by STOPandGO — published on March 23rd, 2008
AL.com has posted an interesting article that breaks down some common misconceptions about speeding violations. According to the linked article, a state police spokesperson said, “The speed limit is the speed limit, and that’s the speed you can go without encountering a trooper.” But a more detailed analysis by the AL.com authors revealed that only 72 speeding tickets, roughly 1% issued by Alabama troopers last year, were given to drivers going only 1 to 9-mph over the speed limit. Of those 72 drivers, only 2 were ticketed with traveling less than 5-mph over the limit. Some additional discussion is provided regarding the accuracy of speed measurement devices and how that may play into an officer’s decision to ticket drivers at speeds close to but exceeding the posted speed limit.
The article also mentions the rather bizarre fact that the highest speeding ticket issued in Alabama went to a man driving 130-mph, double the 65-mph limit, in a “construction vehicle”.
by STOPandGO — published on January 10th, 2008
In the United States, unlike the now standard “0.08″ blood alcohol concentration limit that most states have adopted, different states have different laws on drugged driving. Canada seems to have a similar problem, based on this article, which calls attention to and discusses the issues of quantitatively analyzing a drugged driver’s ability to operate a motor vehicle.
by STOPandGO — published on January 2nd, 2008
A reader to the Kitsap Sun newspaper writes, “This is probably an age-old question, but I haven’t seen it addressed. I try to follow the speed limit, but my husband tells me that I need to speed up with the flow of traffic for safety. So, how strictly should I obey the speed limit?” she asks.
“Age-old question” about the speed limit
by STOPandGO — published on December 23rd, 2007
Yes, says state officer, in response to the inquiry of a citizen from mid-Michigan, who decided recently to stop wondering and start asking about a nagging traffic question. He emailed the Michigan State Police with the following email.
“Why is it that law enforcement vehicles never seem to observe the posted speed limit? Of course, not in an emergency; but then their flashers would be activated. Shouldn’t police at every level be conserving fuel and setting the pace on our highways, rather than discouraging conscientious drivers by whizzing past them in non-emergency travel? Perhaps this is something I should take up with my state representative? -John Hayden
The response of the Michigan State Police is available with the original source here:
Don’t police have to obey speed limits?
by STOPandGO — published on December 19th, 2007
Taking a road trip home for the holidays this year? Be sure to go easy on the gas pedal, particularly if your travels take you up or down the East Coast. According to stats from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the I-95 corridor between the southeast and New England includes five of the 10 U.S. states carrying the highest fines for speeding–Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland and New Hampshire. All hit up speeders for a maximum of $500 or more for a first offense.
The Most Expensive States For Speeding Tickets 2007
by STOPandGO — published on November 15th, 2007
“What I and Utah Highway Patrol Superintendent Lance Davenport do not agree with, however, is the idea of enforcing speed limits with no cushion. Believe it or not, increased speed limits on our highways have not resulted in increased highway deaths.”
Fudging speed limit
by STOPandGO — published on November 8th, 2007
More than half of drivers admit speeding but only 16% have been convicted of the offense in the last five years, it has been revealed.
Most drivers break speed limit
by STOPandGO — published on November 6th, 2007
Your days of being pulled over for speeding are numbered. That would be great news, except in an increasing number of states the flashing red and blue lights in your rear-view mirror are being replaced by the photographic flash of traffic cameras.
Opinion: The Roads Have Eyes
by admin — published on November 1st, 2007
How careful are you when you get behind the wheel? Maybe not as much as we should be. This week the North Dakota Highway Patrol is stepping up enforcement of certain violations on roads in the Northwest region of the state.
ND Highway Patrol Cracks Down on Violations
by admin — published on October 31st, 2007
Police: “Do you think an intoxicated person can think clearly enough to execute a legal turn?”
In North Dakota, police give you a chance to turn around before a sobriety checkpoint