this post was submitted on 13 Aug 2023
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I'm talking specifically about obeying the speed limit, doing a full stop at stop signs, etc. After receiving a speeding ticket for doing 53 in a 50, As an experiment I went a full day obeying all traffic laws 100% and it caused so much road rage. For example, there is a 2 lane road near me with a speed limit of 50 (where I got the ticket), traffic usually moves at about 60/65. There was a huge line of cars behind me and nowhere to pull over. As soon as an opening came up on the shoulder I was about to pull over and one of the cars behind me blew past me on the on the right blaring their horn. Then another truck passed me at the next opportunity and brake checked me. Both of these cars proceeded to run a red light about 1/4 mile ahead of me endangering others. By far the worst part of driving on this 2 lane road was the 25 mph work zone which is completely ignored by everyone else. It effectively resulted in me doing 25 mph in a "60" which is very dangerous.

Having needed to spend the entire day pulling over at every opportunity to let people pass I inevitably picked up a drill bit and got a flat tire.

Even matters as simple as stopping completely at a stop sign for 1 second cause immediate anger and dangerous behavior from other drivers.

What on earth are we expected to do? All I want is to avoid speeding tickets and drive safely.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I was going ten to fifteen over in the right lane on a major street and I literally felt fear for my life the way people around me were driving. People were raging at me for not running red lights! It was insane.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I can’t believe you got a ticket for speeding 53 in a 50! What state do you live in that police are that eager to give a ticket? Cops will only be that strict where I live in 25mph zones, usually school zones or a place where the highway goes through the middle of town.

They say something around here like: +8, you’re great. +9, you’re mine. And that is actually pretty low for how much I’ve seen people speed here (+15 sometimes, even on 2-lane highways like you’re talking about). I got ticketed for a +13.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

In california, near an upscale/wealthy neighborhood with otherwise low crime. Its how the police department stays well funded I'm sure.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sounds like it. You could fight it if you have the time and will. Most likely (though take this with a grain of salt because I’m in the Midwest which is clearly different), the officer won’t see it as worth his time to go to the court hearing, especially if the fine is low.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah it feels like the fine is just high enough to justify them making money from the stop, but just low enough that it doesn't seem like its worth my time/effort to fight it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

And that’s what they want people to do. Likely it isn’t enough money for the officer to go after either, so you could just fight it to make sure they don’t get the money, if you have the time. It’s cool if you don’t.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It's been like 20 years that, at least where I am there is automatic speed camera and a zero tolerance policy, people get fine and loose points even for small speeding so if you want to keep your licence, no choice

Not stopping at a stop? This looks dangerous like hell. Please think about the kid on a bike who might have the right of way, let her live

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Im talking about “rolling stops” like everyone does. Slow down to 0.5mph and look both ways before continuing.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Where do you live? I do the speed limit all the time. Only get a random pissy BMW once a month or so.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Just ignore them. If they want to be idiots, let them. Doesn't mean you have to as well.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm going to remember this question next time I see one of those "BuT cYcLIsTs!" idiots.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

It’s damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Welcome to the real world.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

When I was in drivers' ed they told us that even if the speed limit is, say, 35 mph, it's safer to go 45 mph if everybody around you is also going 45 mph. I think most cops are also aware of this, so I wonder if you were just picked on to fulfill a ticket quota or something. Also differences that small in mph are very questionable for a ticket because speedometers can vary wildly and most if not all speedometers have a very minor margin of error. For example you could have been radar tracked at 53 but your speedometer could have been closer to 51 or 50

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It's incorrect to think of most road laws as being in place for safety, instead recognize that it's largely a tax by another name. It is never safe to drive 20mph below prevailing traffic, regardless of what the sign on the side of the road instructs.

To avoid fines, pay attention and try to avoid routes where there are often cops collecting a toll, especially during quieter times when you're one of a smaller number of commuters (and more likely to be the sucker who gets pinged). If you're white, congratulations, you're way less likely to be the unlucky party who gets pinged.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

What on earth are we expected to do?

Pay the fines. It's a money-making scheme, not a public-safety scheme.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Have you tried following traffic laws in GTA games? That is insane indeed.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I also follow traffic laws. People often rage at me completely unprovoked, and I've been in more collisions than I can count.

What matters is you are not responsible for the actions of others. Yes driving 60 in a 25 is incredibly dangerous. See what happens when you slam on the brakes for the work zone sign, it's absurd.

But it's not our job to police that. The best we can do is follow the law, try to avoid the idiots, and collect the insurance money when they do hit us and move on.

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