Thursday, March 14, 2013

Traffic / Vehicle laws that NEED to change

There are several things that frustrate me about driving in the United States. Where should I start...I get that there is traffic, anywhere there are cars is going to generate some sort of traffic. The problem is most traffic is caused by morons who aren't driving properly, eg didn't signal, can't merge, DRIVING TOO SLOW IN THE LEFT LANE, or people driving vehicles way too fast that were originally designed as commuter appliances....(eg, that '94 Camry shouldn't be going 87 on the highway, I don't care how fantastic of a driver you believe you are). I'm also an enthusiast of cars not originally sold stateside (or sold for only 4 years in the case of the Land Rover Defender). The 25 year import ban is ridiculous and was only instituted because Mercedes wanted people to stop buying sedans outside the US for far less than a similar model (with a smaller motor) was being sold here. Lastly, your pseudo-HID headlights in housings originally intended for halogens are blinding me and aren't helping you see anything better than your OEMs were...

Jalopnik has a great article on these points (and a few more that get on my nerves), pasted below.


Photo Credit: Richard Masoner

SEXPAND

10.) Heavy Tickets For Left Lane Hogs

We admire the cop who ticketed a driver doing two under in the left lane but we need to see this happen more, and we need harsher tickets as well. The left lane is for passing.

Suggested By: TonylukesPhoto Credit: rik

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9.) Mandatory Driving Tests For The Elderly

I love my grandma, but we only knew she had to give up her keys when she got into one accident and then drove on the curb at night with her lights off. Regulating the elderly when they mess up is a bad system. We need regular checks to see if they’re safe to drive. 

Suggested By: thestanwastakenPhoto Credit: Matteo Pieroni

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8.) Stop Signs Should Act As Yield Signs For Bicycles

We can’t remember how many times we and friends of ours have been ticketed for rolling through stop signs in completely empty, safe intersections. It’s bullshit.

Suggested By: ttyymmnnPhoto Credit: Lynn Friedman

SEXPAND

7.) Fines For Bad Headlights

Improperly aimed headlights, particularly poorly-aligned aftermarket kits, are a hazard to other drivers. We need to ticket everyone from lifted bro trucks to cheaply-modded hatchbacks. 

Suggested By: DeanPhoto Credit: Jorge Quinteros

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6.) Raise Speed Limits For Passing

It shouldn’t count as speeding if you need to get up past the limit to execute a safe pass. A slow overtake can be dangerous.

Suggested By: driveaboutMAXIMUMVRMPhoto Credit: CameliaTWU

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5.) Tiered Licenses

As reader fintail put it, “the same license that allows you a Rio allows you a Veyron, and the same endorsement that allows you a Vespa allows you a turbo Busa or a 1500lb hog/2 wheeled Civic with no doors.” We like the idea of having tiered licenses that keep bad drivers out of large and fast cars, and restrict full driving privileges to drivers with a good record and additional training.

Suggested By: fintail and gt40mkIIPhoto Credit: Superbad

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4.) Legalize Lane Splitting

This one is a no-brainer. Lane-splitting for motorcycles is safe and efficient and should be legal in all 50 states.

Suggested By: dreygataPhoto Credit: gth_42

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3.) Tickets For Not Signalling

Reader DontPanic1 sums this one up nicely.
ENFORCE MOTHERF&^%ING TURN/INDICATOR SIGNALS. I live in DC/VA and NO ONE uses an indicator. Not to turn, not to change lanes, not to do anything and I wish people would be pull for it. I forget sometimes too but it's a way of life here and my only response is to lay on the horn and rage. urgh.
Suggested By: DontPanic1Photo Credit: TheCanonShot

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2.) Drop The 25 Year Import Ban

America would not be worse off if we could bring over a few Audi RS4s or Skyline GT-Rs. Hell, it wouldn’t be worse if city residents could pick up diminutive kei cars, or business owners could import a thrifty Mahindra. Just end the ban on importing vehicles less than 25 years old. 

Suggested By: cesariojpnPhoto Credit: Daft Photos

SEXPAND

1.) Raise Speed Limits

Three words: safe and prudent. There are many roads (mostly in residential areas) where a low speed limit is safe, but for the wide open spaces of this country, or even in the high-power 80-90 mph freeways common everywhere, a higher speed limit only makes sense.

Suggested By: TriboroughPhoto Credit: Mikeldray/Shutterstock.com

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