GoTravel

LT I am right there with you on the slow driving in the left lane.

Good gawd do people not realize how dangerous that is on a busy road ESPECIALLY on the interstate?

Nothing but nothing scares me more on I-95 than some boob doing 65 in the left lane.

Heavy tractor trailor traffic and those things can't slow down going 70 miles per hour.

aggiemom

kama - she goes to school 7:30 to 2:30. The street where she was ticketed is in a different town and school system. They have and 11:35-12:00 school zone for kindergarteners and then the 1:30-3:30 for the others.

JJ5

Yes, that left lane going 10 miles under the speed limit or just at the speed limit is a big, big problem, LT, and not just by you.

That's my guy's pet peeve and he drives almost everywhere and across country etc. It drove him nuts in FL.

Here in IL there is so much construction and work zone changes that you can't pass at all on lots of our expressways. But even on our 55-60 mph true state routes etc. without intersections - why do some persist at this for mile after mile. There are back-ups and trouble that follow them doing this.

On I-80 and I-80/90 through IL, IN etc. we see truckers doing exhibiting this exact behavior as well, and in the non-truck allowed lanes.

kamahinaohoku

Thanks aggiemom - I thought (in error) that you might have another problem...phew.

ncgrrl

I live near a school that has a problem with speeders. The school is on an old country road. However, the area has grown and the road has stayed the same. I fear for the life of the crossing guard (adult, no way could kids handle this road).

A year or two ago, the local tv station had a reporter stand with the crossing guard holding a radar gun. It was hard to miss, the newsvan van was parked at the crosswalk and there was a guy in coat and tie with a radar gun standing next to the crossing guard, who was standing next to the camera man.

The station ran a story during sweeps (are your kids in danger?) showing their footage from the day with the radar gun. All sorts of people going through too fast like parents, school bus drivers, and even the mayor (he has a vanity plate with his name on it). The reporter went to several of the parents, some took a minute to get off the phone to say oops, the school bus driver didn't think he was going over the limit even after watching the footage, and the mayor gave a standard political answer of trying to do better.

I've been going through that school zone for years and I have no idea what the speed limit is. If I'm going through the area during drop-off/pick-up time you can't go more than a snail's pace because of all the traffic.

I refuse to walk down this road because I fear for my life. Areas with newer developments do have sidewalks, but the older homes (single family) along the road don't. Too much patchwork of sidewalks to make it safe to walk on the road.

michelleNYC

Yikes! I can't imagine going 20 miles over the speed limit and being pulled over, say, on the New York State Thruway by a State Trooper! Fines, points, everything! Even our local county police will give it to you and give it to you GOOD if you are speeding. I'd MUCH, MUCH rather be safe (in all respects) than sorry.

Litespeed_Chick

South Carolina: school zones are 35, plenty slow. The one next to my house has a long driveway in the school parking lot that parallels the road. If you slow to 35 on the road, you will see parents moving faster than you in the parking lot.

Otherwise, speed limits seem completely random to me. Everytime I get a ticket, it seems to be for 50 in a 35 (not school zone) on some country road where I could do 70 with one brain tied behind my back. The same road may go up to 50 at some random point having no relationship to proximity to a town, school whatever. Drives me nuts! Interstates range from 55 to a blessed 70.

Speeding laws are for the most part revenue raisers. I hope your 16 year old drives really slowly now, but as for you: get a radar detector and keep the batteries fresh.

GoTravel

aggiemom, have you looked to see how this is going to effect your insurance?

aggiemom

Hi Litespeed - Well, someone else who understands the frustration with these "revenue makers!" Bless you.

I really do believe you have to obey the law, but I don't always agree with it and I really wanted to see how Texas compares with other states. This 30 mph to 55 mph to 40 mph all within a couple of miles is crazy and I think THAT causes many accidents as the people around here really don't pay attention. It can be as dangerous to go 30 in a 55 mph zone (happens all the time here) as it is to go 55 in a 30. I said I was going to reform my attitude, so I better shut up now. It's still hard for me. I guess now is a good time to start that meditation class I've been wanting to do!

Many posters here seem to think I'm letting my kid get away with this. She has to pay her fine, and the increase in the insurance as well do her defensive driving. She's is not happy with her punishment but it will be a good lesson.

The point of my question was my complete frustration with the changing speeds here. I'm so glad someone understands, and I really appreciate knowing about other states.

Om. Om.

GoTravel

aggiemom, I'm not at all insinuating you are letting your daughter get away with anything. I was just curious about the percentage.

aggiemom

No offense taken. I haven't checked with the insurance yet. We're making our daughter do that when she gets home from school today. I don't think it is going to be pleasant.

hsv

Being from Europe (the aforementioned Germany in fact), I am quite astonished at how much stir a single speeding ticket creates.

Ok, so dear daughter was travelling a bit fast - happens to the best of us, doesn't it?
It's not a crime, after all, just a misdemeanor from a legal point of view.

I am all the more amazed as I usually try to respect the codes of conduct strictly when travelling to a foreign country such as the U.S. of A is for me. After all here at home, I am part of the sovereign, I can vote and I can decide which rules are acceptable for me and which not. Not so, when I am abroad.
However, travelling at the maximum speed of 65 mph on a Southern California Freeway I was confined to the rightmost lane and even there felt like I was a moving obstruction. General speeds were more around 75 to 80.
After (more or less ;-) ) reluctantly blending in, I find it quite surprising that there are so many brave citizens posting here who apparently obey every single speed limit. Maybe the explanation is that I did not encounter any Fodor's posters on the Freeway, I do have some doubts, though.

I guess your daughter will be punished enough if you make her come up financially for the ticket. Make it clear that the ticket is also likely to increase the insurance premium ( BTW my condolences for that system) and she should be healed. I'd probably take a few drives with her, but I'd make certain that she hits the road as soon as possible again.
The more driving will be just a part of her daily routine, the less "sex appeal" it should have for her and thus will likely prevent her from speeding excessively again.

Have a great weekend!

mikemo

aggiemom,
Your daughter's other option is to go to court and hope the officer is a no show - automatic dismissal in Dallas.
If the officer shows, you can take defensive driving or deferred adjudication to keep the violation off your TX auto insurance record.
Most days while still working in D, I went through 5 school zones in the AM: only folks consistently going above 20 mph were the school busses, school kids and school employees.
M

aggiemom

Thanks, hsv for your kind words. I do LOVE Germany, by the way! We went there in May and it was wonderful. And I think your drivers are excellent - far above the US.

Mike - thanks for the insight. I, too, wondered whether she should "fight" it and I've told her she may have that option.

It's interesting, one of our friends is a police officer here and he felt she had a good shot at winning and she should fight it. I'm not sure that we should go that route. I think "doing the time" when you "do the crime" might be more effective.

ronkala

Litespeed, do you really think speed limits are for raising revenue? I always thought they were for safety.

Several years ago I asked a Fairfax County, VA cop if the 25 mph schoolzone with flashing lights applied on holidays, he said yes, if the lights are flashing that is the speed limit even if the schools are closed.

nytraveler

I think a lot of the issues here are related to the fact that many don't seem to realize that driving is a PRIVILEGE not a right. No matter how inconvenient it may be in some places not to have a car - if people can't or won't learn to drive properly - they simply don't have the right to be on the road.

And that includes following speed limits.

Now - I'm not some old fuddy duddy - I'm the first one to do 120 on the Autobahn - where it's legal - and the conditions make it generally safe (since in europe drivers must actually learn to drive).

But driving in residential areas - esp school zones - is a completely different thing. The only thing that matters is the safety of the children - and there's no accetable reason to speed there at all.

Everyone needs to understand this. And those who won;t obey should have their licenses taken - and if they continue to drive - their cars should be seized.

Nothing gives anyone the right to endanger the lives of others. And teens need to learn this - forcefully - when they are first allowed to drive.

JJ5

ncgirl, that's EXACTLY the kind of roads I tried to explain. Some development at some point over the last 3 or 4 decades but no even connecting sidewalks, culverts, or curbs. And most were farm roads only about 15 years ago. Now I call them the farm roads that are paved.

I don't know what the answer will be, but I do know that we all have to have an extra awareness at any point where city or suburbs end. Absolutely.

It's so ironic that this has been on line yesterday/today. Last night, ncgirl, I saw a farm house "section" resident with black clothing in the dark trampse across the highway and stand in the road next to his mailbox. I saw him but the car in front of me did not. He was very hard to see. He was barely missed by the car in front of me going at least 50mph. He jumped back and was laying on in the incline toward the field in back of him, so I turned around. I then stopped to see if he was ok. And he was shaken. I told him as nicely as I could, that he can't get his mail like that, will have to change his mailbox's location, and that the road isn't all John Deere's and equipment going by at 20mph any more, if he hasn't noticed.

I'm sure he wasn't that happy with me or the situation either.

And in my case I had no rise in insurance at all. But that will not be the case at 16. And most teen-agers do get at least one ticket, so you don't have to think it's more than just a lesson. Actually most get into at least one accident before 20.

rkkwan

aggiemom - I've lived in Houston for many years, but have also lived in DC and RI. I was also a truck driver for 2.5 years, so I have driven in most of the states.

In my opinion, speed limits have little to do with safety. This is the same all over the country. But that's another discussion for another day.

Anyways I don't find TX or CA any better or worse than others. 60mph interstate speed through cities and 70mph rural is not bad in TX. 20mph school zone and 35mph residental are also representative.

The key to her daugther's problem is that she wasn't paying attention to what the particular speed limit is at ALL TIMES when she was driving. To avoid getting a ticket, one should always know what the enforced speed limit at the time is, and where it starts. I know most drivers don't do it, and that's why the cops can always have sometime to fine. I think that's the main lesson to be learned.

With the current speed limits and the way they are enforced, I would keep it under 10 over for most roads (meaning <80 at 70mph zone, <45 at 35mph zones); and <5 over for school zones. (i.e. <25 in a 20 zone). On urban interstates with heavy traffic, I'd go a little higher to go with the flow - like under 75 in a 60 zone if most traffic are going over 70.

The above suggestions will keep anyone from getting a ticket in TX, and will be more or less going with the flow of traffic and not being a hazard to other drivers for going too slow. And consider getting a radar detector. A detector can be used responsibly - i.e. not for reckless driving - and to protect one from getting a ticket.

I use one almost all the time, even if I'm sticking my own suggestions above most of the time.

aggiemom

ny - I think you're overreacting. Take away license after one infraction? For drunk driving, yes.

And, yes, I am frustrated when I must go soooo slow and know that school won't be let out for two more hours. And even then, there are never any children walking.

They need to take cell phones away from drivers (they've already done that here for teens and I support it) and teach drivers how to use their turn signals and some road etiquette.

But I guess you know all that, right?

mrwunrfl

aggiemom, glad to hear about your daugter's ticket. Would have to consider it to be learning a lesson the easy way, considering the alternatives.