentive to keep then high. Unless you all haven’t noticed, there is no competition for gasoline and just making cars that still use gasoline but at lower rates does nothing but stimulate gas prices. Electric cars provide little competition at this time and everyone is still using gas in lesser amounts at higher prices. Guess you haven’t actually looked at the facts my good man. Profits of oil companies from gasoline sales has gone up even though the actual amount of gasoline sold has leveled and gone down. It is now in surplus production and yet prices of gas will continue to rise regardless and in concert with higher mileage cars.