New york thankfully hasn’t done this yet, but I don’t see a big problem with it.

And yeah, I can excuse eating fries while driving and talking on the phone while driving, but texting while driving is just plain ignorant.

New york thankfully hasn’t done this yet, but I don’t see a big problem with it.

And yeah, I can excuse eating fries while driving and talking on the phone while driving, but texting while driving is just plain ignorant.

I most certainly agree. Speeders irritate me. Especially speeding trucks.

Yeah, I knew somebody who drove and wrote text messages. I don’t understand using your phone as an instant messenger instead of as a phone much less feeling the need to send text messages while driving down the crowded interstate at 90mph.

Yeah, I knew somebody who drove and wrote text messages. I don’t understand using your phone as an instant messenger instead of as a phone much less feeling the need to send text messages while driving down the crowded interstate at 90mph.

The speeders must think the speed cameras has an agro zone.

The speeders must think the speed cameras has an agro zone.

Word to your mother!

Word to your mother!

Having moved to Phoenix from NY a few months ago, I must say I’m surprised that Arizona drivers are actually able to *see* the cameras. They seem to have enough trouble seeing the other cars on the highway, pedestrians crossing the street, the painted lines on the road, or the mysterious switch that puts their turn signal on.

I find traffic jams and speed bumps a lot more annoying than speeders. Good thing the place i live in has quite a lot of small, unsupervised roads.

I find traffic jams and speed bumps a lot more annoying than speeders. Good thing the place i live in has quite a lot of small, unsupervised roads.

Those cameras have been proven to increase the rate of accidents, specifically because of behavior like that.

Using a phone period whilst driving is illegal in the UK, im unsure of US law tho, so it may be a pointless comment :P

Using a phone period whilst driving is illegal in the UK, im unsure of US law tho, so it may be a pointless comment :P

Some Arizona drivers scare me, especially since I live in Glendale. I honestly don’t know how the “Go the speed limit plus 20″ started. It actually really scares me when I walk home from school (which is around 3 miles apart) when I go on a cross walk and someone almost runs me over even though its obvious that they can see me. But thats just me and btw spoony I didn’t know you lived in AZ 0.0 lol

“Edit: And while I’m at it, texting on your phone while driving is one of the most suicidally stupid behaviors I’ve ever seen.”

I recently ended a friendship because of this. He was a BAAAAADDDD driver… and nearly got both of us killed 2 months ago when he started sending messages on the damn highway, then to notice he had almost missed his exit, cut short two trucks that were between us and the lines. The trucks managed to evade him, and as I look at him with a “WTF?” expression he replies: “God thing they were good drivers, an idiot would have crashed into me”

There is a Mexican saying: “I rather be alone than in bad company”

“Edit: And while I’m at it, texting on your phone while driving is one of the most suicidally stupid behaviors I’ve ever seen.”

I recently ended a friendship because of this. He was a BAAAAADDDD driver… and nearly got both of us killed 2 months ago when he started sending messages on the damn highway, then to notice he had almost missed his exit, cut short two trucks that were between us and the lines. The trucks managed to evade him, and as I look at him with a “WTF?” expression he replies: “God thing they were good drivers, an idiot would have crashed into me”

There is a Mexican saying: “I rather be alone than in bad company”

“Those cameras have been proven to increase the rate of accidents, specifically because of behavior like that.”

I do not know about the freeway cameras but red light cameras at intersections in Arizona do increase the number of accidents. However, it increases rear-end collisions at the expense of t-bone collisions, so it decreases the average severity of accidents.

I like driving on the 202 or 101 at night with all the pretty flashes in the darkness.

Oh god, you should see the people who put on make up while driving. I mean, personally I find it hard enough just TALKING on the cellphone while driving. Thus I ignore any calls coming my way as I drive.

What’s also funny is if there is a marked police car parked on the side or they have their lights flashing because they pulled someone over, people just SLAM on their breaks. Like you said about the speed cameras, if you’re going the speed limit then you’re fine. I too tend to go the speed limit. Sometimes I even speed. But there are still people who insist on going 90 mph in a 65 mph zone so they fucking tailgate.

Then again I live in Pennsylvania where there’s usually not any heavy traffic and the speed limit tends to be rather high, even for the farm areas. Outside the city limits of course…. but then again the part of PA I live in is small town america.

Oh god, you should see the people who put on make up while driving. I mean, personally I find it hard enough just TALKING on the cellphone while driving. Thus I ignore any calls coming my way as I drive.

What’s also funny is if there is a marked police car parked on the side or they have their lights flashing because they pulled someone over, people just SLAM on their breaks. Like you said about the speed cameras, if you’re going the speed limit then you’re fine. I too tend to go the speed limit. Sometimes I even speed. But there are still people who insist on going 90 mph in a 65 mph zone so they fucking tailgate.

Then again I live in Pennsylvania where there’s usually not any heavy traffic and the speed limit tends to be rather high, even for the farm areas. Outside the city limits of course…. but then again the part of PA I live in is small town america.

Loop 101′s a pretty big perpetrator in this, the 60 to suddenly 20 stop and go traffic is murder, considering theres a bundle of cameras every 1/3rd of a mile.

Might be a good idea to have some of those speed cameras in Vegas, no body knows how to drive here. I seen cars going the wrong way on the streets, not slowing down when it rains (or when it snows, man the crashes on that snow day alone), and at least 20 people hit by a car here everyday (but to be fair on that one, everyone tries running across the street/highway all the time also, so maybe a draw there).

Also, who the hell is text messaging in their car while they are driving? Time to put the phone down people…

Might be a good idea to have some of those speed cameras in Vegas, no body knows how to drive here. I seen cars going the wrong way on the streets, not slowing down when it rains (or when it snows, man the crashes on that snow day alone), and at least 20 people hit by a car here everyday (but to be fair on that one, everyone tries running across the street/highway all the time also, so maybe a draw there).

Also, who the hell is text messaging in their car while they are driving? Time to put the phone down people…

It most people I know just ignore them because they give a ticket if you deny it is you

Hey spoony come over to the UK its even worse!

@Eldric IV – Actually, in Texas there’s a law related to the sudden slow-down of traffic for a cop car on the side of the road with flashing lights. By law drivers must vacate the lane nearest the emergency vehicle if it is safe to do so. Otherwise the driver should reduce speed to 20 mph below the posted speed if posted speed limit is 25 mph or more or 5 mph if posted speed is below 25 mph. So if the speed limit is 70 and you pass a cop giving a ticket and can’t change lanes you’re supposed to slow down to 50.

For the record, I’m with you, Noah. Set the cruise and enjoy life (and keeping your money, too!). When I’m far enough back to not get caught up in the wrecks it can be entertaining to watch people panic when they spot a hidden officer, though ;-)

@Eldric IV – Actually, in Texas there’s a law related to the sudden slow-down of traffic for a cop car on the side of the road with flashing lights. By law drivers must vacate the lane nearest the emergency vehicle if it is safe to do so. Otherwise the driver should reduce speed to 20 mph below the posted speed if posted speed limit is 25 mph or more or 5 mph if posted speed is below 25 mph. So if the speed limit is 70 and you pass a cop giving a ticket and can’t change lanes you’re supposed to slow down to 50.

For the record, I’m with you, Noah. Set the cruise and enjoy life (and keeping your money, too!). When I’m far enough back to not get caught up in the wrecks it can be entertaining to watch people panic when they spot a hidden officer, though ;-)

Its the same here in Western Australia :(

Mari, the poster’s name comes after the comment, so I think you were responding to Chi.

I completely agree with slowing down or changing lanes when you pass a cop. My brother is a police officer and stupid people nearly run him over all the time.

Mari, the poster’s name comes after the comment, so I think you were responding to Chi.

I completely agree with slowing down or changing lanes when you pass a cop. My brother is a police officer and stupid people nearly run him over all the time.

“You don’t need to dash in-between ambush zones, looking warily to both sides as if the cameras were stalking Viet Cong snipers.” LOL

But maybe this is the future, maybe they will eventually arm these cameras with laser guided missiles launchers.

Anyway, what scares me the most in my country are drunk drivers. They have no limits (or that’s what they “think”).
1444 stopped by police during last Easter holidays. pure madness..

My friend Jeff constantly texts while driving. To deter him I’ll make weird noises, and if he’s been going on long enough I’ll say “Put down the fucking phone!”

My friend Jeff constantly texts while driving. To deter him I’ll make weird noises, and if he’s been going on long enough I’ll say “Put down the fucking phone!”

I’m glad to see I’m not alone when it comes to just following the speed limit.

We don’t have too many cameras here in Iowa, but we probably need them. I usually drive either the speed limit or about 5 mph over, and I get passed constantly. As for tailgaters, I usually slow down for them. Good edit on the texting drivers, they really should have their licenses taken away permanently.

We don’t have too many cameras here in Iowa, but we probably need them. I usually drive either the speed limit or about 5 mph over, and I get passed constantly. As for tailgaters, I usually slow down for them. Good edit on the texting drivers, they really should have their licenses taken away permanently.

Hey, spoony…

WHERE’S THE UPDATE

I know, I know. These rants are SOOOOOO entertaining. So entertaining. Like reading a medical dictionary. These rants don’t make me want to sleep, oh no.

Work on that update video, you jerk.

They just added some of these cameras to the lights in downtown Hartford. On the news they claim that they will not be used to ticket speeders, or light runners, and that it’s so the DOT can make money by subletting the use to the TV affiliates for their traffic update broadcasts.
I’ll believe it when I see it though.

I do agree with you about the phoning/texting in the car.

They just added some of these cameras to the lights in downtown Hartford. On the news they claim that they will not be used to ticket speeders, or light runners, and that it’s so the DOT can make money by subletting the use to the TV affiliates for their traffic update broadcasts.
I’ll believe it when I see it though.

I do agree with you about the phoning/texting in the car.

lol Dallas is too broke to keep those things running. But I agree, texting/talking on cell phone is more dangerous than drinking one beer.

I’ve got a long commute each work day, but I drive the speed limit regardless. No speed cameras, (that I know of) but no shortage of idiot drivers.

The other week I was going down a road that goes from 55mph to 45 mph. I’m in the right hand lane too. So, I drop down and almost instantly some guy on a chopper came right up on my butt. He’s got no helmet or other kind of protection–just a t-shirt and jeans.There was a red light ahead so I slow down. Motorcyclist goes to turn right into a turn lane, (going much too fast) slips on the gravel and drops his bike, and slides about 50 feet into the back of another car with enough force to bust out its tail light. He gets up dazed, with a case of road rash, and having to fill out an accident report for his speed and stupidity. Ah, good times. :)

They tried the same speed camera BS up here in Toronto, Canada a few years ago. People got so annoyed with it that they started to call the local radio stations telling exactly where those camera vans were and where the trap zones were. Got to love cell phones. This was a stunt from the goverment to drum up more cash. Let’s just say that after the drivers know where all the zones are, those camera vans become a mute point. Disappeared pretty fast after that. That Humans 1 Camera Van 0. LOL

They tried the same speed camera BS up here in Toronto, Canada a few years ago. People got so annoyed with it that they started to call the local radio stations telling exactly where those camera vans were and where the trap zones were. Got to love cell phones. This was a stunt from the goverment to drum up more cash. Let’s just say that after the drivers know where all the zones are, those camera vans become a mute point. Disappeared pretty fast after that. That Humans 1 Camera Van 0. LOL

This has been a Spoony Public Service Announcment, brought to you by the Spoony Broadcast Corporation.

Drive Safe, Spoony Does!

They had those speed cameras at stpolights in Albuquerque for a while too. Most of them have been taken down or are just empty boxes sitting at intersections now, but there are still a couple that are active.

They had those speed cameras at stpolights in Albuquerque for a while too. Most of them have been taken down or are just empty boxes sitting at intersections now, but there are still a couple that are active.

Here in the UK theres at least 5 cameras on the streets alone watching people walk! on the roads theres at least a camera every mile or 2 they even hid them now in bushes and they always have the police doing their own speed checks on motorists, while you may rant about them there over here its a nightmare.

“And while I’m at it, texting on your phone while driving is one of the most suicidally stupid behaviors I’ve ever seen.”

That’s nothing. I once saw someone READ A NEWSPAPER while driving – at 60 MPH on the thruway.

“And while I’m at it, texting on your phone while driving is one of the most suicidally stupid behaviors I’ve ever seen.”

That’s nothing. I once saw someone READ A NEWSPAPER while driving – at 60 MPH on the thruway.

I have heard about these but they’re not around where I am. The bitch about them on Top Gear a lot. I remember reading an article about them being declared unconstitutional in Minnesota a few months ago. The argument was that they removed the driver’s right to due process because they couldn’t talk their way out of the ticket or defend their case to the officer. If I find the article I’ll post a link.

This is as inane and insubstantial as your “what’s the deal with paper envelopes” rant.
Also, this serves no purpose (and is no substitute for) an “update” for your site. What does this have to do with games, or even Spoony’s everyday life? -Nothing. This is simply a self serving rant on how Spoony feels he’s better than other drivers because he obeys the speed limit. Does he or his friends have to deal with excessive harassment by the police? Has he been pulled over or even gotten a speeding ticket recently? -Doesn’t sound like it!

No. This is simply “look at me everyone, I’m smart because I realize there are cameras that monitor your speed and can result in receiving a speeding ticket. I’m clearly a better driver than you are.”

I didn’t think you could top something as idiotic as your paper envelopes rant, but I was wrong. There’s only so long your fans will keep returning while waiting for real content.

So SHAKE YOUR RED MONKEY ASS AND DANCE! -Give the fans some REAL content for a change.

This is as inane and insubstantial as your “what’s the deal with paper envelopes” rant.
Also, this serves no purpose (and is no substitute for) an “update” for your site. What does this have to do with games, or even Spoony’s everyday life? -Nothing. This is simply a self serving rant on how Spoony feels he’s better than other drivers because he obeys the speed limit. Does he or his friends have to deal with excessive harassment by the police? Has he been pulled over or even gotten a speeding ticket recently? -Doesn’t sound like it!

No. This is simply “look at me everyone, I’m smart because I realize there are cameras that monitor your speed and can result in receiving a speeding ticket. I’m clearly a better driver than you are.”

I didn’t think you could top something as idiotic as your paper envelopes rant, but I was wrong. There’s only so long your fans will keep returning while waiting for real content.

So SHAKE YOUR RED MONKEY ASS AND DANCE! -Give the fans some REAL content for a change.

I agree so much, it’s really annoying when the traffic slows to near a halt because of a speed camera because they fine you if you do the limit you would think arghhh.

Also you get a fine or driving ban if it’s persistant i think if your caught using your phone while driving

Ugh, they’re starting to put those fucking cameras up at major intersections around town. It sort of defeats the purpose of having cameras though, because since the intersections are always so clogged, nobody even has the room to speed.

Every now and then cops will be sitting around for speed traps though, and fucking hell, people will see them and suddenly go 5 to 10 miles BELOW the speed limit as they pass the cop. They even do this when they spot a cop who’s pulled someone over and is busy writing them a ticket.

I guess people drive like paranoid idiots everywhere you go. I’ve only been pulled over once, and fortunately only got a warning, so now I try not to go anymore than 5 MPH over the speed limit. A 5 MPH margin is usually pretty safe.

Ugh, they’re starting to put those fucking cameras up at major intersections around town. It sort of defeats the purpose of having cameras though, because since the intersections are always so clogged, nobody even has the room to speed.

Every now and then cops will be sitting around for speed traps though, and fucking hell, people will see them and suddenly go 5 to 10 miles BELOW the speed limit as they pass the cop. They even do this when they spot a cop who’s pulled someone over and is busy writing them a ticket.

I guess people drive like paranoid idiots everywhere you go. I’ve only been pulled over once, and fortunately only got a warning, so now I try not to go anymore than 5 MPH over the speed limit. A 5 MPH margin is usually pretty safe.

I’m sure Spoony’s real broken up that he’s disappointed someone who goes by “Evil Chuck Norris”. Hey, have you seen that hilarious “All Your Base” thing yet?!

It’s *free* entertainment people…

Hi Spoony

I don’t know about in the US but over here there are constant problems with the speed cameras. I can’t remember exactly what goes wrong with them but apparently they constantly giving false readings and tickets.

Hi Spoony

I don’t know about in the US but over here there are constant problems with the speed cameras. I can’t remember exactly what goes wrong with them but apparently they constantly giving false readings and tickets.

Ikakri, just shut up. It’s his site and he’s free to post what he wants on it. He works way more then he needs to. If you don’t like it then deal or make use of the home button and leave.

I cannot even begin to tell you how much speeders piss me off. It’s not a fricking suggestion, guys – it’s a LIMIT. YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO GO FASTER THAN IT. If you’re really that friggin’ worried about getting to your destination on time, maybe you should’ve left earlier.

I’m going the speed limit, or sometimes even five above it because I let my attention drift for a moment, but nooooo that’s far too slow for the cars behind me. They need to be going 10-20 MPH faster because it’s just THAT important.

The stupid people are everywhere. -_-

I cannot even begin to tell you how much speeders piss me off. It’s not a fricking suggestion, guys – it’s a LIMIT. YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO GO FASTER THAN IT. If you’re really that friggin’ worried about getting to your destination on time, maybe you should’ve left earlier.

I’m going the speed limit, or sometimes even five above it because I let my attention drift for a moment, but nooooo that’s far too slow for the cars behind me. They need to be going 10-20 MPH faster because it’s just THAT important.

The stupid people are everywhere. -_-

I agree with IkariBattousai.

I love Spoony.

I think the speedometer in my car is off because I’ve never been busted for going 20 over even when I am.

I think the speedometer in my car is off because I’ve never been busted for going 20 over even when I am.

I hate it when I’m going 5 or even 10 over and people still pass me within seconds. I kinda wanna bumper sticker I found that said “If you’re tailgating, then roll for damage” but oh well. I agree with spoony, tho, I hate when people have to slow down immensely because they see a cop. I don’t dare cops to pull me over, but I’m not gonna freak out if my speedometer is a little over the limit, especially since the cars usually go a little slower than the speedometer, from what I’ve seen from the “You’re going this fast” signs in construction zones. but there are some things that P.O. me

1) people who slow down to watch cops hand out tickets
2) people who slow down to watch accidents on the side of the road, the impact has gone and passed, you missed the best part
3) people who drive beside cops and go slow enough so the cop speeds off way ahead of them
4) people who slow down to watch cops arrest people
5) people who slow down around white cars…. c’mon people at least go the limit, it’s probably not a disguised cop
6) cops who speed
7) cops who don’t signal
8) cops who don’t stop and stop signs.
9) cops who pull you over for not wearing a seat belt that he’s not even wearing
10) cops who pull people over in pairs, one cops enough, unless the guy starts getting threatening, there’s no need for immediate back up.

You know what’s really funny?

Even though they can prove the car is yours and the license plate is yours… They cannot prove the DRIVER was you with the new cameras.

So, if you argue that it wasn’t you driving, and rather someone you loaned the car to… You can still speed as much as you want.

Wear a mask while you drive. Wear a handkerchief over your mouth and nose.

They send you a picture of you speeding, send them a picture of the money you would pay the fine with and then a note that says, “it’s the same thing.”

All joking aside…

You can get out of speeding tickets those cameras give you, if they CANNOT prove it was YOU driving it.

I really love it when people don’t see em and gets flashed during night driving, makes it easier for me,

It’s a different story with my friend driving, because it sucks to be driving at 70+ MPH then all of a sudden coming to a complete halt. a few feet in front of the camera, then taking off once its cleared. Fun little story from last year.

You know what’s really funny?

Even though they can prove the car is yours and the license plate is yours… They cannot prove the DRIVER was you with the new cameras.

So, if you argue that it wasn’t you driving, and rather someone you loaned the car to… You can still speed as much as you want.

Wear a mask while you drive. Wear a handkerchief over your mouth and nose.

They send you a picture of you speeding, send them a picture of the money you would pay the fine with and then a note that says, “it’s the same thing.”

All joking aside…

You can get out of speeding tickets those cameras give you, if they CANNOT prove it was YOU driving it.

Here, in Poland this kind of behaviour is a standart XD

And I do not mean the “hit it!” kind, just driving a few kmph over the limit (Around 10-20), but I don’t know what are the limits in the US, so I can’t really compare them. Then, alot of drivers got CB Radios lately, and they inform one another where there are policemen with speedometers, so they can “Creep around the sleeping predator”, as you’ve called it. On the other hand, I think that – in our case at least – people should rather work on changing the law, not ignore it, because it will cause problems to both you, and your enviroment.

And Linkara – IMHO, the Law SHOULD BE a kind of suggestion. Simply because you will never be able to predict every possibility, and while law – being strict rules that it is – Stabilizes the situation, it also restrains people from going over it’s boundaries, and I think it’s nescessary sometimes. Of course this rises the problem of corruption and honesty, but I think there’d be some solution for that too.

Just a piece of my mind :P

Here, in Poland this kind of behaviour is a standart XD

And I do not mean the “hit it!” kind, just driving a few kmph over the limit (Around 10-20), but I don’t know what are the limits in the US, so I can’t really compare them. Then, alot of drivers got CB Radios lately, and they inform one another where there are policemen with speedometers, so they can “Creep around the sleeping predator”, as you’ve called it. On the other hand, I think that – in our case at least – people should rather work on changing the law, not ignore it, because it will cause problems to both you, and your enviroment.

And Linkara – IMHO, the Law SHOULD BE a kind of suggestion. Simply because you will never be able to predict every possibility, and while law – being strict rules that it is – Stabilizes the situation, it also restrains people from going over it’s boundaries, and I think it’s nescessary sometimes. Of course this rises the problem of corruption and honesty, but I think there’d be some solution for that too.

Just a piece of my mind :P

I’m all for more stringent driver training & testing, and less nanny laws. Many, many people are operating heavy equipment in public with no clue on how to handle an emergency situation (or even _normal_ situations), and get people killed in the stupidest, most avoidable circumstances.

KamikazeKun, there is a fault in your assumption – you assuming that most people aren’t retarded.

Here in Sydney we’ve had speed cameras for years.

Here is what’s worse:
We now have patrol cars outfitted with cameras pointed in every direction which will take photos of any car illegally parked. It will also come back along the same route an hour later to check if anyone has parked longer than the 1-hour limit.

The cars catch an average of something like 400 cars every few hours. It’s ridiculous.

I feel the exact same way as Spoony. Never understood the compulsive drivers either…

@TheSlorg
That sucks. Hope it doesn’t come to the US, unless it already has, then I’m glad it hasn’t come to my county yet :D.

Also, yeah I always thought people who text while driving were either dumbfucks or really ballsy. I wouldn’t try it because I’m neither of the two.

“Guys, it’s a speed camera. Drive the speed limit, and you’ll be fine.”

Yeah, that’s the ideal solution, but there’s a reason the word “idealistic” has become a pejorative term.

In principle I agree with you. Yes, if everyone just drove the speed limit all the time we wouldn’t have these problems. But it’s next to impossible to actually get everyone to do that. And that’s the real problem.

Years ago a cop friend of mine once told me something very interesting. It’s not speeding that kills, it’s speed differentials that kill. It’s a little counter-intuitive but the fact is you’d have just as many accidents if everyone on the highway drove 200 miles per hour all the time as you would if everyone drove 60-70mph all the time. As long as everyone’s driving the same speed there’s very little chance of an accident (barring a catastrophic blowout or a driver suddenly stroking out behind the wheel) no matter what the speed actually is. It’s when some people are driving faster than others or people are constantly changing their speed that the potential for disaster appears.

That’s why the “slow-and-go traffic”, as you call it, is a big problem. Ironically, if they took away those speed traps and just let people speed along at 5-10 mi over the posted limit it would actually cause fewer accidents and traffic snarls.

“And Linkara – IMHO, the Law SHOULD BE a kind of suggestion. Simply because you will never be able to predict every possibility, and while law – being strict rules that it is – Stabilizes the situation, it also restrains people from going over it’s boundaries, and I think it’s nescessary sometimes. Of course this rises the problem of corruption and honesty, but I think there’d be some solution for that too.”

Flexibility in the law =/= making laws into “suggestions”

The thing I find funny is that here in southeast South Dakota is that if I’m trying to drive in town, half or three-quarters of the people on the streets with me drive like morons, but get out on I-90 or I-29, and it’s all good. I can even set my cruise control for five under the speed limit and be fine. Considering the way folks drive in town here, though, I’m surprised that there’s only the one traffic camera that I know of, and there’s talk of taking that away, too.

But really, I agree. If the people around here would just learn to drive in some way other than like the hicks we’re often accused of being, we’d all probably be a lot safer.

My problem with speed cameras is the devious nature of them. Which is more likely to make someone slow down, a hidden camera or an identifiable police car? And then they send you tickets in the mail. Like I would even remember going 5 mph over the limit 4 days ago.

Goldstubble: Admittedly it may be a way to simply drive up the revenue from tickets. I won’t say there’s not cops/politicians devious enough to do that. But on the other hand, an identifiable police car has its limits–you can SEE it, and are therefore only going to slow down when you know there’s one around. The harder the cameras are to see, the more dubious you are about when there’s one nearby. This–in theory–will make you tend to drive more slowly ALL the time, instead of simply when you know you’re being watched.

I say in theory because, as Spoony’s example proves, for the time being, we CAN see the cameras, and so it works the same way as a cop car. But if they can make cameras small enough to fit on/look like coat buttons (and they can, spy movies aren’t TOTALLY fictional), eventually you’ll never be able to tell.

Goldstubble: Admittedly it may be a way to simply drive up the revenue from tickets. I won’t say there’s not cops/politicians devious enough to do that. But on the other hand, an identifiable police car has its limits–you can SEE it, and are therefore only going to slow down when you know there’s one around. The harder the cameras are to see, the more dubious you are about when there’s one nearby. This–in theory–will make you tend to drive more slowly ALL the time, instead of simply when you know you’re being watched.

I say in theory because, as Spoony’s example proves, for the time being, we CAN see the cameras, and so it works the same way as a cop car. But if they can make cameras small enough to fit on/look like coat buttons (and they can, spy movies aren’t TOTALLY fictional), eventually you’ll never be able to tell.

I wish I could drive…period. All 60 of you take it for granted.

I wish I could drive…period. All 60 of you take it for granted.

I don’t drive all that much because I can pretty much get to everywhere I need to on the bus, or walk to work which is nice. Several times as I have been walking home or waiting at a bus stop to have some idiot who is talking on his phone making a right turn almost hit me standing on the sidewalk. Once is was next to a b us bench and the moron came up the wheelchair part of the curb and came inches from slamming me between his car and the bus bench. There is no excuse for that at all. the icing on the fail cake was he was chatting on his phone with no CLUE that he almost killed someone!

So true, well I live in Canada and in my small town they’ve just started installing these signs that actually flash and remind you what the speed limit is, which is an extra visual distraction. Theres usually a speed trap right behind the sign.

And you’re right, texting while driving is suicidal. I shouldn’t do it again.

I saw a lady using a phone with one of those full QWERTY keyboards texting while resting her hands in the bottom of the steering wheel. I was on the bus traveling beside her in a 70km zone… All it would take is one moment of inattention and you have a 5 car pile up.

Screw them killing themselves, I don’t want to be the car they HIT!

Just, never drive in Springfield, Missouri. People here are absolutely HORRID drivers, I swear. 2/3rds of the city doesn’t know what a turn signal is. The other 1/3rd don’t know how to not talk on cellphone/text/eat while driving.

amen about the texting, dude. my cousin texts while she drives, and i have to ride with her alot. she claims to be able to text without looking at the screen or the buttons, so it’s cool. but even then, her brain is still distracted by the act of texting itself. so wtf. one day she’s gonna roll us over and i’m gonna haunt her ass if she survives.

YOU GO SPOONY!!! TELL THOSE TEXTING BASTARDS WHAT FOR!!!

This is nothing more than a revenue collection technique by the city and state governments. These cameras have reduced side collisions in intersections and increased the number of rear end collisions.

Used to live in AZ, Tempe of all things so I know how that works.

THEN AGAIN AZ overall has drivers that seem to have…No grasp on driving…

I mean freaking HELL the only thing that was EVER on the news around my area was the daily car crash ether on the express on busy street.

…Not like the camera help…TBH I think it might cause more of it…

Though I’ve never had the pleasure of such cameras, I can understand your study. It just seems silly to speed just so you can regain those precious 2 minutes you wasted getting ready to go out the door. You’d think they do that then what you’ve just witnessed. It makes me wonder how the common sense factor is in your state of Arizona….

wow nvr knew you lived in arizona, or were you just passing through? anyway i think its a bigger thing in the greater phoenix area cause in tucson i haven’t seen any cameras on the freeway and i’ve never gotten a ticket and only a few red light cameras are here. I have seen some speed vans but they tell you where they are so its like duh dont drive by there. Theres a lot of cameras at intersections but if they’re even enabled they dont send you tickets if you run a red. theres only a few cameras that will take all kinds of high res pictures if you speed. had a friend get a ticket there, they even have video of it. funny thing is if your friend or family member is driving and not you you dont get a ticket. tell me how running a red is less of an offense if its not your car? anyway yeah its arizona’s way of getting revenue with out taxing you more or spending less tax money. actually they spend a lot of tax money installing the cameras and operating them. why couldnt they just cut out the bull and tax more? then in the winter we get all those snow birds and you’d be lucky if they went the speed limit when the weren’t cameras. well anyway come down to tucson if you ever want to visit the university where revenge of the nerds was filmed.

Hey GameGeeks, you realize that you username posts BELOW your comment? I just posted the thing about the Minnesota story. Pay a little more attention next time.

(movie spoiler) Anyone who has ever seen “7 pounds” will totally understand why texting and driving is insane :)

I think the increase in speed cameras is becoming popular all over the world. I live in South Australia and we often have 3 or more cameras in kilometre radius.

Big Brother is watching you and wants your money. All constituency must conform to the rules or be penalized.
The time is now to put an end to ….wait somebody’s knocking on my door. “Your from the CI who? I don’t understand why you are her………!@#$%^ ….%^

I see both the speedsters slamming the brakes on, and people texting while driving and both piss me off greatly. DX

The people that text while driving are the best. And it’s not even one-hand texting at a stoplight…….they have both hands on the phone while on the highway, and are focusing their eyes more on the phone than the road. Yeah, that’s a top-notch plan right there. Let’s pay more attention to making plans for later than the 2000 pound bomb that we are driving.

I know how you feel. I began driving in Tucson about a year ago, having only had my license for just over 6 months. It sucks, especially around 5th street and Rosemont. Rosemont is a large residential street with a speed limit of 25 that everyone does 45 down, and 5th is one with 5 lanes, and a speed limit of 30 that you see people traveling 45-50 on.

Cameras went up on that on intersection, and traffic became 5 times worse, accidents increased by over 80%, and people who walk to the highschool there (which includes UHS, on of the highest scoring schools in the nation). have been most endangered, as the main path to said school crosses the high point of the speeding you pointed out.

It’s just… stupid…

Hey Noah, I didn’t know you lived in AZ. I live in Tucson and can’t say the cameras have ever been a problem for me, the traffic is always so backed up I can never get over 35 anyway. You know its only a matter of time before they install rotating machine guns on the traffic lights. Or maybe put the ED-209 from Robocop on the street corner. SLOW YOUR VEHICLE NOW. YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS TO COMPLY.

Cool, a fellow Arizonian :), but yeah, I know what you mean. I pass by a speed camera on my way to ASU everyday and I see people slowing down all the time. I’m usually never going more than 5-10mph over the speed limit so I never worry about it. Unfortunately, it seems that AZ is heavily populated with terrible drivers. I come home everyday with a story about some idiot driver.

Not all of us have cruise control Spoony :P

There’s even more speed camras in London!
And is texting while driving still Legal over in America?

Well it’s not only in US. Drivers are jumping from one photo radar to another even in Poland so a might say that it is very common behavior

Aye, we’ve had speed cameras all over the place in England for a while. It’s bizarre seeing people do the exact same slow-and-go style driving you’ve described.

well i don’t have a driver’s license yet but I will have it soon, but again whats the hurry in need for speed when you can play the game need for speed. Also can I ask why did you bring this up? Well Arizona has new camera’s but i don’t see a concern in driving

I think the allure of avoiding the fuzz while driving like a maniac is actually exactly why people do it — just like they feel they’re saving time by veering between lanes, risking shaving off part of their bumpers if the driver they’re cutting in front of isn’t paying full attention. On the other hand, one would think that if so many people are speeding that putting up speed cameras every half mile is necessary, the problem is with the speed limit. But I guess changing the signs would be less lucrative than giving out tickets.

I once saw a woman wearing a neck brace, while texting, while driving (poorly). I guess she didn’t learn her lesson from her first accident.

This is why I want a bumper sticker that says ” I value my life. If you do to, then please shut the f*ck up and drive.”

Heh, it’s a good thing that these cameras are too expencive for my goverment so we don’t have any (Lithuania).

I might add that even if you do slow down suddenly, most speed cameras measure time travelled from one point to another, not just immediate speed. As such, even if you do slam on the brakes, you’re still gonna get a ticket.

I remember, back 2 years ago (when I lived in Arizona), they were just starting to install those at almost every intersection in my part
of Phoenix. The “go-stop” approach that you say happens now sounds much more dangerous than just speeding. And yes, if you text while
driving, you deserve to crash.

Texting while driving is retarded. I refused to ride in the car of my last bf because he insisted on using his fucking LAPTOP while driving. On long road trips he’d use it for googlemaps to get directions. Because I can’t read a map and navigate?

I don’t have a problem with speeding. I think 5-10 over isn’t a big deal. I’m never in a hurry, I’m just cruising along and I wind up going fast. The big problem in Florida is I-4. There’s this stretch where the speed limit drops from 70 to 55. The road doesn’t change so you can go 70 and most people do (including me). The problem I have is with the guy who tailgates me and then passes so he can do 80-90. Seriously? I can understand the need for speed but that’s just overkill.

I think way too much emphasis is put on speeding. Highway speeding doesn’t cause that many accidents unless there’s wet pavement or ice involved.

The real guys who cause accidents are those asses who love to tailgate and lane change constantly. If you just get in the passing lane on the highway and go fast, it’s not that big a deal.

Speeding tickets are mostly just a bullshit way for the government to make money, because it’s easier to measure. But it doesn’t really make driving any safer. In fact, the speed camera speed-up then slow-down causes more accidents than it claims to prevent. It’s just a cheap way for the government and especially the insurance companies to charge you more money. Insurance companies love speeding tickets, because it means they can raise your rates and pay you nothing.

if the cops REALLY wanted to make sure people followed the speed limits, the solution is agonizingly simple.

actually BEING PRESENT on the roads instead of hiding and speed trapping drivers.

the VAST majority of drivers will NEVER speed when they see a cop in plain sight. they KNOW they’ll get caught. it will filter them out from the real idiots who don’t give a crap about anything and anyone.

Why this big fuzz about speed-camreas now? In sweden they have them everywhere and it has been so for the last years. But yes spoony you have right.

I dont get it hy are they doi this every way it seems good two more rise up. It will never end . i don’t drive yet but I will soon the cameras i see tons of them and i live in missouri where i think this started(not sure fully).It not speeding tickets ,but stoplight tickets and they were fine at first if they were INSANE about them and make it so if you cross the line you get a ticket and its $100 for that. Aslo, i don’t see why people do that it not needed its just a way for the government to make money. If a cop is there people slow down because they SEE him there and know to slow down until he can’t see you .
so it makes no sense the cameras are not helping at all, it causes more problems than it solves , and the government is just making money on it and what does it use the money on? where I live it was for Electronic speed limit signs that are a waste of money because if they don’t drive the speed limit already why would they look at it if it’s electronical there’s no difference.

P.S sorry for the rant and texting is stupid and that while driving is idiotic beyond all means they deserve to crash.

Okay, two things.

One- Montana actually got rid of their speed limit for a year, and the number of vehicle accidents went down by half.

Two- They tried that whole camera thing in Houston for a while. They got rid of them because of a particular problem they had- the laser and the camera had a hard time matching up. If there were multiple cars in the picture, it was difficult to determine just which one had been the speeding car. There were various circumstances under which it was difficult not to catch someone who hadn’t been speeding at all.

I hate those speed camera vans, and all the cameras on the freeways and highways, makes it a real pain in the ass when I visit the Gf at ASU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T43LtGNFLPw

In Western Australia, some people wear their status as shitty drivers on their sleeve like some kind of medal. There are stories of people getting their cars impounded or crushed and simply shrugging it off, even boasting about it. They just get another car and spin right on their merry way as if nothing happened.

I guess they can either afford not to care, or simply don’t.

It’s our ‘hoon’ culture Schwere, being from WA myself, I can see where you’re coming from. I’ve had morons swerve wildly at around 80km/h in a 50 zone to overtake me because they’re terribly impatient.

All the while doing this in their shitty Holden Commodores, it’s all I ever see them in, they must hand them out like crackers or something.

Another problem with speed cameras (actually with cameras in general) is they tend to make the police lazy.

Example: At the high school where I teach they have cameras on all the buses. That way the bus driver doesn’t have to divide his attention between the kids and the road so much. If some kid does something wrong, the bus driver doesn’t have to witness it personally because it’s recorded on the camera.

The problem? If something happens that isn’t caught on the camera, the cops can’t do anything but throw up their hands and say “oh well, no evidence, nothing we can do”. Guess what happened last year? Two kids got in nasty a fight on the bus (dunno what about) while the bus was still filling up with kids. One of them was the aggressor, the other was defending himself. But the other kids getting on the bus blocked the camera’s view so the police couldn’t get a clear picture of what happened, and so the only option they had was to arrest both of them or neither of them. As I recall they chose to arrest neither of them.

As a fellow speed-limit-abiding driver I living in California, I have witnessed this phenomenon as well. It’s proof that the sociological theory of the Panopticon–that the idea that you’re being watched will automatically make you want to behave–doesn’t always work. I guess speed demons prefer paying for new brakes twice as often than giving their right foot a break and just slowing the fuck down.

And thank you for the ETA comment about texting and driving. I remember when the cell phone law out here was passed last July, it completely ignored texting, which remained legal to do while driving for five more months never mind it being five times more stupid. Not that it makes any difference; on my daily work commute I see at least a dozen people with cell phones held next to or in front of their faces oblivious to the law, and not once have I seen any of them pulled over. (The winner was a girl texting with one hand, smoking with the other and driving with her knees. I thought that was only a stand-up comedy gag. Life imitates art after all.)

And I still have friends who text me while I’m driving and get mad when I call them instead of texting to reply. Sorry I inconvenienced you, I prefer my car with an intact bumper and my head resting on an unbroken neck.

You live in arizona. Damn…that’s shitty bro.

The thing that pisses ME off about speed cameras is that they’re overly precise. More precise than your speedometer oftentimes. You can be going the speed limit according to your speedometer, but actually be just enough over that the camera tickets you. Not to mention that even if you use cruise control, maintaining a constant speed is something even the best drivers aren’t perfect at. Eventually you will drift 1 or 2 MPH over the limit(or 3-5 on a steep downhill – where the majority of speed cameras I’ve encountered see are positioned) and if there’s a camera in the area you’re screwed. Some places that employ speed cameras CLAIM they program extra leeway into them, but that’s almost always eventually proven to be false. There are a whole host of other problems with speed cameras that others have addressed which make them little more than conveniently quick methods of raising income for the governments.

I make it a point to go the speed limit – it’s easy to remember to when you regularly fulfill your need for speed at a racetrack. And I’ve encountered the idiot speeders as well. But I’d rather a few speeders get away thanks to police having to actively determine whether or not they’re a danger(1 MPH over the limit is NOT a danger) than get ticketed for being 1 MPH over the speed limit because I hadn’t yet realized I was on a slight downhill.

Not to mention the potential for a traffic stop to result in police finding a wanted criminal and taking him off the street.

My dad keeps telling me there are ways to cheat the system, flaws in the system, and simple issues with the system.
For an example: I belive my dad says that the pics come out black and white. Well If you remember MY COUSIN VINNEY about the ‘CAR’ thing then you can easilly fight that in court becasue they ‘took a picture of a car that looks like yours but isn’t actually yours’ n stuff.
Ive seen them alot around here in California and yeah their a pain with the pic delays n stuff and god knows what other problems. it’s like the jerkface in front of you runs a red light but guess what, your pic gets taken ><. suck balls.

“For an example: I belive my dad says that the pics come out black and white. Well If you remember MY COUSIN VINNEY about the ‘CAR’ thing then you can easilly fight that in court becasue they ‘took a picture of a car that looks like yours but isn’t actually yours’ n stuff.”

Except in My Cousin Vinny they only mentioned the general description of the car. Speed cameras are designed to catch your license plate number, and as far as I know all methods of hiding the license plate number from a speed camera are either illegal or don’t work.

I find it interesting that so many people believe that only the drivers in their city/town/village/micronation don’t use turn signals. That problem exists everywhere there is a road. There are degrees of fail when it comes to not signaling…for instance, someone who doesn’t signal that they’re exiting the highway isn’t a huge problem. They just kind of veer off and go away. It’s the ones who can’t be bothered to signal that they’re turning right/left, or find it too hard to let other drivers know they’re changing lanes…it’s quite rage inducing when you’re sitting at an intersection, yielding to what you think is oncoming traffic, only to watch them turn well before the intersection.

Why is it such a massive problem? I’d like to think it is equal parts stupidity and selfishness, although for the latter I don’t understand what the rewards are…exposing yourself to a potentially fatal collision? Yeah, that’s worth being an ass. Any rational, sane, reasonably intelligent human being knows full well that aggressive driving does not save you any time, particularly when you rushed at 80mph to cut off every other driver to get to an exit and sit at a stoplight…while they mosey right up to the same light, maybe only two or three cars behind. Do those people ever look in the rearview mirror and think, “Jesus, why did I bother? Why am I such an idiot?”

That kind of spontaneous self-reflection could very well save millions of lives. MILLIONS.

even with the recent law put into place where i live that you cannot use handheld devices while driving, people STILL ARE USING THEIR GODDAMNED HANDHELDS. I NEED A SIGN IN MY WINDOW. I honestly feel like getting up during red lights, knocking on some idiot's window, and reiterating the law for them. or maybe just record their license and have the provincial police get em. Hey, I'm the passenger! I can take pictures as proof of these fucktards who are going to get my friend's car ruined! >.<

i hate bad drivers. especially the ones who don't know what the stick on the left side of the wheel is for >.<;;; and decide to change lanes within a foot of your car while going 20km/h faster than you on a 90km/h highway.

… I don't even have my driver's license, and I know how to drive better than them.

Yes, you are a better driver than 90% of Dallas drivers. That city is goddamned INFAMOUS for its horrific traffic…