Cyclicious reports on it, as does Urban Velo.
The Basic premise is explained on the New Zealand website.
"Pace car volunteers sign a pledge to drive within the speed limit on local streets, stop for pedestrians, drive courteously, and display a Pace Car Sticker on their vehicles. Pace car drivers act as “mobile speed bumps,” slowing the flow of traffic behind them. The more Pace car drivers in a neighborhood the better it works."
Do you think something like this would fly in Golden?
sounds like a good idea, as long as the pace cars aren't doing 30 or 40 and causing the problems.
ReplyDeleteJust wondering what is wrong with driving slower than the speed limit? There are several areas in town with 30km/h speed limits. The Maximum is 50km/h, except on the highway strip, which is 60km/h.
ReplyDeleteI know that there are several different speed limits in town and they should be followed whenever posted. The problem with driving under the posted speed limit, especially half the posted limit, is that it is just as illegal as speeding and is generally a cause of significant accidents.
ReplyDeleteI am glad were having this debate. I'm not talking about going 15km/h in the 50km/h zone. I am talking about going 40-45km/h in the 50km/h zone. This is totally legal. Its called driving to the conditions. I regularly drive 40km/h over the bridge. I do this cause the curves make it unsafe to drive any faster also there are cyclists on the bridge too.
ReplyDeleteThe Motor Vehicle act, doesn't mention what "slow" is but does list this,
"Slow driving
145 (1) A person must not drive a motor vehicle at so slow a speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law.
(2) If the driver of a motor vehicle is driving at so slow a speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, a peace officer may require the driver to increase his or her speed, or to remove the motor vehicle from the roadway to the nearest suitable place and to refrain from causing or allowing the motor vehicle to move from that place until directed to do so by a peace officer."
As for slow driving causing more accidents, isn't it the speeding/ legal speed limit drivers that are inattentive to other drivers driving to fast?
First of all I never said slow driving causes more accidents, I said it is a cause of significant accidents. If we are going to use this as a debate please use facts.
ReplyDeleteI am also not talking about the 40-45kmh drivers, the drivers I am referring to are the "ultra safe" 30kmh drivers. There are a lot of these drivers, mostly elderly or women, who feel that slower is safer. These are the drivers that have no regard for anything that is taking place around them and should not e included in the pace car program. If you notice that you are going so slow that you have traffic backed up in a town as small as Golden, and cannot recognize that your driving may be causing safety issues, you have no business being on the road.
Another group that I have issue with is the "militant" slow driver. One who is driving 10-20kmh under the posted limit but will intentionally slow down further when traffic inevitably catches up to them just to show that they are the ones in control of the road. You people know who you are and should be ashamed of yourselves but instead rejoice in your ignorance and create Facebook pages to show your lack of caring to the world.
Gussy, I have no problems with people driving 5 or 10 under the limit when road conditions dictate it, I do have problems with driving 10 or 15 under when there is no reason for it.
Interesting. Do you have any evidence of slow driving causing significant crashes? I would think that the type of crash would be a rear end crash. Meaning that the driver of the following car, was inattentive. It would also have a higher probability of being non fatal.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the hurry with driving under the limit? I know speed is an issue in Golden. I regularly see cars going 80km/h down past Overwaitea. As a cyclist and driver i would much rather a car going 30km/h pass me, rather than a car going 60km/h.
If the driver is going 10-15 under the speed limit, and is not impeding traffic, there is no problem, you can pass them legally. If they are in a high pedestrian area, i see no problem with going slower. Pedestrians like to cross whenever they want too.
The Pace car program is aimed at following the speed limit, so if it gets the "ultra safe driver" to drive at the speed limit, isn't this a good thing?
Another point is that maybe the driver 10km/h under the speed limit can see something that you might not see? Just a thought.
Each person has a reason for driving the speed they do. It can be a combination of factors. The pace car program would be something that would try and educate drivers, creating less accidents and making the streets safer for all that use them.
I said the pace car idea was a great idea, just as long as it was run by responsible drivers. If it can regulate the slower drivers that is just an added bonus.
ReplyDeleteAs far as evidence showing slow drivers causing car crashes,
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=accidents+caused+by+slow+drivers
Once again I am not advocating speeding, you keep going back to slower is better. I know you don't want to get hit by a car going 80 in a 50 zone or a car going 60 in a 50 zone. But I am also sure you don't want to get hit by a car going 40 in a 50 zone that is so concerned with intentionally slowing down to piss off a person behind them that they are not paying attention to what is ahead of them. You also don't want to be hit by a car going 50 that is passing a swerving car going 30.
"Interesting. Do you have any evidence of slow driving causing significant crashes? I would think that the type of crash would be a rear end crash. Meaning that the driver of the following car, was inattentive. It would also have a higher probability of being non fatal."
ReplyDeleteSorry forgot to address this as well, you are automatically assuming that the accidents caused by slow drivers affect only the slow drivers. Cars attempting to pass unnecessarily slow vehicles are usually involved in the accidents and not the slow moving vehicles themselves. I know you are going to say that this is not the fault of the slower vehicle, before you go down that road consider if you would say the same thing if it was an accident caused by someone going to fast.
You raised some good points. The reason i go back to slow drivers, is that driving slow means safer streets, for everyone (ie 30 or 40km/h max speed limit). The probability of a pedestrian/ cyclist being hit and killed by a car, increase dramatically after you get over 30km/h. It also increases the chance for stopping and avoiding crashes. Here is an example of possible traffic slow down.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.smh.com.au/nsw/putting-a-brake-on-traffic-speed-across-inner-city-to-protect-cyclists-20100624-z3py.html
The crash rate caused by slow drivers is not the same when driving over the speed limit. The chances of crashing when driving fast far outweigh the slow driver. The odds are stacked against the faster driver, for just driving fast. The slow driver will have more time to brake, swerve and generally avoid an accident. Fast drivers have less time to react, as they are moving faster.
Its true that i don't want to get hit by a car, ever if possible. I would much rather be hit by a car going 10km under the speed limit then 10km over it. My chance of survival increase by sometimes, 80% from 50km/h to 40km/h.
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