Morning Brew: March 2nd, 2009

Speed limiters should be in cars as well - top them out at 120kph

How incredible would it be if all Lamborghinis, Porches, and Maseratis had the same top speed as all Fords, Toyotas, and Hyundais?

There would be a public inquiry AND proper compensation.

Anytime there is a major railway incident (such as a derailment) compensation is given to the other companies affected. ie, If a CN train derails and causes delays with VIA Rail trains, then CN gives VIA a bunch of money. They then also give CP a bunch of money to reroute the CN trains onto CP tracks and give more money to compensate for the added congestion.

Good luck getting the same kind of response from trucking companies.

Most single lane highways that I've been on have had speed limits of about 80m/hr (sometimes 70). But, let's assume that you are driving along a single lane highway with a 100m/hr speed limit. And, you are behind someone going 100m/hr. Well, why would you need to pass? If the person in front is going slower than the speed limit, then you can speed up (all the way to 105m/hr!) and should be able to pass safely. I suppose if the person in front is going 99m/hr you may need a bit of extra speed... 110m/hr would probably do it.

Is it really legally ok to go above the speed limit in order to pass? I tried to find the info online but there is a lot to wade through. Just curious.

Well said, Andrew. Instead of illegal billboards, it's easier for the traffic cops... err enforcement cops to pick on store owners. One shop owner said to me that his sidewalk tent sign (all of 3 feet high & 2 feet wide) was seized without warning. He was told if he wanted it back, he'd have to pay a $100 fine, and an annual $100 sign permit/fee.

We have a socialist mayor who loves to spend, so you can expect more user fees and permit fees like the one required here.

Then the question is should trucks be passing anyways?

The one thing that worries me about this is in areas where the 401 is only 2 lanes in each direction (Pretty much everywhere except Toronto). At 105, the trucks will have to stick to the right hand lane. With the number of trucks on the highway I see this creating a nice little impentrable wall of steel.

Drivers will get the choice of driving in that lane, sandwiching their car between the tractor trailers or driving in the left lane amongst the people doing 130. It'll also be fun for those in the left lane to get through that wall when trying to get to an upcoming exit. Especially when those truck drivers can't speed up to let someone in.

The likely end result is likely going to be 1) Truck drivers driving in the left lane, pissing countless people off and causing car drivers to unsafely pass on the right. 2) Slower drivers who are too timid to drive in the right lane with the trucks slowing down the left lane traffic and resulting in the same situation as #1.

A better solution would be stricter laws on truck drivers.

My retired father drivers chartered buses from time to time, mostly for school kids. The buses don't have limiters (some companies might use them, but I'm pretty sure it's not universal). The 100km/h limit is <b>strictly</b> enforced. Police do not hesitate pulling over bus drivers going 110 or 115. As a result, the vast majority of bus drivers wouldn't dare going over 105 for fear of losing their job/license.

I say get rid of those black and neon signs only because they <b>suck</b> as advertising tools (-especially- those that are only text).

"There have been countless stories in newspapers about people complaining that they got a ticked for holding up traffic whille driving 110 in the passing lane."

Really? Can you post one of the stories please?

Having a speed limit is limiting. Drivers are already educated. They read the book, take the test, what else would you like? I know you always speak for the highest common denominator but sometimes we need rules and limitiations for the lowest common denominator. Remember your argument on the Green Inspections and how it effects us all, yadda yadda yadda. Educate all you want but why should the rest of us be at risk when some don't take the education or care for the rules. Truckers speed, they are on a route and the more tiem they can save to make the delivery the better. Yes accidents happen at intersections, that is a whole other subject that involves other rules and a separate investigation this is something else, you might as well bring up the driving on a cellphone issue.

LORDY your som above everyone else. I really should just have a text file for quick responses to your wanna be high brow comments.

of course there are safety issues if you can't speed up and get out of the way.

the big issue is Truckers watching DVD movies while on the highway.

Truck drivers are required to write their licensing test every 5 years, which means they are continually up to date on rules of the road.
I do not like the limiters being implemented on trucks.

@Stephen, regarding making faster delivery times. Doesn't just about everyone do this when they drive, no matter what kind of vehicle they drive? People race to get to work on time, or just race for the hell of it.

I think the bottom line is this isn't limited to truck drivers. We can't penalize one set of drivers and let others off.

Nice Chevron ad in the photo. The economist is a superb magazine.

If the province wants to add limiters that is fine so long as it is capped at the highest possible speed limit in North America (which with only special exception is 80mph). As one commenter said, the limit is the maximum legal speed in ideal conditions. I believe, and I could be wrong, that the police can ticket you for unsafe speeds in bad weather (unsafe speed for conditions or whatever) even if you are below the limit. I also agree with another poster saying that what is good for one should be good for all. I'm all for limiters on every vehicle. It removes the issue of people driving too fast versus the slower vehicles, removes the necessity of having cops to focus on speed encforcement instead of other much, much more dangerous actions you see everyday on the road (and I'm really looking at the taxis out there in particular) and it allows for better traffic without the stop/go "spring" effect that causes traffic jams.

In the end though, speed isn't the real issue on the road. It's paying attention to the road instead of everything else.