[evandyk]

That way, instead of the old fashioned Bob Rae photo radar vehicles which only monitored absolute speed, one could ramp up enforcement of truly bad behaviour (the tailgaters, aggressive drivers, maybe even cellphone use and HOV lane abuse) without having to pull over every motorist (It is unrealistic to expect patrol officers to pull over cars in heavy traffic on the 401, given the number of lanes that must be crossed, and the tightness of roadway shoulders.... just too dangerous)

I imagine the insurance industry is going to get us there eventually, not regulation. They'll have trackers of all sorts to reward good drivers and properly price the risk for bad ones.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

I imagine the insurance industry is going to get us there eventually, not regulation. They'll have trackers of all sorts to reward good drivers and properly price the risk for bad ones.

Though I am sure a certain percentage of these awful drivers would do it without insurance (or if push comes to shove, license as well).

AoD

 

[txlseries4]

Already lots of insurance companies offer lower rates but either require a device installed or an app on your phone, or both, and nowadays purportedly "punish" any cell phone use, even if it's "just" the screen on showing directions. There's been research in recent years which has suggested the use of an infotainment system in a car can be worse than driving while alcohol impaired, and I imagine insurance companies know this and the impacts of distracted driving from circumstances surrounding the claims they process.

 

[nfitz]

I agree, its a low threshold. I don't know what coding allows for, just a km/h threshold or a percent over the limit (my preference), but I would probably set it at 20%:

Limit Ticket

30 36

40 48

50 60

60 72


If we had to go with a fixed number, while I'm temped by 10, that seems a bit high for 30 zone, so somewhere between 6-8 km/h

48 km/hr in a 40 zone? 60 km/hr in a 50 zone? Both seem excessive on residential streets.

Maybe 10%. 20% seems excessive. But a simple 3 km/hr over seems simple and clear to me, so self-centred fools don't game it.

 

[Towered]

With the new 110 kph posted limits, 130 kph is a bit much. Mind you, I drove 195 kph on the autobahn in a mini van and felt totally safe, but that's Germany for you.

The most I ever did was 200...

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

There's been research in recent years which has suggested the use of an infotainment system in a car can be worse than driving while alcohol impaired, and I imagine insurance companies know this and the impacts of distracted driving from circumstances surrounding the claims they process.

Annoying spouses too, supposedly.

AoD

 

[Admiral Beez]

Annoying spouses too, supposedly.

In my motorcycle club there's a few chaps who have intercom or bluetooth connectivity inside their helmets. I just can't see the appeal. Imagine you're on a ride in Algonquin Park enjoying the scenery and humming show tunes in your helmet, and then bleep, the person on the back (or back at home) starts asking you're bringing home the shopping, or about something their mother said.

 

[nfitz]

Annoying spouses too, supposedly.

Screaming kids. Apoplectic toddlers. I've said before that they should ban driving alone with them for safety reasons.

When one of mine was under 2, driving alone with them was a nightmare - always wanted to be touched. So much easier to strap them to me, and take transit. But not always possible - but after a couple of hellish experiences, I certainly minimized it.

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

But... but... but... why are the roads straight and the traffic lanes the same width as expressway lanes. Redesign the roads with curves, bump outs, and narrower traffic lanes. Even use cobblestones to slow motorists down.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

In my motorcycle club there's a few chaps who have intercom or bluetooth connectivity inside their helmets. I just can't see the appeal. Imagine you're on a ride in Algonquin Park enjoying the scenery and humming show tunes in your helmet, and then bleep, the person on the back (or back at home) starts asking you're bringing home the shopping, or about something their mother said.

It's just a reminder that you can run but you can't hide.

AoD

 

[crs1026]

But... but... but... why are the roads straight and the traffic lanes the same width as expressway lanes. Redesign the roads with curves, bump outs, and narrower traffic lanes. Even use cobblestones to slow motorists down.

With the more recent changes to speed limits on major roads, this is long overdue.

An example is the Queensway, which now has 40, 50, and 60 km/h sections on a roadway that is identical from end to end and has not changed in form since it was consistently 60 km/hr.. Drivers turning onto the Queensway from cross streets may easily miss the speed limit signs and misinterpret the road width, etc.

Can't wait to see what happens on Bloor over the Humber Bridge should the bike lanes be removed - at the moment it is 40 km/h but if reverted to as-built, that stretch probably meets the standards for 80 km/h roadways. It's a bit unfair to send out radar enforcement - something more than the traditional signage is needed to convey the current speed limit.

- Paul

 

[lenaitch]

In my motorcycle club there's a few chaps who have intercom or bluetooth connectivity inside their helmets. I just can't see the appeal. Imagine you're on a ride in Algonquin Park enjoying the scenery and humming show tunes in your helmet, and then bleep, the person on the back (or back at home) starts asking you're bringing home the shopping, or about something their mother said.

Thankfully, when my wife rode she had her own bike. Now she won't even be a passenger (don't blame her). I would not want helmet comms; I like to listen to the voices in my head. One of the guys was showing off his new helmet the other day; one camera forward, two aft (all bult-in), HUD target lens, inertia-activated brake light. All yours for $2K.

*****

One problem with getting really strict on speed limits is speedometer accuracy. There is no TC standards and the industry guideline is within 4% of the speedometer range when at speeds over 90kph (when new, assuming design-sized tires). Get really strict and it really does smack of a revenue generator and everybody would lose confidence in the process.

With the new 110 kph posted limits, 130 kph is a bit much. Mind you, I drove 195 kph on the autobahn in a mini van and felt totally safe, but that's Germany for you.

I travel a 110kph frequently and, quite frankly, haven't noticed much of a difference in traffic patterns.

 

[11th]

Why? Speeding is speeding. Maybe the city can publish what the ticketing threshold is for the cameras (e.g. limit +10% or 5km/h, whichever is higher), then it's up to the drivers to stay within that.

In my opinion, that is similar to the "law is law" attitude, which is flawed, but I am not going to delve into it.
Now to add on to your suggestion, they can also attach a display which shows the speed with the camera.

 

[Sauga89]

In Winnipeg, the city has re-opened the Portage and Main intersection to pedestrians after 46 years.

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

Thankfully, when my wife rode she had her own bike. Now she won't even be a passenger (don't blame her). I would not want helmet comms; I like to listen to the voices in my head. One of the guys was showing off his new helmet the other day; one camera forward, two aft (all bult-in), HUD target lens, inertia-activated brake light. All yours for $2K.

*****

One problem with getting really strict on speed limits is speedometer accuracy. There is no TC standards and the industry guideline is within 4% of the speedometer range when at speeds over 90kph (when new, assuming design-sized tires). Get really strict and it really does smack of a revenue generator and everybody would lose confidence in the process.


I travel a 110kph frequently and, quite frankly, haven't noticed much of a difference in traffic patterns.

I have a speedometer app on my smartphone that uses GPS to calculate the speed I'm going. In my car, it registers and displays a different speed with different vehicles. Your WAZE app also has a speedometer, but it displays are too small to use regularly.