auto or manual ( spin of from b gates thread )

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by Jerrek

And OK, I'll withdraw my statement of doing 185 mph on the interstate. Ill change it to something lower. Keep in mind, I drive according to my abilities and my feel. I won't exceed what I feel as safe. Doing 140 to 150 however, is very reasonable on the Trans Canada through Saskatchewan (for example).

You're a funny boy.

I've taken this excerpt from a site I found googling for speed limits in Canada, should be of some interest to you, despite what you think there are better drivers than you in Canaduh and they still end up in accidents.

A recent study examined the impact of higher travel speeds on US rural interstates after the repeal in November 1995 of the national speed limit. Researchers found states that had increased their speed limits to 75 mph (120 km/h) experienced a shocking 38 per cent increase in deaths per million vehicle miles than expected, compared to deaths in those states that did not change their speed limits. States that increased speed limits to 70 mph (112 km/h) showed a 35 per cent increase in fatalities.

When you're bombing down the TransCanada Highway at 150mph (or whatever BS speed you're trying to impress us with) and you pass an RCMP car (who couldn't fail to notice you in your jet propelled coffin) how quickly will you agree with us that it's a bad idea?

[Jerrek]

Bifta, kindly read what I wrote. It is very *reasonable.* Read again. Let me quote what I wrote:

Doing 140 to 150 however, is very reasonable on the Trans Canada through Saskatchewan (for example).

Nowhere, nowhere did I state it was legal. If you can show me where I did, I'd much appreciate it.

I did say it was reasonable speed. It is flat, straight country, good road, and little traffic. You may not know what it means, or maybe you can't imagine it, but it does exist.


As for your "statistics," there are lies, damn lies, and statistics. I can show you statistics that showed exactly the opposite.

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by Jerrek

Bifta, kindly read what I wrote. It is very *reasonable.* Read again. Let me quote what I wrote:

Doing 140 to 150 however, is very reasonable on the Trans Canada through Saskatchewan (for example).

Nowhere, nowhere did I state it was legal. If you can show me where I did, I'd much appreciate it.

I did say it was reasonable speed. It is flat, straight country, good road, and little traffic. You may not know what it means, or maybe you can't imagine it, but it does exist.


As for your "statistics," there are lies, damn lies, and statistics. I can show you statistics that showed exactly the opposite.

Now your little rant is over, could you refrain from posting pathetic neg. reps with the swear words starred out? I'm not going to carry on this discussion with you as you are clearly unreasonable yourself and there are hundreds of other threads with the rest of the reasonable members of NTHW I can participate in. Enjoy!

[cjmillsnun]

Originally Posted by Jerrek

So now it is down to four years and 198,000 miles?

That is 4,125 miles a month, or an average of 133 miles a day (which includes Saturdays and Sundays). Thats even more amazing, and hardly the norm, unless I know even less about the United Kingdom than I think.

It is hardly the norm, however, for someone to have clocked up 8000 miles by their 18th is not unusual. Unless you are disabled, you cannot even learn to drive in the UK until you are 17.

Then on average, 12,000 a year.

Originally Posted by Jerrek

Tell me, what good is all that efficiency if you travel 133 miles a day to and from work, compared to less efficiency and I travel 9 miles to work?

Some jobs here involve travelling. For example, I was a sales rep, I could easily clock up over 50K a year driving between home, the office and clients.

Originally Posted by Jerrek

True, but that wasn't the point. I have already stated that efficiency, while it is nice, isn't really important to me. If I really cared about efficiency I'd buy a hybrid. The point was he was trying to me how I would be unable to afford driving a Corvette, while it seems I get more than double the milage per pound of fuel over here than what you get over there.

I DIDN'T MAKE THAT POINT!,

I tried to make a point about how we need econoboxes. And believe me even Canada and the USA will need them soon. The forecast is that the oil reserves could be scarce in 30 years!

Originally Posted by Jerrek

(OK OK, I know, our public transportation is the suck [for most part] and that Europe has nice, good, fancy trains and buses. But, I don't use public transportation, and I'd much rather drive my own car. )

I don't use public transport here because it is worse than yours. For example SWT (One of our train companies) has sent a fleet of new trains back because the 50 year old ones are more reliable (and they break down all the time)

[cjmillsnun]

Originally Posted by Jerrek

Doing 140 to 150 however, is very reasonable on the Trans Canada through Saskatchewan (for example).

One word. BULL$H1TE!

Doing 140-150 is not acceptable on ANY public highway.

That just shows what a poor driver you are!

If it was then the Germans would be doing it all the time, and believe me THEY DON'T!

[Jerrek]

Originally Posted by cjmillsnun

I tried to make a point about how we need econoboxes. And believe me even Canada and the USA will need them soon. The forecast is that the oil reserves could be scarce in 30 years!

They said that 50 years ago. And 30. And 10. And now. I don't believe it. Certain sources say 10 years, others say 30, others say 100.

I don't use public transport here because it is worse than yours. For example SWT (One of our train companies) has sent a fleet of new trains back because the 50 year old ones are more reliable (and they break down all the time)

Then where is all that taxes going? I was under the impression Europe has a superb public transportation system because they levied so much tax on gas.

[Jerrek]

Originally Posted by cjmillsnun

One word. BULL$H1TE!

Doing 140-150 is not acceptable on ANY public highway.

That just shows what a poor driver you are!

If it was then the Germans would be doing it all the time, and believe me THEY DON'T!

Actually no, I won't believe you, because when I was there I noticed lots of people doing 120+.

So then, we will just have to agree to disagree. You have your opinion, and I have mine. I feel it is reasonable to do 140 on such an empty road, you may not, and I'll honor that opinion.

[cjmillsnun]

Originally Posted by Jerrek

They said that 50 years ago. And 30. And 10. And now. I don't believe it. Certain sources say 10 years, others say 30, others say 100.


Then where is all that taxes going? I was under the impression Europe has a superb public transportation system because they levied so much tax on gas.

Yes France, Germany, Switzerland etc has a great public transport network.

We used to have a fairly good network in the UK, but it's $hite now and getting worse.

No one knows where our taxes are going. But we seem to be paying more and more for less and less.

Perhaps it time we did this to Mr Blair..

[cjmillsnun]

Originally Posted by Jerrek

Actually no, I won't believe you, because when I was there I noticed lots of people doing 120+.

So then, we will just have to agree to disagree. You have your opinion, and I have mine. I feel it is reasonable to do 140 on such an empty road, you may not, and I'll honor that opinion.

Remember they work in km/h over there, 120 is 75MPH

Anyways, I agree that I totally disagree with you

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by Jerrek

Actually no, I won't believe you, because when I was there I noticed lots of people doing 120+.

So then, we will just have to agree to disagree. You have your opinion, and I have mine. I feel it is reasonable to do 140 on such an empty road, you may not, and I'll honor that opinion.

120 is not 185, and when I drove up to Berlin, I never saw ANYONE even remotely approaching the speed you boast you want to do, you put me in mind of a teenager just before he get's his first car, easily excited and generally full of tripe.

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by cjmillsnun

I do a similar mileage, and have passed my advanced driving test. Also my experience of ddriving in Germany tell me to be sensible with speed. I too see the idiots you are talking about on a daily basis. I have had accidents, which brought home to me how poor a driver I was, hence I decided to do something about it and joined IAM, and learned to drive (safely not just pass the UK Driving Test). I have to say speed should (mainly) be kept for the race track. However I feel that an increase in the motorway speed limit to 80, strictly enforced would get FAR more respect than the 70MPH limit. Also I feel that advanced driving training (including skid courses, and feeling some of the forces involved in an accident via a simulator) should be a pre-requesite of being allowed to drive on motorways.

This might then educate the a*seholes who populate lane 3 of the motorway.

I am full of respect for the police class 1 drivers, as they are trained to drive safely at speed, and their perception and driving skill is quite literally breathtaking.

There does seem to be far better awareness and lane discipline on the motorways of Europe compared to those of the UK. No middle lane hogs (except for the Parisiens on the routes out of Paris), and in France the ability to cruise at 90mph all day with ease.

Wanting to get anywhere above this speed is generally pointless and a waste of fuel, you'll get there 20minutes earlier (your average speed does not increase by much) and far more fatigued.

[SMHarman]

A timely piece of news I thought...

'Turbo Rolf' jailed for tailgate deaths of mother and girl
By Hannah Cleaver in Berlin
(Filed: 19/02/2004)

A Mercedes test driver has been jailed for 18 months in Germany for forcing a young woman driver and her two-year-old daughter off the autobahn, killing them.

The deaths and the trial have divided the country between those who argue that speed should be limited on the autobahn, and those who defend the stretches of open road as the last bastion of personal freedom.

Feelings were so high during the trial that the judge, Brigitte Hecking, received death threats when it became clear that she did not see unrestricted speed limits as a fundamental human right. The engineer, Rolf Fischer, 34, was convicted of negligent manslaughter and endangering traffic through negligence and was not granted bail. German courts rarely release the names of convicted criminals.

Fischer, who was nicknamed "Turbo Rolf" by his co-workers at Mercedes for his love of top-of-the-range cars, drove up behind the 21-year-old woman at more than 135mph.

The woman, named only as Jasmin A, was driving her small Kia car. She was so alarmed by the sudden appearance of his dark Mercedes 600 CL in her rear-view mirror that she lost control and swerved off the road. One witness told the court in Karlsruhe: "It looked as if the Mercedes touched the smaller car and shoved it off the autobahn."

The Kia left the road and crashed into a ditch where it smashed into two trees, killing Jasmin and two-year-old Rebecca instantly.

Fischer, who denied being involved in the crash last July, did not stop at the scene, leading police to a months-long investigation to find the car and driver involved.

The judge dismissed initial charges of leaving the scene of an accident, saying she believed Fischer did not see the accident happen; his 500bhp car was already so far ahead that he did not even notice anything wrong.

Fischer sparked suspicion by asking colleagues for days afterwards what they had heard of the investigation.

Ms Hecking also criticised the defendant's colleagues at DaimlerChrysler who denied remembering anything about the morning in question, saying she had never encountered such reluctance from witnesses.

Although many stretches of autobahn in Germany now have speed limits of 75 mph, there remain many areas that have no limits and where high-powered cars can speed without restriction. British drivers often find the speeds and style of driving on the autobahns alarming.

A spokesman for the Automobile Association, Louisa Dean, said yesterday: "We do give advice to drivers going overseas, and particularly to people worried about driving on the autobahns, that they are very, very fast and the people drive fast and furious."

The general advice is to try to stay within comfortable speeds and avoid the fast lane, but Ms Dean confirmed that particularly nervous drivers should consider avoiding autobahns if they were worried about dealing with fast and aggressive drivers.

A DaimlerChrysler spokesman told The Telegraph: "We have today started internal processes which will terminate the man's employment with the company." The rule was that employees must drive carefully and responsibly, she said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...9/ixworld.html