Just drove I-5 SF-LA--with a guy who got a speeding ticket for doing 90 near Los Banos.
Talking to the guys at a truck stop nearby there is a big revenue raising speeding drive on by the CHP to help the State's deficit.
Having done this drive many times before with folks doing 100 MPH or so and who never got a ticket I am inclined to agree that there is a crackdown.
Time to set that cruise contol at 70!
:D:D:D
francophile
Sep 10, 09, 9:31 pm
there is a big revenue raising speeding drive on by the CHP to help the State's deficit.
You mean this garage sale didn't raise enough money already???? :eek:
http://www.garagesale.ca.gov/
ace26
Sep 11, 09, 3:25 am
Just drove I-5 SF-LA--with a guy who got a speeding ticket for doing 90 near Los Banos.
Talking to the guys at a truck stop nearby there is a big revenue raising speeding drive on by the CHP to help the State's deficit.
Having done this drive many times before with folks doing 100 MPH or so and who never got a ticket I am inclined to agree that there is a crackdown.
Time to set that cruise contol at 70!
:D:D:D
Living in the Bay Area, I saw CHP pull over no less than 3 speeders/cell phoning drivers the very morning after the budget measures were rejected, more than any other day I've ever seen. People I know are no longer being let go with warnings, they're getting tickets straight up.
cblaisd
Sep 11, 09, 3:49 am
Excellent news! ^
El Cochinito
Sep 11, 09, 10:10 am
I-5 in Kern County is a hotspot for CHP enforcement. Has been for years.
kenish
Sep 12, 09, 12:10 pm
I-5 is also patrolled by air; if you're going to speed you'd better "check your six" constantly. CHP uses Cessnas most of the time. (Several years ago I was buzzed on Hwy 99 by two F-18s following the road at 500 feet...CHP is not using tactical fighters, yet).
Not only CHP but county and city police are doing "revenue enhancement". Up to 10 or 15 years ago, radar was prohibited in the state. CHP got a foot in the door by getting radar approved in "special safety enforcement zones". The door was pushed open wider and wider; now radar and laser are everywhere. I hear comments that CA does not use radar...no longer true.
And to think that there was a time (not all that long ago) when the California Legislature effectively banned the use of both radar and aircraft speed enforcement (the CHP director would always include it in the annual budget, and that line item would always die in the Appropriations committee).
jackal
Sep 19, 09, 11:52 pm
Very, very disappointing.
And stevenshev, I agree wholeheartedly with you! :D
There's nothing inherently unsafe about travel at 80, 90, or even 100mph. Just ask the Germans. What causes accidents is not speed but rather inattentive, idiotic drivers--unfortunately all too common in the U.S.
People driving I-5 are usually pretty good (not a lot of asleep commuters and soccer moms in that rural area), and the low traffic levels easily facilitate safe high-speed driving.
Hopefully the California legislature can rein CHP in before I have the occasion to drive that road again.
beckoa
Sep 20, 09, 1:43 am
Very, very disappointing.
And stevenshev, I agree wholeheartedly with you! :D
There's nothing inherently unsafe about travel at 80, 90, or even 100mph. Just ask the Germans. What causes accidents is not speed but rather inattentive, idiotic drivers--unfortunately all too common in the U.S.
People driving I-5 are usually pretty good (not a lot of asleep commuters and soccer moms in that rural area), and the low traffic levels easily facilitate safe high-speed driving.
Hopefully the California legislature can rein CHP in before I have the occasion to drive that road again.
It all depends on the design speed including if the road is limited access (Interstates are supposed to be) residual traffic, and of course the time of day & weather...
I will not confirm nor deny, but a Dodge Caliber I may or may not of been in, may have hit 90+ MPH on the Island of Hawaii :o (Its amazing how smooth those roads are :cool:) Note, if this were to of occurred, it was when there were no other vehicles on the road, nor in the line of sight... ;)
Enrico84
Sep 30, 09, 3:59 pm
Guys I'm going to drive up to SF from LA this Saturday...any advice on what path should I drive on that day?
Also, is there any speed cam database, maybe for a Garmin GPS like the one that I have in Italy/EU?^
kenish
Sep 30, 09, 4:33 pm
Rush hour traffic in the SF and LA area should not be a problem, being a Saturday. Your choices are:
1) East from SF to I-5, then south to LA.
2) South from SF on I-280 to San Jose, then US-101 to LA.
3) Same as 2 to Salinas, Hwy 68 to Monterey, then Hwy 1 through Big Sur to San Luis Obispo. Rejoins US-101.
I've listed them in order of improving scenic interest but also increasing drive time. I-5 will take you 7 hours to downtown LA; US-101 about 9 hours; Hwy 1 about 11 hours. These times do not include stops for meals, sightseeing, etc.
It just depends if you want to get to LA quickly through fairly boring scenery (the last 120km into LA are more interesting mountains), or if you have plenty of time (Hwy 1 is one of the world's most scenic drives).
We do not have speed cameras in California on State or Interstate routes. (Arizona has them everywhere!) Cities may have speed cams on their streets and there are often "red light" cams at intersections.
As mentioned, the police use radar and aircraft. Most police motorcycles and cars have radar that can measure the speed of oncoming cars...so don't think the officer cannot get your speed because he's going the other way on a highway.
abmj-jr
Sep 30, 09, 4:48 pm
...
People driving I-5 are usually pretty good (not a lot of asleep commuters and soccer moms in that rural area), and the low traffic levels easily facilitate safe high-speed driving...
More ignorance supporting personal irresponsibility. :td:
It so happens that we have more accidents caused by sleeping drivers on the Valley stretch of I-5 than any other highway in the area. It is frequently caused by semi-hypnosis brought on by the long, straight, smooth, wide open stretches with nothing to break up the monotony, coupled with tired drivers trying to make it all the way from the Bay Area to LA without a stop. Add in the Mr. Machos who think they are the best thing behind the wheel since A. J. Foyt and we wind up scraping an awful lot of you'all off the pavement - or neighboring hills. Because of the habitual high speeds on 5 in our area, the vast majority of accidents are fatals.
abmj-jr
Sep 30, 09, 4:57 pm
Guys I'm going to drive up to SF from LA this Saturday...any advice on what path should I drive on that day?...
It dpends on whether you want to see some scenery or just get there as quickly as possible.
The most efficient but also least interesting route would just be to use Interstate 5 all the way. It is a pretty straight line and is a newer, high-speed freeway. It also runs through what is arguably the most boring stretch of our state - for mile after mile after ....
For a bit more interest, try State Route 101. It will take a few hours longer but is a much more enjoyable drive.
If you really want to see some of the state, take 2 days and drive up Highway 1, which runs right along the Pacific coast. It is not easy driving and will take many hours more to drive but the reward is some really spectacular scenery. Don't use this route if time is of any concern.
jackal
Sep 30, 09, 5:51 pm
Rush hour traffic in the SF and LA area should not be a problem, being a Saturday. Your choices are:
1) East from SF to I-5, then south to LA.
2) South from SF on I-280 to San Jose, then US-101 to LA.
3) Same as 2 to Salinas, Hwy 68 to Monterey, then Hwy 1 through Big Sur to San Luis Obispo. Rejoins US-101.
See these two threads for more details on particular routes:
More ignorance supporting personal irresponsibility. :td:
It so happens that we have more accidents caused by sleeping drivers on the Valley stretch of I-5 than any other highway in the area. It is frequently caused by semi-hypnosis brought on by the long, straight, smooth, wide open stretches with nothing to break up the monotony, coupled with tired drivers trying to make it all the way from the Bay Area to LA without a stop. Add in the Mr. Machos who think they are the best thing behind the wheel since A. J. Foyt and we wind up scraping an awful lot of you'all off the pavement - or neighboring hills. Because of the habitual high speeds on 5 in our area, the vast majority of accidents are fatals.
They're all falling asleep because the 70mph speed limit puts you to sleep! I find myself much more alert when I'm forced to stay awake when driving at higher speeds (e.g. on the Autobahnen).
stupenal
Oct 12, 09, 2:49 pm
They're all falling asleep because the 70mph speed limit puts you to sleep! I find myself much more alert when I'm forced to stay awake when driving at higher speeds (e.g. on the Autobahnen).
I think if you're falling asleep at 70 mph, then you shouldn't be driving, PERIOD.
jackal
Oct 12, 09, 7:11 pm
I think if you're falling asleep at 70 mph, then you shouldn't be driving, PERIOD.
Falling asleep of boredom. Ever heard of highway fatigue? The best cure for it is high speeds. :rolleyes::p
chanp
Oct 14, 09, 10:10 pm
www.valentineone.com
just watch out for laser
john93711
Nov 7, 09, 1:04 am
I do a roundtrip from Fresno to LA three or four times a month on the 99, and frankly plan to spend about half the time in a half mile line of cars while one truck tries to pass another truck at 56 MPH.
I've seen a lot of laser lately, so make sure your radar detector is positioned low on the windshield. Also consider removing the front license plate because it makes it extremely easy to get a laser fix on you (they are reflectorized).
biggestbopper
Nov 7, 09, 4:39 am
I know several people who have gotten tickets for no front plate. They were all from parking enforcement in Beverly Hills and West L.A.
Wonder if you get an extra violation added on if stopped for speeding and no front plate?
jackal
Nov 7, 09, 6:55 am
I do a roundtrip from Fresno to LA three or four times a month on the 99, and frankly plan to spend about half the time in a half mile line of cars while one truck tries to pass another truck at 56 MPH.
California's 55mph limit for trucks is about the most insane, stupid speed limit anywhere. A large number of other states allow trucks to go 70 or even 75, including neighboring Nevada and Arizona, and there is no difference in road quality on I-10, I-40, or I-15 when you cross the border. Heck, I-5 through the Central Valley is actually even straighter, wider, and safer than 10 or 40 in Arizona and 15 in Nevada!
The research I've seen shows that differential speed limits actually increase the likelihood of accidents, since people have to change lanes to get around slower-moving vehicles.
Simply asinine.
john93711
Nov 9, 09, 9:49 pm
I know several people who have gotten tickets for no front plate. They were all from parking enforcement in Beverly Hills and West L.A.
Wonder if you get an extra violation added on if stopped for speeding and no front plate?
It's a fix it ticket, which your cop neighbor can sign off on. This is only a $10 fine if corrected within 21 days. I've only gotten one of these in the six years I've been on the road.
john93711
Nov 9, 09, 9:52 pm
California's 55mph limit for trucks is about the most insane, stupid speed limit anywhere. A large number of other states allow trucks to go 70 or even 75, including neighboring Nevada and Arizona, and there is no difference in road quality on I-10, I-40, or I-15 when you cross the border. Heck, I-5 through the Central Valley is actually even straighter, wider, and safer than 10 or 40 in Arizona and 15 in Nevada!
The research I've seen shows that differential speed limits actually increase the likelihood of accidents, since people have to change lanes to get around slower-moving vehicles.
Simply asinine.
Completely asinine. The entire idea behind speed limits is to set the limit at 85th percentile to keep traffic at the same pace.
This two-class speed system creates a dangerous situation where one driver is going 85 and another 55.
I say let the professional drivers abide by the same laws as the rest of us.
mlshanks
Nov 9, 09, 10:56 pm
California's 55mph limit for trucks is about the most insane, stupid speed limit anywhere.
One reason for the differential is the relative difference between the braking power of automobiles and large trucks. On dry level pavement, a car going 65 can stop in roughly 316', while a truck going 55 takes 335' to stop. (http://www.ortrucking.org/stopping.htm)
The research I've seen shows that differential speed limits actually increase the likelihood of accidents, since people have to change lanes to get around slower-moving vehicles.
Can you cite some?
jackal
Nov 10, 09, 2:06 am
Can you cite some?
"Effects of Raising and Lowering the Speed Limit on Selected Roadway Sections"
Final Report
Report No. FHWA/RD-92/084
June 1996
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
"Synthesis of Speed Zoning Practices"
Report Number/Title: FHWA/RD-85/096
Martin R. Parker & Associates
"Did the 65 MPH Speed Limit Save Lives?"
Charles Lave, Chairman of the Department of Economics of the University of California, Irvine
"Speed Doesn’t Kill: The Repeal of the 55-MPH Speed Limit "
Stephen Moore
Cato Institute
May 1999
"Did Raising Freeway Speed Limits Affect Traffic Safety?"
Bennet K. Langlotz
Senior Analyst, National Motorists Association Foundation
March 1999
"Comparison of Speed Zoning Procedures and Their Effectiveness"
Final Report
Contract No. 89-1204
Michigan Department of Transportation
Traffic and Safety Division
Martin R. Parker & Associates
September 1992
New York DOT Study
(as announced in Gov. Pataki's office's press release March 9, 2000)
"The 36-Month Study Report on 65 MPH Speed Limit in New Jersey"
New Jersey Department of Transportation
James Weinstein, Commissioner
August 2001
"An empirical analysis of driver perceptions of the relationship between speed limits and safety"
Fred Mannering
Department of Civil Engineering and Economics, Purdue University
August 2008
"Speed Zoning In America: Some Preliminary Research Results"
U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration
November 1989
"Assessment of Current Speed Zoning Criteria"
Analysis Group, Inc.
January 1989
"Synthesis of Speed Zoning Practices"
U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration
July 1985
Manual of Transportation Engineering Studies
1st Edition, 1994
"A Recommended Speed Zoning Practice"
4M-25 Committee on Speed Zoning
Institute of Transportation Engineers
January 1996 (draft version)