1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Pulled over for doing 40 in my Prius

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by Troy Heagy, Jun 29, 2014.

  1. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2010
    7,668
    6,485
    0
    Location:
    Redneck Riviera (Gulf South)
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    We're not that far apart on this, and if I sound unreasonable in my statements then I apologize....
    ...to you and other listeners-in, that is.

    If you're the only one on a two-lane, limited access road and you're doing 40?
    The the flow of traffic (you) is............40.
    I have no problem with that.

    If you're on a 10-lane intracity expressway and you're tucked in behind a speed-limited vehicle or a truck?
    No problem there either, because these types of users are well-regulated and usually require escorts, flashers, etc to warn people of the potential for a differential of speed hazard.

    If there's room for traffic to easily move around you?
    That's pretty muck OK too.

    Again....this is only MY never-to-be-humbled opinion, and I'm overly biased perhaps by the fact that I usually give LEOs the benefit of some doubt in a$$hole/not-an-a$$hole situations.


    I think we're pretty much in concurrence on this issue, or at least almost all of the way there.

    YMMV!

    Be safe!
     
  2. canta

    canta Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2013
    101
    10
    0
    Location:
    Raleigh
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    on city Limit is possible to post r2-4a traffic sign, where some city has mandate(regulation) to post minimum and maximum city limit.
    I saw years back in dowtown of Norcross, GA, which I went to the court for speeding violation :p.
    I do not know if they still keep that sign recently, since not living in Atlanta as today :p.

    I never see r2-4a in my life while driving in interstate/freeway :D.

    But I am pretty sure, Texas has r2-4a since seen that traffic sign while roadtripp-ing years back.
    I wish can do roadtrip, where is impossible for me now since has family with two toddlers. Routine trips are Museums, parks, swimming pools, libraries, and B' Parties on holidays or weekends.

    that is basic laws :p.
    If you need more detail, you can dig-in on certain laws to understand.

    please ask priuschat members, do they ever see r2-4a traffic sign in their life in interstate/freeway? (except Texas as I know)
    I saw in the city limit area only, Not in freeway/interstate.

    the definition on Highway is vague as my understanding.
    is local road ? interstate? freeway? toll roads?

    I know in my daily commute, some highways speed limit are 30mph, 45mph and 55mph, where is ridiculous to define as highways.
    as my understanding, those highways are in city limit, and city mandate to set low speed limit due on safety. that is logical.
    no r2-4a are posted on that highway (in city limit).

    this is the following scenario:
    city can define (must comply with federal and State laws) to post r2-4a in city limit (local roads), mostly in downtown/midtown area. this law/mandate is approve by local city.

    r2-4a is regulated by federal traffic sign, you search on full description in the Wild Wild Net.
     
  3. Troy Heagy

    Troy Heagy Member

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2013
    1,218
    4
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    One
    I don't know what an R2-4a sign is, but I do see plenty of "minimum speed" signs posted all across the U.S. (I've driven crosscountry multiple times). Basically they don't want people driving mopeds or tractors on the interstates.

    Also since I am stuck at work and don't have time to go searching for signs, I called CalTrans to find-out directly the minimum speed. It's 40 min/55 towing/65 max on highway 210 near Pasadena and 45 min/55 towing/70 max on interstate 15 south of Corona. So I was going five mph too slow. Ooops. ;)
     
    kenoarto likes this.
  4. KhaPhoRa

    KhaPhoRa Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2013
    168
    37
    0
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    II
    They used to have them on the Mass Turnpike (I-90) in Massachusetts which was a limited access toll road. It was 65/40 if I recall. I grew up in NY and don't recall seeing them there, only when I was heading to Boston. They very well may have them still, I just haven't been there in a long time.
     
  5. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2005
    6,278
    373
    0
    Location:
    Central Texas
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    In Texas there is a maximum and a minimum speed limit, driving too slow is much more dangerous than driving fast.

    No one has to adjust to accommodate for your speed if you're over the speed limit but when you are under the speed limit everyone has to adjust, you are making yourself vulnerable to everyone else's actions like trying to merge on a freeway going slower than the traffic you're merging with.

    You save a few bucks on gas but what is your time worth and what is keeping youtself safe worth?

    Not trying to bust your chops for the fun of it but something to seriously consider.
    Cop trolls slowpoke driver in the fast lane - fun…:
     
  6. canta

    canta Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2013
    101
    10
    0
    Location:
    Raleigh
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    this is just my understanding:
    that makes sense, since the road is toll roads, aka "private" roads.
    state governs public interstate/freeway/roads traffic sign,
    City mandates to add "feature" on the top of public traffic sign.
    "Private"/Toll has another mandate to make them in safety not suing by people whom got accident on their toll roads, Max-Min r2-4a sign is a safe bet for them :D, unless State laws protect them/operator.
     
  7. dbcassidy

    dbcassidy Toyota Hybrid Nation, 8 Million Strong

    Joined:
    May 13, 2008
    1,581
    290
    3
    Location:
    Middlesex County, MA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Forrest Gump says it best "Stupid is as stupid does"

    DBCassidy
     
  8. C25A1guy

    C25A1guy Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2012
    35
    1
    0
    Location:
    Northridge, CA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I call fake on the op's story. . CHP never ever let's people go without a ticket. Hell, I've even gotten some while wearing my Charlies
     
  9. kenoarto

    kenoarto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    1,409
    395
    0
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II

    Uh, no. Despite protests, all Texans are still subject to the laws of science. The higher the speed, the higher the likelihood of an accident and the amount of damage. Ask any engineer. Under speed LIMIT = good. Speeding = bad.
    Speed and accident risk
     
  10. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2010
    7,668
    6,485
    0
    Location:
    Redneck Riviera (Gulf South)
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I love the irony.
    You cited an EU road safety observatory paper.
    Do you do much driving in the EU?
    They don't have as many problems there with left-lane JERKS for two reasons:
    1. In many of the countries across the pond they use right hand drive vehicles. This means that the jerks (both speeders and blockers) are in the right lane.
    2. Excess speed and insufficient speed are dealt with a little more severely there, and if you're in an overtaking lane? You'd better darned well be overtaking somebody! They don't bother with 123,000 "Keep right except to pass" signs for the same reason that they don't bother with the "don't drink and drive" signs as much as we do.......because in the EU the penalties are rather more severe for each and they don't have as large a problem.

    Something that you may have missed in the article you pointed out also says that:
    Larger speed differences: more accidents
    If on a particular road, the speed variance is high, this will result in less predictability, more encounters, more overtaking manoeuvres, etc. Therefore, when speed differences increase, the accident risk increases as well. Hence, a countermeasure that results in lower average speed, but in larger speed differences may not have the expected positive effect on road safety. But no reliable quantified relationship has been established for this linkage.

    "Under speed LIMIT = good. Speeding = bad" may work well in a lab, but if you ask any technician, there are many things that don't work quite as well out in the real world as they do in a lab.
     
  11. kenoarto

    kenoarto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    1,409
    395
    0
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Corrections for shouting Texan:
    1) Please read your own quote, "But no reliable quantified relationship has been established for this linkage -- [Larger speed differences: more accidents]."
    2) Your assumption that, "This means that the jerks (both speeders and blockers) are in the right lane," is just laughably incorrect!!! Surely you understand that the traffic patterns are simply switched from one side to the other.
    3) Exactly how "many" countries do you think drive on the right? Look it up, cowboy! And then ask yourself how, exactly, you think this changes the physics of safely driving within the speed limits?
    4) Yes I have driven around much of Europe. I find driving there quite enjoyable. Drivers pay attention to speed limits. Pass appropriately. Rarely use the horn unless there is a genuine emergency. Even on the autobahn, in the places where there is no maximum speed limit, it all works quite well, because people drive their smaller cars more carefully.
     
  12. DrPepperholik

    DrPepperholik Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2014
    342
    108
    0
    Location:
    Spartanburg, South Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I think this is especially true now if you have a scenario like this: person poking along at under the speed limit on I-85 through Upstate, SC area. The speed limit is 60 but if you go that slow you will have cars race up to your butt and tailgate before they can fly around you at 80 while giving you the stink eye. So if you go, 40 on this road then some distracted driver could race up to you and not realize how slow you're going because well, they're distracted, this could cause an accident. This freeway is horrible for accidents and when I was traveling it daily for work there would easily be one per week during rush hour times.

    I just use this interstate as an example, the same would apply to any road, be it freeway or country back road. This is a horrible freeway that has a bad reputation of being dangerous. It really is too small for the amount of traffic going that way (3 lanes on each side) and is the main thoroughfare from Atlanta to Charlotte. Lots of drug trafficking goes on that road too.
     
  13. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2005
    6,278
    373
    0
    Location:
    Central Texas
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Your right, so let's all go 20 or just get out and walk!

    The problem is the speed DIFFERENCES. slow, stays in right hand Lane, too slow goes to feeder Street, slower, get out and walk.

    If someone doesn't have the nerves to drive on the freeway, they shouldn't because they become a menace to everyone that does!

    And if they are going to drive slow in the left hand Lane "breaking the law" to teach everyone a lesson they are self righteous a$$ holes!
     
    frodoz737 likes this.
  14. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2010
    7,668
    6,485
    0
    Location:
    Redneck Riviera (Gulf South)
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I'm not from Texas, nor do I live there now.
    Otherwise?
    Your post speaks for itself.

    Thanks! :)
     
  15. Chuck.

    Chuck. Former Honda Enzyte Driver

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2006
    2,766
    1,510
    0
    Location:
    Lewisville, TX (Dallas area)
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    {sigh}

    I privately contacted a number of you a few days ago requesting to ignore both the OP and this thread...one response at me smacks of projection:

    LET IT GO!

    So walk the talk and let go of this thread.

    Beyond a reasonable doubt we know the min/max speed limit signs were not where he was pulled over. He could easily produce it at Google Maps but he does not? ;) Add to that there is doubt Troy Heagy was even pulled over, given years of him doing stories like this just to see us fight - he already has a record of doing it here.

    It's easy for drivers to go at their speed in a manner that does not annoy others...this thread is calculated to promote arguments. A little common sense and choice of where/when to drive will solve this.

    Again, why not start a new thread and clarify some things?
    • Posted speeds vary in each state - check them out. Generally, 50 is the slowest speed allowed on a freeway (exceptions of course)
    • Many posters react like freeways are two lane roads - not so!
      • consider the rightmost lane to let faster traffic by
      • use the access roads instead of the freeway if going slower
      • use alternate routes if possible
      • consider different times to avoid congestion and possible road rage
      • If you consistently go over the posted speed limit, examine yourself...are you just rationalizing? A little over is one thing, but in the past the most flagrant speeders scream the loudest at everyone not keeping up with them. And no, it's not just tight schedules, but many just have that "need" :rolleyes: to speed.

    The topic is a hot button. A few of you just took a few seconds to blurt and leave (esp the ones unfamiliar with this thread) - that's exactly what the OP hoped you would do - upset you, like his attempt in the next post.
     
    #75 Chuck., Jul 17, 2014
    Last edited: Jul 17, 2014
  16. Troy Heagy

    Troy Heagy Member

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2013
    1,218
    4
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    One
    Chuck is filled with a lot of anger. I haven't even been posting the last few days due to not having much free time, and yet Chuck keeps stirring the pot to create animosity.

    And to repeat for those who missed it the first time: "Since I am stuck at work and don't have time to go searching for signs, I called CalTrans to find-out directly the minimum speed. It's 40 min/55 towing/65 max on highway 210 near Pasadena and 45 min/55 towing/70 max on interstate 15 south of Corona. So I was going five mph too slow. Ooops. ;)"

    BTW officers in California have pulled me over twice now, and not ticketed me either time:
    - first time for wearing headphones (only one ear is allowed to be covered)
    - second time for going 40
     
  17. Chuck.

    Chuck. Former Honda Enzyte Driver

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2006
    2,766
    1,510
    0
    Location:
    Lewisville, TX (Dallas area)
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
     
  18. Beachnut

    Beachnut Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2014
    185
    43
    0
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Go back and re-read post #40 of this thread. Me thinks it applies. :eek:
     
  19. kenoarto

    kenoarto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    1,409
    395
    0
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Re read it. And there may be something to your point. There is a speed at which too slow is dangerous. 45mph is the usual minimum in Illinois (min 50mph would be pretty foolish in 55mph max zones). I will still argue long and LOUDLY with anyone who says driving the MAX isn't fast enough in the right hand lane (and yes, that has been said on similar threads here on PriusChat). To summarize: slower is usually safer and saves gas...don't break the law, speeding isn't a civil right!
     
    Chuck. likes this.
  20. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2005
    6,278
    373
    0
    Location:
    Central Texas
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Well we've advanced past the model T speeds. Some live in their own reality and the heck with everyone else... Like the drunkard with no concerns for being a team player in society, it's all about him.

    I wonder if he was the only car on the freeway would he drove that slow or is it just fun to be an a$$ and has always loved negative attention cause it was too much work to get positive attention? Pretty sad if so.

    At any rate, they should get a moped if it's all about gas savings at the sacrifice of everything else.