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!
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.
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).
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Very, very disappointing.
And stevenshev, I agree wholeheartedly with you!
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.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jackal
Very, very disappointing.
And stevenshev, I agree wholeheartedly with you!
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 (Its amazing how smooth those roads are ) Note, if this were to of occurred, it was when there were no other vehicles on the road, nor in the line of sight...
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?
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.
...
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.
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.
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.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kenish
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.
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).
(Its amazing how smooth those roads are 
) Note, if this were to of occurred, it was when there were no other vehicles on the road, nor in the line of sight... 
