Speed Cameras

[attist178]

I've been reading up on this speed camera stuff, following reading a Popular Mechanics article on a camera-equipped stretch of highway in Arizona. I ran across this last night:
"Illinois will begin using photo radar in freeway work zones in July. Second
offense tickets are $1,000 with license suspension. Beginning in July, the
State of Illinois will use speed cameras in areas designated as"Work Zones"
on major freeways. Anyone caught by these devices will be mailed a $375.00
ticket for the FIRST offense, but the SECOND offense will cost $1000.00
and comes with a 90-Day suspension. Drivers will also receive demerit points
against their license, which allows insurance companies to raise their rates.
This represents the harshest penalty structure yet for a city or state using
PHOTO enforcement. The State will begin with TWO camera vans issuing
tickets in work zones with speed limits lowered to 45 MPH. Photographs of
both the Driver's face and License plate are taken."

For more info:
News Release


Unfortunately, if you actually go 45 MPH in a work zone on Illinois' highways, you're gonna cause an accident!!! (I-88 is a perfect example, for you Illinois guys)
I try to go 45 in those zones, but I can't get in another accident.

[ereeves116]

I drive that stretch of highway every now and then and honestly, I like it.

On a normal highway going 65, yes, you will cause an accident. But not here.

Within the first day I think something like 300 some people were ticketed. Needless to say, after the first week, everyone was going 65...

But of course, as soon as the cameras stop, people pump it back up to 85

Either way, I think it's great. Catches all those a-holes who barrel down the highway and hopefully they will put these on more highways.

[attist178]

I think they're fine in the work zones, but my baby needs to strech her legs once in a while on the regular stretches.

It will take a while for it to become safe to go 45 in those work zones, though.

[NovaResource]

Originally Posted by attist178

Unfortunately, if you actually go 45 MPH in a work zone on Illinois' highways, you're gonna cause an accident!!!

Originally Posted by ereeves116

On a normal highway going 65, yes, you will cause an accident.

That's poor thinking and the reason everyone speeds. If you so the speed limit, it won't be YOU causing the accident, it will be the speeders.

I got a ticket for doing 37-mph in a 25-mph zone (about 100-feet after the speed limit went from 35 to 25). It was a trap and they had at least 3 other cars pulled over when they got me. I was so mad I made it a point to do only the speed limit everywhere I drove as a way to show how dangerous it was to drive the limit when everyone else is speeding. I thought keeping with traffic was easier. Know what I found? It was no more dangerous, my stress level dropped while driving (because I wasn't getting annoyed with all the "slow" traffic) and I got better fuel economy.

Oh, this is in the greater Philadelphia area for those of you who think I don't live where there is much traffic. The speed limit on the PA Turnpike is 65 and on the Blue Route (I-476) is 55. Regular traffic on the PA-TP is 75+. On the Blue Route is 70+.

Try it for a week and see for yourself. Just stay out of the left lane and you'll be fine.

[accentguru]

Originally Posted by NovaResource

That's poor thinking and the reason everyone speeds. If you so the speed limit, it won't be YOU causing the accident, it will be the speeders.

I got a ticket for doing 37-mph in a 25-mph zone (about 100-feet after the speed limit went from 35 to 25). It was a trap and they had at least 3 other cars pulled over when they got me. I was so mad I made it a point to do only the speed limit everywhere I drove as a way to show how dangerous it was to drive the limit when everyone else is speeding. I thought keeping with traffic was easier. Know what I found? It was no more dangerous, my stress level dropped while driving (because I wasn't getting annoyed with all the "slow" traffic) and I got better fuel economy.

Oh, this is in the greater Philadelphia area for those of you who think I don't live where there is much traffic. The speed limit on the PA Turnpike is 65 and on the Blue Route (I-476) is 55. Regular traffic on the PA-TP is 75+. On the Blue Route is 70+.

Try it for a week and see for yourself. Just stay out of the left lane and you'll be fine.

I agree with the above! Drive the limit and stay in the right hand lane, thats what it there for. Attist...I dont know what to say about "your baby needing to stretch it legs", where did you hear that? If your car is talking to you thats pretty kool. Take it easy and drive the limit, the limit is there for a damn reason.

[BigZach]

They're using the vans on I-88 and the other tollways, just keep an eye out for them. Last time I took 88 they pumped the speed limit westbound up to 55 from 45 in the workzone anyway. And now with the big brother I-PASS, they will send you a "warning letter" if your average speed between tollbooths is high. I know a guy who got one. That's why on I-355 they have receivers underneath the 75th St bridge, to see how fast you're doing that quarter-mile in after the toll booth.

They ****ty part about a lot of speed cameras is that the revenues are split between the companies that operate them and the municipalities in many cases.

[ereeves116]

I usually always stay in the right lanes and laugh at all the jerks in their diesel f350s as the burn away $5 just to pass me because i'm going to slow.

and you are right, it wouldn't be the law abiding driver that caused the accident, but unfortunately the thing is a vicious cycle. Until the day everyone decides to obey the laws...people will always feel the pressure to speed up. which is unfortunate...

but luckily! speed cameras on the highways are forcing people to start driving rationally

[187sks]

I'm the guy passing you at 120+ mph. You know what I hate? The useless speed warning signs that only go up to 99 mph. How am I supposed to know how fast I'm going?

The speed limits for open highways are too slow. if you and your vehicle are not capable of maintaining at least 85 mph get the hell off the road because either you can't drive or your car is such a piece of crap that it is unsafe or a combination of the two. There are times when you need to slow down, not every road needs to have a 90mph speed limit, but that is not a fairly open highway. IF the speed limits weren't totally asinine I may consider following them. For now, I only follow them when there's a cop around.

I'm doin' a hundred on the highway
So if you do the speed limit, get the FVCK outta my way!

[busy_squirrel]

I can't stand people doing ANY speed who won't move right for faster traffic. Funny, how they know the law about not speeding, but conveniently forget THE LAW about yielding to faster traffic.

The fact is: you don't know why I'm going fast. Maybe I'm just an ******* in a hurry, maybe I'm transporting someone to a hospital because an ambulance can't get to me fast enough (done that), maybe I'm transporting someone in labor (been there), maybe I'm rushing to a friends house who just called me and said she was gonna commit suicide, maybe my car has been commandeered by an LEO and it doesn't have lights/siren, YOU DON'T KNOW.

I drive a POS car because I can afford to replace it if I need to. Don't think for a second that I'm not willing to damage your car and mine if I need to get somewhere bad enough. Cars can be replaced with money, some other things can't. Being "in the right" for refusing to alter your speed to drive defensively won't magically save you from injuries. Obstinance IS occasionally unsafe even when it's lawful.

[ereeves116]

funny all the smack i hear about "street racing is dumb. people who die street racing deserve it!" but people going 122mph around traffic are brilliant...especially considering you are taking pictures while driving this fast. yer cool.