gdp's Comments

National Motorists Association Blog : High Speed Rail, Thinking Large

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 16:41:45 +0000

That would be slow and very expensive. I think the Swiss tunnel took about 15 years to tunnel about 35 miles and cost about $10 billion. I was thinking of a non-tunnel rail system. A tunnel system is an interesting idea though. Perhaps tunnels could be used where appropriate. Transporting freight may be something that can help defray the cost. (mach 1/3 is about 250mph and mach 1/4 is about 190mph)

National Motorists Association Blog : High Speed Rail, Thinking Large

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:51:42 +0000

A high speed rail line (300mph+) from NYC to LA would be great IMHO. It could cover the ~2800 mile trip could be covered in under 10 hours. If they followed interstate routes, there could be stops at Las Vegas, Denver, Gary, IN (near Chicago), and Elyria OH (near Cleveland). The stop locations could be adjusted to where it makes more financial sense. It would be expensive to build, but if done properly could be operated at a profit. If a round trip ticket (NYC-LA) was about $400-$500 that would be competitive with air travel and car travel. ======================================================================== Car @ 30mpg @ $3/gallon would cost about $280 in fuel costs alone. Tolls and hotel rooms extra. travel time is about 40-46 hours minimum (driving in shifts) unless you really want to speed. More likely 2-3 days minimum travel time. ========================================================================= Currently Air travel >< NYC-LAX is at least $500. travel time is about 5-6 hours air time plus 2-3 hours before fight and about 1 hour leaving plane getting luggage. ========================================================================= Minneapolis-Miami,fl route ~1800 miles about 6 hour travel time @300mph+ Possible stops Nashville, Iowa city (would intersect NY-LA route), Orlando, fl, St. Louis, and Atlanta I would think a $300-$400 round trip ticket would be a competitive price. Minneapolis-Miami,fl route.

National Motorists Association Blog : Why Mandatory Car Insurance Hurts Good Drivers

Fri, 5 Nov 2010 13:47:38 +0000

There is not much difference >< $250k insurance and $20k insurance in terms of premium cost from the insurance company. IIRC, it was only about $100 difference. (instead of about 90% less given the amount of coverage recvd.) I do not necessarily think mandatory insurance is good. Since gov't deems mandatory insurance necessary, I think insurance minimums should be provided at cost by gov't. If someone is involved in at fault accident then their ins. rate would increase. Other insurance would still be available to cover amounts above the mandated minimum insurance levels. Since it is not mandatory the companies would need to price their products appropriately or their products will not sell. ===================================================================== @cover1 is the 1 million ins. part of an umbrella coverage?

National Motorists Association Blog : Another Ticket Camera Success Story

Sat, 4 Sep 2010 03:07:08 +0000

Without knowing more data, it is difficult to form a valid conclusion. From the information you provided: "Apparently, the vehicle went across both oncoming lanes of traffic before over-correcting and coming back across the roadway." It appears that the driver was careless and/or reckless in driving. Speed probably contributed to the severity of the accident, but I do not think it was the primary cause of the accident. If the driver drove in a safe manner, then this probably would not have happened.

National Motorists Association Blog : Another Ticket Camera Success Story

Sat, 4 Sep 2010 03:01:40 +0000

@JimSamsung "I would like to see the true statistics on this." If you have valid data to present for others to review, then please present your valid data.

National Motorists Association Blog : Another Ticket Camera Success Story

Sat, 4 Sep 2010 02:53:22 +0000

Please provide your source(s) for others to see. RLCs can make mistakes. RLCs can not stop inattentive and/or stupid driving. http://www.youtube.com/v/6d6lt1x5xnw @All Have a safe Labor Day Weekend. Beware the Revenue Bears. ;-)

National Motorists Association Blog : The Rise Of The Ticket Camera "Front Group"

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 04:26:49 +0000

RLCs can not stop innatentive and/or stupid driving. [youtube 9tqTUfApB3s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tqTUfApB3s youtube]

National Motorists Association Blog : The Rise Of The Ticket Camera "Front Group"

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 04:26:22 +0000

Errors can be made with RLCs [youtube 6d6lt1x5xnw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d6lt1x5xnw youtube]

National Motorists Association Blog : The Rise Of The Ticket Camera "Front Group"

Thu, 2 Sep 2010 12:26:30 +0000

What would happen if the local money from a red light camera was mandated by law to go to Education or some other use (i.e. not for the local municipality where the light resides)? I know that one argument that I hear by some in favor of RLCs is that RLCs promote safety. I suspect that if there was no money incentive for the local community, then the RLC would not be in operation for long.

National Motorists Association Blog : The Rise Of The Ticket Camera "Front Group"

Wed, 1 Sep 2010 13:43:24 +0000

@JimSamsung I did not say anything about how the timing of the lights was done. You should improve your reading comprehension and actually read what I wrote. Your response makes it appear to me that you think if someone drives at times over the PSL then people will automatically die and/or burst into flames. I think that it is possible for people to drive safely, even at speeds that may be above the PSL, provided that people are driving attentively to their surroundings. Regardless of safety issues, if one is traveling above the PSL, then one risks receiving a ticket from the police. If you truly consider it worthless to speak to me, then please remain silent in your ignorance.

National Motorists Association Blog : The Rise Of The Ticket Camera "Front Group"

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:05:48 +0000

@JimSamsung "Yes we can not drive across the country at 30 mph but do you really need to drive 80 mph across town?" I did not make a reference to the PSL of any local roads. Except for interstates or other similar limited access highways, I would think that 80mph would not be practical or safe. Although I do not have any data for support, I doubt that many if any people travel above 70mph on local (non highway/limited access) roads. =========================================================== The PSL should be set with sound engineering practices and should not be set arbitrarily. Regardless of the PSL, I would drive what I would consider a safe speed for the road conditions. If I found myself travelings at speeds slower than most of the traffic around me, I would move to the right most lane to make it easier for traffic to drive around me. If I could not travel on a highway within 5-10 mph of PSL then I would look for other roads to travel as an alternate. (I have done this at times, although rarely)

National Motorists Association Blog : The Rise Of The Ticket Camera "Front Group"

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:38:53 +0000

@JimSamsung "You did not say why you would not travel that road during rush hour?" I would prefer to travel about 50-60 mph with a minimum amount of stopping instead of driving in slow bumper to bumper traffic with occasional opportunities to travel something close to 40-45 mph. During non-rush hour times it is often possible to travel with most of the lights in your favor while traveling a reasonable traveling speed of about 50-60 mph. ======================================================== "If everyone would drive slower and at the same speed everyone would get there faster. " I think that would depend on the road, volume of traffic, and the type of traffic conditions.

National Motorists Association Blog : The Rise Of The Ticket Camera "Front Group"

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 03:12:02 +0000

@JimSamsung Flying is a risky activity. Yet people (and businesses) are willing to take the risk. Many people see the benefits of flying outweighing the risks of flying. There are some people that will never fly. For them the benefits do not outweigh the risks. I do not see people trying to stop people from flying just because they are against it and think it is too risky. Some people think traveling 75-80 mph on an interstate is too risky and they want to stop others from traveling at that speed or faster. It would be better if they stayed in the right lane or did not drive on the Interstate at all. ======================================================================= IMO RL cameras do not address the problems of a particular intersection or stretch of road. Rt 9 in NJ was a miserable road due to the relatively high number of traffic lights on this highly traveled road. It would not be practical to travel on this road if you needed to make haste. Through much work and engineering the road is now much better. Some lights were removed and bridges were built in their place. In some cases the lights were re-timed. In other cases extra lanes were added to accommodate the volume of traffic. Although I still would not want to travel on this road during rush hour, it is now a much better to road for travel. A RLC would not have solved the problems of US-9. ======================================================================= Is RPG a Role Playing Game? I know some people do not like D&D. ;-) =======================================================================

National Motorists Association Blog : The Rise Of The Ticket Camera "Front Group"

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 02:55:16 +0000

@JimSamsung I would disagree with your assessment. "Fact of the matter is, none of this would be an issue at all, if people could just obey the laws." If the PSL is 40mph and someone runs a red light at 35mph they have created a very unsafe situation. It could result in an accident. Speed was not the cause of an accident in this case. A red light camera would not have prevented this potential accident either. A red light camera could cause people to react differently than they normally would at an intersection. If I am on the borderline (where you would have to press the breaks hard to stop in time) when the light changes but I know that there is a RLC at the intersection, I am more inclined to stop even if I could have made the light safely just to avoid a potential ticket. This action could get me rear ended if the driver behind me is not paying enough attention to me and the light. I think that traveling faster only makes the consequences of inattentive driving worse. If one runs a red light, they run the risk of an accident. The speed would affect the force of the accident, but it would not be the cause of the accident in my opinion. ============================================================== Driving slower is not a guarantee of avoiding all accidents. There is risk with just about any activity.

National Motorists Association Blog : Columbus, Ohio: Innocent Or Not, You're Paying Us

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:57:13 +0000

My perception of the system is that its first goal is the efficient gathering of money from the general public. It is a nice bonus if any justice is found. (If not oh well.)

National Motorists Association Blog : New Police Cars Blend Into The Crowd

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:15:31 +0000

If you are unsure that vehicle is an actual police car two things that you could do: 1) (if you have a cell phone) call the local police dept., or #77 (some roads have a call in number for assistance posted on road -- check the area for the appropriate call in number) or as last resort 911 to confirm that you are being pulled over by legitimate police. You could even request for a regular car to appear to the scene (although I am not sure how quick they would send a marked patrol car) 2) put hazards on and acknowledge the car and proceed to a well light public area such as a 7-11 or gas station.

National Motorists Association Blog : The Bamboozled American Driver?

Mon, 3 May 2010 18:56:54 +0000

How is this related to the article?

National Motorists Association Blog : The Bamboozled American Driver?

Mon, 3 May 2010 18:55:30 +0000

Even the most underpowered car can get upto 65-75 mph. I have seen my cousins 0.6L Citroen get upto 75mph. I was amazed. It did take some time to get up to that speed though. Regardless of the car one drives, I think that one needs to drive in a safe manner. One should merge quickly and safely into traffic and not be an obstruction for others. I sympathize at times with the always at fault with the rear end accidents. I think that sometimes the driver in front can be a contributing if not a primary cause of an accident if the driver does something stupid and/or unpredictable.

National Motorists Association Blog : The Bamboozled American Driver?

Mon, 3 May 2010 18:48:53 +0000

At least the 420hp is related is the article. The rest of the comment loses me.

National Motorists Association Blog : The Bamboozled American Driver?

Mon, 3 May 2010 18:46:44 +0000

How is this related to the article?