Speeding and punishment

[sweetjazz]

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The point is that speeding IS dangerous and it IS illegal, but people rarely have the same anger over it as a crime as they do other crimes, such as drug use. People would never go for a "3 strikes" law that gave mandatory life imprisonment to every caught speeding three times. Is there a good reason behind that, or is it simply due to the fact that there is some chance such a law could be applied to them or somebody they know and love?


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Do you know how many people die each year in the United States due to accidents caused by speeding? I don't, but am very curious to find out. I'm guessing that the number is MUCH lower than anyone here would guess

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I suspect that in almost all automobile accident fatalities, one of the drivers was driving above the speed limit. (Because many people drive above the speed limit a lot of the time.)

The relevant statistic would be how many accidents occurred which would not have occurred had the drivers been driving at or below the speed limit.

Also, the matter is complicated because sometimes people are speeding and also under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. In that case, both speeding and dulled reflexes may have contributed to the fatality. So speeding cannot be separated from DUI and other factors.

[mmcd]

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please..you have to admit at least some irrational behavior can be expected from a person using drugs or alcohol


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Sure, but there is no shotage of irrational behavior from your average sober person.

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please..you have to admit at least some irrational behavior can be expected from a person using drugs or alcohol


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Sure, but there is no shotage of irrational behavior from your average sober person.

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touche

but that doesn't change the fact that there is at least some chance of harm coming to an innocent person due to someone else's use of drugs

[sweetjazz]

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please..you have to admit at least some irrational behavior can be expected from a person using drugs or alcohol


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Sure, but there is no shotage of irrational behavior from your average sober person.

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touche

but that doesn't change the fact that there is at least some chance of harm coming to an innocent person due to someone else's use of drugs

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Not to get too far off topic, but the harm a person can cause under the influence of drugs largely depends on the context. If they are getting high in their basement, it's pretty unlikely they are a danger to anyone. If they go out and get high, and then decide to drive somewhere, they might pose a grave danger to the community at large.

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please..you have to admit at least some irrational behavior can be expected from a person using drugs or alcohol


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Sure, but there is no shotage of irrational behavior from your average sober person.

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touche

but that doesn't change the fact that there is at least some chance of harm coming to an innocent person due to someone else's use of drugs

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Not to get too far off topic, but the harm a person can cause under the influence of drugs largely depends on the context. If they are getting high in their basement, it's pretty unlikely they are a danger to anyone. If they go out and get high, and then decide to drive somewhere, they might pose a grave danger to the community at large.

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unfortunatley the "only aloud to smoke up in your basement" law probably wouldn't work out... driving would probably make up over 90% of the harm caused to innocent persons

[sweetjazz]

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please..you have to admit at least some irrational behavior can be expected from a person using drugs or alcohol


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Sure, but there is no shotage of irrational behavior from your average sober person.

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touche

but that doesn't change the fact that there is at least some chance of harm coming to an innocent person due to someone else's use of drugs

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Not to get too far off topic, but the harm a person can cause under the influence of drugs largely depends on the context. If they are getting high in their basement, it's pretty unlikely they are a danger to anyone. If they go out and get high, and then decide to drive somewhere, they might pose a grave danger to the community at large.

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unfortunatley the "only aloud to smoke up in your basement" law probably wouldn't work out... driving would probably make up over 90% of the harm caused to innocent persons

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You could make it criminal to drive under the influence of drugs (with possibly very steep punishments) without making it illegal to use drugs.

For better or worse, that is how alcohol is handled in this country.

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Speed enforcement is primarily a revenue generating measure, and secondarily a safety measure. Speed limits on most roads and streets are set artificially low to ensure a large supply of speeders so the traffic cops can stay busy all day writing tickets to generate the revenue to pay for the traffic cops, judges and prosecuting attorneys. On most moderately trafficked roads and streets, obeying the speed limit is actually less safe than moving with the flow of traffic, which is usually 7-10 mph above the posted limit. Driving the speed limit will force other drivers to change lanes to pass you, increasing the probability of an accident.

[bobman0330]

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Driving the speed limit will force other drivers to change lanes to pass you, increasing the probability of an accident.

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The direction of causation here is a bit off.

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Driving the speed limit will force other drivers to change lanes to pass you, increasing the probability of an accident.

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The direction of causation here is a bit off.

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How so?

In any event, I contend that, in most cases, moving at the prevailing speed of traffic is safer than moving slower and creating a bottleneck. There are exceptions. I find that often in bad weather conditions (hard rain, snowpacked or icy roads, fog, etc.), the prevailing speed is too fast, and will move to the right lane and drive at a speed that gives me a reasonable ability to kepp control of my vehicle and respond to an emergency.